odd'ball/knuckle head jigs

[SEMOmike]

Just wondering if either one of these is worth the money. I don't have many areas here in southeast Missouri or southern IL to fish for walleye but do quite a bit of fishing for sauger in a couple of rivers that typically have a lot of current in the winter/early spring. I typically use a 1 or 1 1/4 ounce jig head, but would like to go lighter if I can maintain vertical with these. I did notice that the odd'balls do have a 3/4 ounce version, but I have fished with gumball at 3/4oz. and its tough to keep vertical sometimes.

[Morton]

It sounds to me like you are using some pretty heavy hardware for saugers, but maybe the conditions call for it.

I know a jig that size is common on the Rainey.

I would search out some other current break areas and concentrate on boat control to slip the current.
I would think you could easily downsize to 1/2 or 5/8 ... or even smaller.

There are times I need to run both TM's to maintain a vertical presentation ...

To answer your question ... IMO the knuckleball is a goto some days and worth having in the box.

Morton

[Jason Erlandson]

For fishing in current I am not sure there are many jigs better than the Knuckle Ball Zone R. It is an awesome jig for eyes and saugers. They fish heavy because of their streamlined design. I would check them out on the Fin Tech web site.

Jason Erlandson

[SEMOmike]

I know it seems like a lot of weight, however the current is tough in both areas I fish. One is the tailwaters of a dam, and the other is the tailwaters of the falls of a water control structure, this area is 100 yards long at best. To be truthful, I have had very little success fishing anywhere but in the immediate vacinity of both.

Figured I could use the odd'ball at 3/4oz and keep it on bottom. I just don't know if any smaller would do the trick.

[Chase Parsons]

Definitely sounds like the Fin-Tech Zone R Nuckleball would help you out a ton. As Jason mentioned, they do have a streamlined head design (flat on the sides) and are available in weights that work for high current or deep areas. Can't imagine you're going to need more than a 3/4 in this style. Check em out at www.jigfish.com

[Johnnie Candle]

Zone R all the way!!!!

Good advice here so far.

[Mike Kansas]

My favorite jig in current is a Darter Jig. Their shape actually sheds current and being center balanced helps keep them vertical.

Mike Kansas

[chitterchad]

I use the Zone-R-Jigs in the Detroit River and there great in current.

[flipp19585901]

with all this good info I ordered some zone-r-jigs,,always the place to go for smart info from smart fishermen ,thanks

[smoker62]

I use the zone r 's . I love them and all the Knuckleball jigs. I dont use many other styles anymore.

[Prov275]

Zone R All The Way.

[SEMOmike]

Ordered some last night. Picked up the 3/4oz and 1/2oz. Figure I will see if they will work.

Thanks

[chitterchad]

Ordered some last night. Picked up the 3/4oz and 1/2oz. Figure I will see if they will work.

Thanks

You won't be disappointed, there great. When you make your next purchase don't for get the Knuckleball jigs. :)

[T Mac]

In current they are great. Also great for casting and dragging a jig back.
Another good river jig is the "Perfection" jig... by www.wahoofishingproductsinc.com
They stay upright very well and work nice for dragging, as well.
Unfortunately, Perfection dealers can be hard to find....and 3/8 is heaviest.

[owens212004]

Fintec Jigs are the way to go, work really good with plastics in weedless applications

[SEMOmike]

Got the Zone R jigs in the mail today. They look good. However how would you guys rig these for sauger fishing? I usually tie my own bucktails on the regular gumball heads and attach a stinger hook. Doesn't really look like that will be possible on the Zone R because of the way that the actual jig head is attached to the hook. I guess I could use a plastic rigged weedless and attach the stinger on the exposed hook, but then where do I tip it with a minnow?

I'm going to have to try to do some jig draggin for walleye with these on the Black River this winter. These are really going to help verticle jigging.

[Gary Parsons]

T Mac
Thanks for letting me know that the Perfection Head is still being sold. I'm the original developer of the jig... made the first one to mold out of dental wax. I've been dying to get my hands on some as they are fantastic casting jigs also. Thanks for the link!
Gary

[owens212004]

I wish the Zone R came in 1/4 and 3/8... I use the knuckel in those sizes but I like the head design on the Zone R, it's kind of narrow and cuts through the current better.

One awsome jig for the rivers was the old Thumper Jigs made by Northland.. They switched the design of them a couple years ago and they are not the same.. Like I said I wish I was able to find a jig to mimic the old Thumper jig or a smaller / lighter Zone R jig. Anyone seen anything like I describe?

[T Mac]

T Mac
Thanks for letting me know that the Perfection Head is still being sold. I'm the original developer of the jig... made the first one to mold out of dental wax. I've been dying to get my hands on some as they are fantastic casting jigs also. Thanks for the link!
Gary

You are welcome, Gary.....always lookin out for you. ;) ;)
Good job on that idea for a great jig head shape. I kind of remembered you had come up with that design.
I agree with you..great for casting, too

I have an idea on how to improve them ...
(Check your PM box)

[chitterchad]

I wish the Zone R came in 1/4 and 3/8... I use the knuckel in those sizes but I like the head design on the Zone R, it's kind of narrow and cuts through the current better.


I'm with you on the Zone-R-Jig coming out in 1/4 & 3/8oz, there some spots that I fish on the Detroit River were I don't need anything bigger because of the depth being shallow.

[dagda7]

Ordered some last night. Picked up the 3/4oz and 1/2oz. Figure I will see if they will work.

Thanks
Can you tell me where I can purchase the knucklehead jigs? Thanks, Dagda7

[Pezman38]

Can you tell me where I can purchase the knucklehead jigs? Thanks, Dagda7

www.jigfish.com

Scheels has them, and most BPS.

I used a knuckleball exclusively in Canada this year and was very disappointed in the hook. It didn't stay sharp for more than 8-10 fish, and then it was extremely hard to sharpen. I emailed the company with no response. Not sure if I just had some bad ones, or if they use sub par hooks.

BPS XPS jigs hooks performed excellent when I switched.

[bfish]

SEMOmike,
I am looking for some sauger jigs, I believe like you are using. I posted a link to pictures in this thread: http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185828

If you have a source for bare heads for me to powder paint and tie on, that you would care to share, that would be fantastic.

Sometimes you can find football heads in the heavier weights. My concern with knucklehead/odd ball jig shape is them rolling with the heavy current, requiring an even heavier head.

[REW]

No question, go with the odd ball when working the heavy current.

Fish that live in heavy current are very aggressive.

I have caught many tiny sauger that were about 6-8 inches long when fishing down 80 feet in the tail waters below a dam using 1 1/4 oz jigs. These little guys had no issue at all to completely swallow a jig of this size. They have to be aggressive to survive in these turbulent conditions.

They live there because that is where the food is tumbling about in the swirling waters of the tail race.

Be safe and catch a bunch.

REW

[SEMOmike]

Grizzly Jig in Caruthersville , MO has them and all the siZes youcould need. They have a website. If not on there ice them a call, they should have them

[bfish]

I have not seen them on Grizzly's website or catalog. I have ordered crappie stuff from them in the past, good service. Looks like I will be making another order. Thanks for the intel.