Roe vs. Jigs

[FishBaitThe2nd]

Thanks for the replies guys! Much appreciated.

[Brat Bonker]

I normally drift a single 8mm bead with like a 2 foot leader maybe 3 but I started running dropper leaders off my jig with a bead on it.

[Hepker]

what can anyone say about running an additional leader under your jig with nothing more than a pegged bead and hook? i have seen this setup a couple times and more so today while looking up bobber dogging. is that 2 hook setup legal in most rivers?

[Brat Bonker]

what can anyone say about running an additional leader under your jig with nothing more than a pegged bead and hook? i have seen this setup a couple times and more so today while looking up bobber dogging. is that 2 hook setup legal in most rivers?

yeah you can use trebles if you wanted too on most rivers. its not really bobber dogging, its called a dropper jig and bead I believe or something like that, it is a good one-two punch for the fish, works great in terminal areas

[TrophyHunter]

I'd like to know which rivers you fish if you are saying "you could use trebles in most". Most salmon/steelhead water I know of is single/barbless. So in a river such as these would this dropper technique be okay to use? Such as a bead pegged under a jig?

[Brat Bonker]

I'd like to know which rivers you fish if you are saying "you could use trebles in most". Most salmon/steelhead water I know of is single/barbless. So in a river such as these would this dropper technique be okay to use? Such as a bead pegged under a jig?

mst steelhead rivers you can use what ever you want, salmon is different. for example some rivers like the cascade close for salmon on Nov 30 and the single hook barbless hook and night closure rules end as well that day. From Dec 1 to Feb 15 there are no rules other than release salmon and 2 hatchery steelhead. But then there are rivers that have selective gear rules to conserve native steelhead so trebles are illegal then so are the 2 hooks. but technically they are 2 different lures and you can have up to 3 lures on your line with a total of 3 hooks or something like that so yes most rivers right now you may use 2 hooks with a jig and a dropper leader to a bead.

[spoonman]

With this dropper setup, how long is your dropper? As how deep 8s your jig fishing? Is this something you would use a good long dropper on, set your jig to normal fishing depth and cast downstream wh8le holding it back to let your bead go downstream first? Or do you just leave your jig up off the bottom with a short dropper to your bead?

[Brat Bonker]

With this dropper setup, how long is your dropper? As how deep 8s your jig fishing? Is this something you would use a good long dropper on, set your jig to normal fishing depth and cast downstream wh8le holding it back to let your bead go downstream first? Or do you just leave your jig up off the bottom with a short dropper to your bead?

personally I only run 1-2ft of leader to a #4 hook and a 8mm bead, I like t have the bead just above the bottom or bouncing bottom to resemble an actual egg. I have the jig a 3/4 of the ways down or a 1-2 feet off the bottom. I buy those dropper jigs from Over The Edge tackle or I buy the heads and tie my own. You could also tie the leader to the shank, which is what I am going to try this year. Just make sure you run a lighter dropper leader the your actual leader or else you will lose the jig too.

[TrophyHunter]

Good call Brat! My fault..I always just try to be on the safe side and when i see it's single barbless when i start fishing there, i tend to stay with single barbless without even reading the dates. Thanks for pointing that out to me!

[fishinChristian]

Good post. I feel I should mention that for me, I've caught more steelhead on spinners than anything else (Be sure to modify hooks per regs).

[Brat Bonker]

Good post. I feel I should mention that for me, I've caught more steelhead on spinners than anything else (Be sure to modify hooks per regs).

what type or color of spinners do you use, I want to start using more hardware this year as a switch up from everyone else or to use last in a hole that I am fishing and I have done good on spoons but not spinners yet, don't really know which colors other than like metallic blue vibrax.

[fishinChristian]

Mepps, Rooster tail, Blue Fox, etc. Generally the Squirrel tail versions, generally about 1/4 oz, fished near the bottom, almost ridiculously slow. Red feather tailed versions work pretty well also. You may lose a fair amount of gear before you get the feel of it. If you aren't used to it, go to a local river, and throw out the real cheap stuff. The bargain spinners at wallie-world. You do want river rock, and pay most attention when it drops from the tick-tick to freefall. Cast to the riffle, and keep the rod high for better feel. Ideally, it drops like a natural minnow or other forage would, upstream to down, then "darts" for deeper water. Most hits come then. It's a lot like fishing for whitefish, ticking the rocks, but not getting jammed in them. I tend to start with gold blades, but change to silver as weather indicates. Works for Walleye, too. Last time at Priest rapids, I caught 3 steelhead (C&R) and 5 walleye, all a little below the bridge. 2 walleye and one steelhead came from the same hole. Works on trout, too.
You're right on about switching up. sometimes you can walk into the mob, find your spot, and give a different option, and basically turn the mob into a lynch mob. Did that on the lower Klickitat a few years ago. Gotta admit, it was fun. Caveat: sometimes the standard gear works better, too. That may be why it became standard.

[Steelheadin360]

All about where and why. Certain heights and water colors fish prefer one or the other. Certain drifts fish prefer one over the other. Certain rivers they prefer one or the other. Totally depends on a million things and the only way to learn is to fish A LOT and learn through experience. Try both and go get em!

Danny pretty much covers it here. There is a time and place for both. Sometimes both work in the same section of river.

I think some of the best fishermen come prepared to fish a few different ways. Lets say your going to a hatchery hole and you know the fish are there, but wont bite, you gotta be able to change it up and entice one of those chrome rockets to hit.

But if I had to choose between eggs or jigs, I would pick jigs for a few reasons. Eggs work because the fish visually cue in on them and they have a smell fish love. But you are limited when it comes to color selections for eggs. With jigs its almost endless, and there is jigs that look like shrimp, eggs, fluffy jigs, skinny jigs. You can have a selection of a dozen different jigs and hook fish almost anywhere. You can also tip those jigs with sand shrimp or prawn and put some smell in the water.

[fishinChristian]

For the original question, S360 (sounds like a fast expensive car! fC sounds more like you're cursing Charlie!) did a great summary. If I had to fish with just one presentation for pretty much all fish (shudder!!!), I'd quickly choose jigs.

[TrophyHunter]

spin to win!!!