Well it was pretty slow tonight. Not even a bite on the Junebug Zipper. One tick on the drop w/ a black and blue spinnerbait. Tried slow rolling it for maybe a 1/2 hr. Then I tied on a black bucktail jig w/ a chart. feather wrapped w/ it, and a dark blue pig. This is where it got fun. I had worked it for maybe 15 min. when I got a nice hit. I stopped winding hoping for a rebite. Well I got it. Watched the curve in the line disappear, and when it went taut I set the hook.

It was a fun fight, but not great. Didn't even take line on 6lb, just pulled real heavy w/ big headshakes. I actually thought maybe I'd snagged a big cat. But, man was it a nice bass. If it had been a Calico it would have gone 9lbs I'm sure. But, it wasn't, probably would've gone 7lbs. It actaully had real teeth, even gave me bass thumb, and it was a quick release. One of those fish where you wish you had been fishing w/ a friend.

Got nothing but a few bites for the rest of the night. Definitely will have to hit it tomorrow after work.

Amish Ed

Great story.BTW I would recomend using at leat 12lb test when using Jigs.6lb test is very light line to be using for bass.I guess now yer ready for a double digit fish.Also you should carry a camera and small digital scale for exact weight.Good job.

Amish Ed
Right on dude, you're already getting into jig fishing and a 7lber is a good bass. But 6lb line .... John is right ya gotta use at least 12 on a jig ... or maybe you've invented a new technique, light line jig fishing =)

As for bringing a scale, I do need to get one. It's just hard to spend what little money I have for fishing on stuff that isn't going to help me catch. I doubt I'll ever bring a camera though, I already have enough in my pockets when I walk the shore there.

So, why 12#? I've been using 6# in my tube since Sept. and saltwater bass have much worse teeth. The only structure on these ponds is hanging over my head. I doubt the fish are up there very often, so I don't have to worry about pulling them out. Is it the way that LM tend to hit the jig? Or, just tradition? John said to experiment. Maybe I am and don't know it. Will I get bit a lot less w/ 12#? It'd be nice not to lose anymore hooks in fishes mouths.

Thanks for all the input guys, I got a late start w/ this stuff. I need all the help I can get to catch up.

Amish Ed

Aside from snapping off fish in cover with the jig, the main reason to use heavier line on a jig is to get a good hookset. Usually you want to set pretty hard with a jig and 6lb will tend to snap off on a hard hookset. If you're using light wire hooks and no weed gaurd, 6lb might be ok, but with a regular jig you're going to get a bite at some point where you set the hook and it seems like the fish is on, but they spit it. A good fish can hold a jig in it's mouth so hard that you have to set hard to get the hook in. That's why the heavier line.
I never use anything lighter than 16lb for jigs unless it's really really clear water.

Like swimbait said hooksets is one reason,also there might be something in the water you are not aware of.After a fish is hooked at times they will ram there mouth where the hook is into rocks under water to break free.They do not have much for teeth but as you know they shake there head a lot if the hook is deep in there mouth and the line is over there lips,shaking of the head on your line there sandpaper lips will cut 6lb test.I dont think you will be missing bites w/ heavy line.They will also use the sides of there gill plate by running away from you and shaking there head to fray the line.I dont use anything under 17lb test I use up to 30lb test in cover,6lb test is just to light.

Thanks guys. I'll try 12# soon. I fished it tonight for an hour after work w/ not even a bite. Tried the pig 'n jig and the junebug Zipper. Oh well.

Thanks again,

Amish Ed

You may not want to hear this on your limited budget but, I usually walk the bank with 2 rods, a spinning rod with 6 or 8# test and a baitcaster with 10, 12 or 15# test. Try to match the rod and hence line to the technique.
JignPig definetly calls for the heavier stuff. When a bass takes this the pig usually ends up halfway in their throat constriction before you set the hook, this means it's really hard to move the hook and the inherent stretch of 6# just doesn't let you move the hook let alone get it buried from 30 feet away.
On the other hand I wouldn't want to try to throw and twitch a small minnow bait on 15#, although I know there are those that will.
Above all keep hooks sharp. BTW to do this I've found emery boards (ladies fingernail files) at 5 for a $1.00 to be great and cheap to. Get the ones with a medium and fine or fine and extra fine grain to them (sometimes called finishing boards).
Sharp hooks lead to...

Tight Lines!,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

Nice work brah. That's a damn fine fish. I knew we'd make a bass fisherman of ya...
-Brian

Well? Did you get it?

How was your tournament?

Amish Ed

Ed,
I got the boat. The tournament was pretty tough (for me at least). Those spotted bass are weird. I didn't catch any keepers the first day, and I caught 3 the second day DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING at exactly the same place. The first day was better for just about everybody besides me, while the second day was tougher for just about everybody besides me. Oh well, someday I'll have them spotted bass figured out...
-Brian

Stoked you got the boat. Too bad the fishing was slow. But, you got a boat. Whadda ya think about the turkey shoot before the Ho show?

Amish Ed

I'm definitely up for it, I just have to convince my buddy to get up that early, hehe. I'll see what he thinks, he'll probably wuss out cause he's a loser (you reading this Brian???).
-Brian