Page 40 - Let's Make Waves - October 2018

F i s h i n g T i p said hooks; two circles are on all of my double hooked jigs. The
chance of that free swinger making a second hookup after the
initial one is next to zero. The chance of that free swinger get-
Of The Month ting into someone when your prize comes aboard is also next
to zero. The hookup probability is the same with either circle
or "J" type hooks. Circle hooks also hold like no other, they
might tear out occasionally but are almost never thrown.

When going to circle hooks, you're pretty much on your own as
far as getting them on your speed jigs. A simple self-rigging
method is shown on the illustration; it's also good for use on
"j"' hooks. You can get either 300# or 500# Kevlar™ through
Serious Tackle. www.serioustackle.com gets you connected.
Important are the knot loops on the hook shank and the exit of
the Kevlar from the eye on the bend side of the hook. With the
loop through the eye, pull the knot on the hook shank tight
Flip, Flop & Fly | Speed Jigslip, Flop & Fly | Speed Jigs lip, Flop & Fly | Speed Jigslip, Flop & Fly | Speed Jigs
F F F against the eye. As a safety, lock in place with a drop or two of
superglue, you're now ready to install the quarter inch shrink
By: Patrick Lemire tubing on the hook as illustrated. This eye exit helps the hook
roll into penetration when the Kevlar comes tight at the strikes
Flip, Flop & Fly -the perfect description for the swim motion giving surer hooksets. Speaking
associated with today’s family of speed jigs. If the words sound of hooksets-with "J" hooks at
familiar to you, "Flip, Flop & Fly" is also the title of a great any indication of a pickup or
rhythm and blues classic from the 50's by Joe Turner. Anything strike, wind tight and give a
in our offshore waters that eats live fish will try to eat these jigs, strong rod sweep to set the
such as those by Williamson TM, Strike-Pro™, Shimano™, hook. When using circles, wind
ProFish™, etc. Their unique shapes give them an erratic swim down slack, if needed; let the
motion on the sink and retrieve that's seemingly irresistible to line come tight and raise your
an assortment of predator species. rod tip and you should be
hooked up. Bass fishermen's "rip their lips off' hooksets will
hooked up. Bass fishermen's "rip their lips off' hooksets will
usually result in no hookup. The slow to moderate speed tight-
Besides their unique body shapes, they also have variable hook usually result in no hookup. The slow to moderate speed tight-
ening will allow your circle hook to find a jaw or lip to wrap
types, sizes and attaching methods to their bodies. The pre- ening will allow your circle hook to find a jaw or lip to wrap
around and set in. Another hook setting as well as fishing and
ferred hook position was about 1/3 down the length of the around and set in. Another hook setting as well as fishing and
fish fighting advantage is using low stretch Spectra™ on your
body from the top. Recently the thinking is that you get higher fish fighting advantage is using low stretch Spectra™ on your
jigging reels.
hookup percentages with the hook or hooks located in a mid- jigging reels.
body position. Most of these jigs come with "J" hooks, either
Available are jigging rods by Shimano™, Sea Magic™ and a
one or two. Assist hooks are also available, pre-packaged in Available are jigging rods by Shimano™, Sea Magic™ and a
one, two or three packs in case you buy jigs without them or host of others, also jigging reels with 300 yards plus capacity of
need to replace any. An important point about hook size in 65 to 80# Spectra by Shimano™, Avet™, Fin-Nor™, Dai-
relation to the jig body: The bend of the hook must be large wa™, Penn and again, that host of others.
enough so that when the hook is laid flat against the jig body,
the hook point is exposed when the fish bites down on the jig.
Another important point about using "J" hooks: Jigs with two
assist hooks have the great possibility that the second hook,
which 99% of the time becomes a free swinger after a jaw or lip
hookup, can become embedded elsewhere.

Now, you have a sort of a bridle arrangement hookup. You
have much greater control of the fish with a jaw or lip hookup.
For that reason, all of my speed jigs where a "j"' type is used
have only one assist hook. If you have any with two '"j"' hooks,
I strongly suggest you remove one of them, you won't miss
many strikes when using one "J" hook; at least, no more than
when using two.

Using circle hooks as I have for years on these jigs is another
story; again, the hook shank to hook point should be wider
than the jig body in the area where the hooks can lay. Notice I

40 | Waves Magazine | October 2018 Issue