[Jigalow]

OK guys, sorry in advance for the long winded post, looking for some input. I run the graveyard shift on our boat and every year I spend a little more time jigging as opposed to bait fishing (although I still catch more on bait...). I just bought a few more jigs and setup my jigging rods with PE line, I'm looking to take it to the next level but I think I need a little guidance from you all on what's the best hook configuration on my tuna jigs and why.

I've searched the archives (about a week of reading) and I realize it's somewhat a personal preference thing. I just didn't get a solid answer about what is the best hook configuration so I thought I'd start this as a new thread. Does it depend on the jig and how you use it or is it more of a personal preference thing? Last year I had less than a 50% bump to hookup ratio (not good), I'm just trying to improve my odds and catch more this year. Here are the most popular hook options based on what I've read, what do you all think?

(a) Solid ring to a split ring to the jig with a single Assist hook hanging off the solid ring? This seems to be what most popular, no?

(b) Same as A with an assist on top plus a single hook on the bottom? Makes sense to me but I don't see it discussed much.

(c) Single Treble on the bottom? This has always been my standard rig and what I seem to have the most confidence in, I don't release many (any) YFT's caught in the canyons....

. Somewhere in the archives it was mentioned that trebles have a problem with pulled hooks. If it means twice as many hookups (as opposed to bumps) with twice as many lost fish it would still be better for me than the opposite.

(d) Single hook only on the bottom?

(e) ...? One short assist on top and one short assist on the bottom?

Misc, what brand and size hook do you like best? I just bought a few 4/0 SS Varivas IK assist hooks from Anglers Pro Shop and made my own assist hooks with the 500LB Kevlar cord, they look nice, strong, and are very sharp, any strong preferences toward a particular brand, style or color?

 

[tunafever]

For me there's mostly two ways to set it up, the treble on the bottom on jigs like metallic sardine, which is my go to jig all the time. I don't like owner trebles but will use them. I prefer the gamakatsu treble 4x. You can use a treble on the diamond jigs but it may snag more often. If so use the owner siwash, I'm not sure what size off hand but you'll know when you see them. I haven't used the assist hooks much for canyon tuna fishing but some that Bret Baker recommended in a recent post would work well and it's important to use an assist with a large gap-thicker than the width of your jig, to prevent it from hanging around the jig.

I seem to drop fish on the owners that's why I prefer the gamakatsu, it may just be my imagination though.

 

[KILSONG]

tunafever wrote:


I seem to drop fish on the owners that's why I prefer the gamakatsu, it may just be my imagination though.
Gamakatsu's hook are thinner and penetrate beter than Owner's, but I don't use Gamatatsu's because the hooks got opened a couple of times.

 

[dhoperos]

none of the above

the answer is none of the above... put a treble on the bottom AND and assist on the top. Now you're in business. If one hook can catch a fish, just imagine how many fish you'll catch with four hooks!

I use the Owner trebles and did suffer a few dropped fish in the early days. After experimenting, I went up a size and the drop ratio fell dramatically. Kil also taught me some tricks to survive head-shakes during the first run. (the big one is keep winding when the shaking begins)

its likely that you'll drop a few fish on trebles here and there. part of the reason is that some fish get off- that's just par for the course no matter what hooks are used. but the other part of the reason (i believe) is that you'll foul hook fish that will go on a run and pull the hook. why do i think that? because i've seen tuna landed landed that have been hooked in the side, under the belly, and even in the outside of the mouth. try doing that with a j hook!

 

[jtzannes]

If you put a treble and an assist on the same jig BE SURE TO TELL THE PERSON WHO LANDS YOUR FISH! It can be very dangerous - if you're trying to pull a jig out of a tuna's mouth and it shakes it's head you can easily end up with the other hook in the back of your hand.

