Jigging when to set hook?

[DNR]

Missing alot of bites letely dont like stingers any good jiggers with any setting tips do the walleye usually hit harder if they are a few feet of bottom?

[perchjerker]

Im no expert, but then I DONT feel anything (meaning the weight of the jig) I set the hook. Lots of times they suck it in so fast that all you feel is the lack of weight.

[chamookman]

DNR - Once in a while, You have to hesitate a nano second to allow a 'Eye to suck in a jig. This is especially true if You are tipping with bait in cooler/cold temps and they aren't "slamming" the lure. I've eliminated this problem by fishing straight plastic year round - sure keeps My hands warmer, not dipping minners and I'm back in action ALOT faster after catching a fish. Hope this helps - Bob

[bountyhunters]

when you feel ANY diff set the hook .they most of the time hit when the bait is dropping .all you;ll feel is a very small tap .set it .times you feel nothing .then the rod gets a little heavy ,set it .

[Steve G]

The method that works for me is to hesitate, sometimes just slowly tipping (not giving slack)the rod toward fish and then set the hook. I have tried the hook set method mentioned by others but never had much success. I am vertical jigging 99% of the time, when using this method.
Steve G.

[Badger 05]

One thing that I do when vertical jigging is intently watch the line. If it moves in any un-natural way I stick em. Often it is a very slight movement to one side or the other of a few inches or less. I usually don't "feel" anything when this happens. There is not always a fish there, but the first time you do it after seeing a little line movement and you get one, you will be convinced. I also constantly think of a quote that I read a few years ago, I don't remember who it was attributed to but here it is "when you get a bite, set the hook!, they are not picking the thing up with their FINS for gods sake!"

Fishing is: One jerk waiting for another jerk at the end of his line

[REW]

One thing that really helped me for those days when the bite was very light and that was to go to a lighter action rod.

Rather than using a medium or medium light action rod - go to a light action rod.

Use very sharp hooks and you will have no problem setting the hook.
The lighter action rod, gives you an extra part of a second to feel the fish before it feels you spits out the bait.

Make sure that the rod you get is a good one and ultra sensitive.

--
As one of the other folks pointed out -
use high vis line and become a tip watcher. Many times the bit is so light that you won't feel it, but you will see your rod tip flutter. Again, this is a good reason to use a lighter action rod. The lighter action rod allows a bit of tip movement without having the fish feel you. Also, with the high vis line, be sure to watch the line. Now and then, depending on how you jig, you will have a slack line. If you have a high vis line, you can see the line twitch on the slack line that you would not be able to see with a less visable line.

Another thing - go down in jig size.
If you are using 1/4 oz jigs, go down to 1/8th oz. If you are using 1/8th oz, go down to 1/16th oz.
On this subject - it reminds me of a time this spring fishing with my buddy on a dark rainy morning. The bite was very tough, and we had done a lot of jig switching until we found a jig that was working. I had the good fortune to boat a dozen fish. My buddy also had the misfortune to get a dozen bites, but didn't boat any. We were using the identical bait (we thought). Near the end of the morning, we both happened to have our jigs swing though the air at the same time and touch each other. As we untangled the jigs, we noticed the difference. I had on a 1/8th oz jig, and he had on a 3/16th oz jig. We had thought they were the same but he had on a jig that was a bit heavier. I gave him a 1/8th oz jig, and he didn't miss any more fish. Apparently the slight weight difference, on this particular morning gave the fish the chance to mouth the jig just long enough to allow for a hook set.

--
Conversely, when the fish are biting well, the jig size is much less apparent. I was river fishing in a deep hole below a dam. The water was about 75 feet deep. In order to get down to this depth and in the current, we were using 3/4 oz jigs. Big enough to knock out the fish. Many of the saugers that we were catching were only about 8 inches long. So, if the fish are biting well, the size of the jig makes no difference at all. When one pulled up these very small saugers, the 3/4 oz jig would be half way to their vent. So, even small fish have a large enough mouth to easily inhale a jig of this size and hook it well if interested.

Take care
REW

[Burr]

If your having trouble with setting the hook when jig fishing, find bigger fish! Those big sumo's rarely have a problem inhaling all of whatever you've got down there.

[RANGER]

BINGO.......exactly!!!! Any "change" SET THE HOOK!! A missed "set" is better than no fish at the other end.

:cheers: