Lake Erie - Jig Fishing

[Denied]

Those of you that jig fish on erie, what method do you use?
Anchor, Drift, trolling motor, etc.?

[Gregg]

Dean,

In front of Besse, I'll drift and drag 1/4 to 3/8 oz. jigs tipped with minnows depending on the wind. Lipstick jigs work well for dragging. On the reefs, I can use my bowmount electric and pitch 1/8 to 1/4 oz. jigs and pop 'em off the bottom or use blade baits. Early on, I usually anchor up off Catawba or Marblehead and vertical jig pimples, rapalas, or big jigs (all tipped with minnows).

It is a lot of fun whatever style you use. 3" Mr. Twister glow twister tails are my go-to size and color.

Good luck,

Gregg

[RANGER]

#1 method is drifting. If the winds are too strong or non-existent we go to the electric, method #2. Rarely, and I do mean - Rarely - does an anchor go over the side. I may have used an anchor once in the last two to three years. Quite frankly, I can't remember how long ago it was! Drifting is the numero uno method for jigging.

[confused about your intentions]

You show a website link for charter business so , you already know what works, how bout telling the others about your tricks you learned over the years. you must be pretty bored .

[FJH1]

It is my understanding from reading Dean's site in the past that he is not a charter captain and does not accept charters. Look at his site, it is chock full of information about how, where and when to fish Erie. I think the man simply thoroughly enjoys fishing the lake and is looking to expand his techniques.

Best Regards,

FJH

[Lund_Dude]

Dean is a great guy who shares an abundant amount of information both on his site and here. Dean is one of the first guys to offer locations and hot patterns for Erie. It is unfair to criticize him for asking a simple question.

As for me, I prefer to drift with a drift sock. Generally we fish with one guy using a blade (like a Zip) and the other with a jig/minnow combo until we determine what the fish prefer. I am certainly no expert as I get out to Erie for about 1 weekend in the spring for jigging.

[Bob Z]

Mr. Confused is indeed confused.

[JerryA]

Dean,
Good topic for conversation. I haven't done much jigging and am interested in the different techniques people use so I can try them this spring. Anyone ever use bucktail jigs? I tie my own, mainly in white, and was wondering if they would work.

Keep up the great work on your site. I really appreciate it.

[perchjerker]

I agree with the others about Dean. He has provided tons of good info here about fishing.

Whenever I see a post from him I always check out what he has to say.

[RANGER]

Me too!

[Boatnut]

Hey..maybe you should actually GO to Dean's link BEFORE you start making poor assumptions! You just might learn something! I know I have as Dean's site has ton's of useful info as well as almost daily reports. To my knowledge, Dean is NOT a charter captain...just a good guy who loves to fish and share his expertise.
I believe most of his fishing is trolling and he's probably just looking to try something a little differnt, hence his origianl post.

[Fish Hound]

Great question Dean. I was thinking about asking the same and had to leave for awhile this morning. The only thing I have ever done on Lake Erie is Drift with weightforward spinners and troll the last 2 years. I know some of the fishing persons jig with blade baits with 1 to 3 minnows on the hooks in the spring. I didn't know if anyone used a lead head (dressed or undressed) with bait or not. Thanks for the question and your great site. And all the help that you give here.
The Fish Hound
The Fish Hound

[Dan(MI)]

I first fished the islands reefs area a couple years ago. We tried the jigging thing, first we anchored over near rattlesnake island and jigged with jigging rapalas, mostly size 7's worked good. I have fished the reefs too. Pitching jigs worked great. Start off the reef, cast on top and let the jig tumble down. Also if its windy, dragging jigs off the sides of the reefs work well.
Basically I've had luck doing anything with jigs at all times of the years, like the previous post said blade baits work too.
Hey what can I say Lake Erie fish are easier than most.
Go Fishin
Dan

[John]

Dean,
I check out your web site frequently (daily during prime fishing season) and just wanted to say thanks for your generosity of time, tips, and helpful info for us weekenders! I am still a novice, and try to "soak up" valuable information from many sources, and your site is definitely near the top of the list, as well as this message board. From what I have learned, and from a little bit of experience, I jig fish (in the Detroit River)with round head jigs tipped with big minnows or plastic curly tails during March and April until the spawn is mostly over. Then switch to trolling in the western basin with reef runners or hot'n tots, but I'm going to try your trolling spoon presentation this summer.
John

[ebijack]

drifting dragging tubes or when in some of the deeper holes, maintain some boat control and spoon jig.

[Robertp]

I think you're too charitable. That's an uncalled for and stupid remark confused made.

I have appreciated many of the posts Denied has placed here and his sharing of info.

For jig fishing on the reefs I too have used from 1/8 to 1/2oz jigs, depending on the depth and stay close to the structure with the electric motor, much like we do in the inland lakes. The jig is tipped with a crawler. Some variations include adding a 2" twister ahead of the crawler and snapping on some small colorado or willow leaf spinners. Sometimes the jigging has been very effective when ther is no, or light, wind.

[Den]

I have used a gray squirrel tail for my eye jigs for a long time, and it does work for me. when i used to fish in the spring it was the go to jig tail combo . good luck and good fishin.
Den

[popeye91]

All of the above, Dean. As in most fishing situations I let the weather dictate my approach. One of my favorite ways of jig fishing is called snap jigging. You get a slow drift going, let out enough line to drag the bottom and pop the jig off the bottom, hence the name popeye. This method of jigging takes a fast action med-hvy rod, and I like to use fireline with most of my jig presentations. Have fun!

[bill brown(Ind)]

Me too...I want to thank Dean for all the good information he has on his web site...not only doed he provide this info, but I have personally e-mailed hime to ask for more specific information. He has always responded in a quick & informative way. Thanks again & please keep up the good work. Bill Brown

[ollie 13]

Dean I too have enjoyed reading your post and you have hit the jackpot with answers to your question. There is some very good info listed in these post and I will agree with all of them with one minor exception. We primarily fish with a small boat in the spring and have to be especially careful in picking our days on the Big Lake, so for us, anchoring is always are first consideration because we drift too fast with almost any wind. Find fish on your locator and start jiggin. Good luck Ollie

[Jim Ordway]

My buddy Jerry likes to have a gold spinner blade flapping during a drift over a heavy jig or rig. I keep trying to prove the gold blade is no better than other methods.... I have not been overly successful.
Keep up the good work,

[Denied]

Many thanks to all who have contributed to this posting. My reason for asking was two fold, first to improve my knowledge of a fishing method that I have not use very much and second to gain information to write a "helpful hint" topic for my web site. You folks have come through with some great input, now we will see what kind of a job I can do in sorting this all out and putting it into words. Give me a while to work on it then check it out.
Regards to all, dean

[ADO]

I love to jig fish, especially since I have three or more people in my boat at one time most of the time. I prefer not to drag an anchor so if needed I use a drift sock. By the way Dean, I hit your web from this thread, great site. I'll put it in my favorites. Learning is a gift from all!!! ADO

[bob oh]

Dean, I love to jig and blade (maybe blade the most) and I seldom like anchoring. I go by how aggressive the fish are and the more aggressive they are the faster I like to drift. If the fish are aggressive I leave the drift sock in the boat and use big hair jigs and/or heavier blades. The more the nuetral the fish are the smaller I go with blades and especially jigs. I usually tip all jigs with plastic and minnows - I can't say the minnows actually help, but hey I hate to leave'em off in case they do :-) I don't know anyone who tips blades??? I also like jigging rappalas and swedish pimples but haven't used them much the last few years, but don't know why??
And Dean, don't worry too much about getting criticized, that's just part of playing on the Web :-)

[JCarp]

Dean - I have appreciated your web site for yrs.

Deep water vertical jigging @ "ice out" (Feb/March) using jigging raps and pimples both w/shiners. Use the flasher just like ice fishing. Used to put the transducer on a piece of car trim & c-clamp it to the side near the stern. Now I hang an ice fishing transducer (cord out center of top/self leveling) off a stick placed in a rod holder. If conditions allow, I use the electric to keep the baits in the transducer cone. If it's rough, I anchor or switch to drifting bouncer/spinner/shiners.

It's just tons of fun to see a mark & then catch it (or not). Now if the water will get and stay clear for awhile...

Best Wishes,
jc