 

[KILSONG]

jtzannes wrote:
If you put a treble and an assist on the same jig BE SURE TO TELL THE PERSON WHO LANDS YOUR FISH! It can be very dangerous - if you're trying to pull a jig out of a tuna's mouth and it shakes it's head you can easily end up with the other hook in the back of your hand.There is absolutely no need to put a treble and an assist hook on the same jig whatsoever.
I highly recommend to use one single big assist hook instead of two small assist hooks. Most guys prefer to put an assist hook on top of the jigs, but actually it doesn't make any difference whether you put the assist hook on top or bottom of the jig.


This post edited by KILSONG 08:49 AM 08/15/2008

 

[bretabaker]

I agree with Kil. Personally, I don't like trebles on jigs very much. The only jigs I haven't used assist hooks on (yet) are hammered diamond jigs. I may try this next time just to see if there is much difference.

On the sardines and diamonds I use a big single hook at the bottom. One my smaller diamond jigs, the hook is almost as long as the jig!

On knife jigs I just use one big assist hook. I started another thread about jig hook size, since I don't think tuna care if you're using a big hook, and I don't think it scares them off. 2 assist hooks is unecessary I think.

Like Angelo, I prefer Gama treble 4x hooks on my swimbaits and poppers. I have some big Owner ones that I may try this time. I haven't had problems with them opening, but I'll make sure to be on the lookout for that.

 

[Peterk814]

For the past few years I have only used a single owner st-66 4/0 3x strong treble on all my jigs from the metallic sardine to braid mackerals and diamond jigs. Some nights my hookup to landing ratio was better than others, but after one night where i landed only 4 of 9 i decided to poke around and experiment. I noticed the gamis kept fish on better because of the thinner guage wire its made of. I also recently tried single assist on the bottom and top, and treble/assist on top. My hook up ratios increased. The only problem i had with both treble and assist hook is that if the fish was hooked in the mouth with the treble the assist would often find its way into the body somewhere and a snagged fish is a hard fish to reel in.

Some people believe more hooks the better, some rely on just one, i havent decided yet so until then i'll keep experimenting.

One thing is for certain, if your going to keep fish and you are tuna jigging, using a treble beats using a single hook.

 

[BobWheeler]

Hook set up for butterfly jigging

"(a) Solid ring to a split ring to the jig with a single Assist hook hanging off the solid ring? This seems to be what most popular, no?"

Yes --- that is the way it works. One hook is all that is needed --- large 12/0 or larger Siden/Shout. I only mention those because I'm sure of what the 12/0 models look like.

The matalic sardine is another story and I never use it so the previous comments are probably the way to go. I recently got a few of those jigs and plan on trying them out --- treble hook on bottom.

I'm just guessing --- you primarily do the high lift method --- and furthermore, in my head, the world according to BOB, that isn't butterfly jigging --- its more related to using asian jigs with the traditional East Coast jigging style.

I only guess this because of your hook up ratio --- with high speed vertical jigging the hookup ratio is practically 100% --- you don't need to know anything, you need no talent, I'm proof of that.

So, If you are in fact doing high speed jigging and your bump to hookup is 50% --- then you are doing something totally wrong and need hands on help.
If you want to increase your hookup rate --- get some gear(short stick) and do "walk the dog" --- it produces bump to hookup practically 100% every time.
The only time that you don't get a bump to hook up with high speed vertical jigging is if you are asleep or if the fish are super super tiny --- 5 to 10 pounders.

PS --- last week on the offshore Viking trip --- I jigged about 20 small fish --- and I was shocked that I had missed two bumbs --- it never happens --- that is how I came up with the small fish theory.

Also confidence in your method --- the tuna are always pinned to the top hook --- when I have fear in my heart --- I start adding hooks to my jig.

This post edited by BobWheeler 10:44 AM 08/15/2008

 

[Seane]

If using an assist hook only, is it better on top or bottom of jig? Or does it make no difference?

 

[BobWheeler]

Seane wrote:
If using an assist hook only, is it better on top or bottom of jig? Or does it make no difference?



Top of Jig --- I guess they swallow the baits head first

Have you ever studied how a vertical jig swims when jigged ?--- it swims horizontially.

 

[KILSONG]

Seane wrote:
If using an assist hook only, is it better on top or bottom of jig? Or does it make no difference?


It doesn't make any significant difference.
Here is a proof. You see fish teeth mark from the direction of heads as well as from the tails of jigs.

 

[dhoperos]

personal preference

as you see, it all comes down to personal preference.

at the risk of controverting the master

KILSONG wrote:
There is absolutely no need to put a treble and an assist hook on the same jig whatsoever.

oh contraire! i feel that with longer jigs like the D-Stinger you NEED the hooks on the top and bottom. Case in point- I remember a buddy of mine going tight for 30 seconds and then dropping the fish. Upon inspecting his jig, it was scraped up on the front from where it had been bitten. Had he placed an assist hook on the top and the bottom, the tuna may not have been so lucky.

on smaller jigs (e.g. sardine) i might agree.

This post edited by dhoperos 11:24 AM 08/15/2008

 

[bretabaker]

kil - do you like that sevenseas jig? They look interesting

 

[657072]

bretabaker wrote:
kil - do you like that sevenseas jig? They look interesting

Wow, whether he does or not, sure looks like the fish do!!

 

[gadoug]

Bret

I do, there fish catching machines.

Doug

 

[KILSONG]

bretabaker wrote:
kil - do you like that sevenseas jig? They look interesting
I should get some commission from Randy of Anglers Proshop to popularize Hooker jigs for tuna.

 

[JMetaxas]

My plan this tuna season is to try a Luhr-Jensen Krocodile Spoon (7oz.) while jigging at the canyons overnight. I've yet to see a heavy jig flutter as nicely as this one does. It may be a problem on heavy current nights.

Anyway, just some food for thought. I use them for Striped Bass and can usually outfish a standard diamond jig quite handily.

 

[chumslk]

JMetaxas wrote:
My plan this tuna season is to try a Luhr-Jensen Krocodile Spoon (7oz.) while jigging at the canyons overnight. I've yet to see a heavy jig flutter as nicely as this one does. It may be a problem on heavy current nights.

Anyway, just some food for thought. I use them for Striped Bass and can usually outfish a standard diamond jig quite handily.

Found a bargain on them years ago and tried them . Casted out as far as I could and guesstimated when I was down 100' + then started cranking . Had a couple of good trips with that technique . Also caught mahi . My crocs' came with trebles and I replaced them with a heavy duty L-J ss siwash 9/0 - 12/0. Also dressed up a couple with blue prism tape . They looked nice but did they catch better ? If the conditions are favorable and a fish sees it you will hook - up.
Have always prefered a slender jig for tuna that flutters on the jerk and drop . Raiders are also one of my favorites . Found a bargain on them yrs. ago also. Good luck .

 

[BobWheeler]

Hook Arrangement

I don't have photos to support my belief that the single top hook is most effective but this is what I base that belief on:

I don't often use Hooker Jigs --- which I would describe as short jigs --- on jigs like those, whether the hook is on the top or the bottom, tuna are most likely to eat the whole jig and get hooked up when the fisherman comes tight.
In contrast --- I use mostly long jigs and the larger model Andaman jigs with single hook up top --- these are significantly longer than the Hookers. So, there is no way for the tuna to eat the whole jig --- it either goes head first or tail first --- If the tuna in fact, as you suggest, are hitting the jigs at both top and bottom --- than my bump to hook up ratio should be less than 50% --- I know that "I'm Special" but the rules of probability are the same for me as the rest of the people fishing. Yet, my hook up ratio, bump to hook up, doing walk the dog with long jigs single hook up top is almost 100%. From that experience I came to conclude that it does make a difference where the hook is placed.

I also venture to guess that the Hooker jigs are often used with the high lift style rather than the high speed jerk and crank, which may also have some relationship to you getting hit on both ends of the jigs.

PS--- The only other explaination would seem to be that the tuna are not attacking the jigs --- they are going after the hooks --- if this is the story and this info got out to the general fishing public it could be catastrophic for the jig manufacturers.

This post edited by BobWheeler 01:56 PM 08/17/2008