help me choose a rig for this this situation

[Mottman]

Hello all. In a few weeks i will be heading up to Lake Alice (Near Tomahawk, WI) to fish Walleyes. We will likely be jigging. The lake is a flowage of the WI River and has LOTS of submerged stumps to snag frequently (My ever dwindling supply of jigs demonstrates this!) What I'm wondering is what pole (2 part please as my Saturn SC2 doesn't accommodate a long pole), and reel I should look at with a budget of about $50 or less). Thanks!

[michrick]

Consider a medium weight spinning or baitcasting rig. If the water is stained you can use Fireline tied straight to the jig and this should pull out most wood snags. Try some of the snag resistant jigs from Lindy. Not really a believer in 2 piece rods but for jigging you shouldn't need anything longer than 6 ft.

[REW]

The post is right on -
The lindy timber jig, the Bohn timber jig, the NOrthland weed weasel all do a great job, of helping to avoid snags.

Try a Cabellas tournament pro - two piece rod in a medium light action. Nice light and less than $50.
Another rod that will work well for your application is the Bass Pro microlight in a light or medium light application. These rods are less than $40.

One of the biggest reasons for snags, is not paying attention to what is going on with the bottom. i.e. don't just let the jig drag on the bottom. Keep it hopping and skipping, and staying in touch with - but not necessarily dragging on the bottom. Actually, in a lot of cases, I think that simply using a good 6 lb mono - will work just as well. With the possibility of a lot of snags, don't get too hung up on the bottom and concern (sorry about the pun).
Knowing that the bottom is snaggy, get a bunch of timber jigs, and don't worry about snagging and tearing one off.

If you want to straighten the hooks and reuse, use 15-20 lb fire line, and a dowel, and you can simply straightn the hooks and reuse the jig, after using a pliars to straighten the hook. You will not get quite as many bites, with the heavier line, but if you don't want to lose jigs, this is the ticket.

However, I have found that if you get hung up big time, have to straighten the hook to retreive the jig, tha often, the jigs hook tip is in such bad shape, that it doesn't make sense to try to file it back to shape. Often, you will find, that most of the hooks point is simply gone. IF you refile a point, the hook loses its nice long taper that makes it so effective. In these cases, it is best to pitch the jig, and tie on a new jig.

Take care
REW

[REW]

p.s.
Don't ever use your rod, to try to retreive the jig.
Grap the line - use an open bail on your rod, to give you plenty of slack in the line - to retreive the jig and or tear off the line.
If using fireline, either use a good glove, or wrap the line a few times araound a dowel to retreive the line, and not take a cut in the hand.


I simply say this because I have seen too many folks jerking their rod, trying to free a bait, and then having a broken rod for their trouble. It makes no sense to break a rod - $20 -$500 - rather than simply tearing off the line and mayby losing a $3 bait.

Take care
REW

[Lund AnglerMJ]

Stump-filled fishing,I go with a short snell,Lindy rig.Get some light wire type hook's,aberdeen ones,and some weedless hooks.Timber jigs,I saw someone say,I agree.Get them too.Flouresent colors,and heavy line...10# and keep constant contact with the rig,or jig you use.Slow down the drift if you keep banging stumps.Try and work the stump,not drift by and snag 'em.Good luck,sounds like a place for some good fish.