New Wave Jigging: The Future Is Now
by Keith Kavajecz & Gary Parsons

Jump into our time machine and have a look at the future of jigging for walleyes. Here, we'll use line so sensitive that you can not only feel the bottom, but the difference between rocks and mud. The feel of a fish taking the bait will be unmistakable. In the future we'll be able to use lighter jigs than ever before to make it easy for fish to inhale the bait. Fishing rods will be a bit more limber, which makes playing walleyes even more fun. The reels will have no play in the handle so setting the hook is instantaneous. And jigs will ring the dinner bell to draw walleyes to them and increase the number of bites.

Believe it or not, fellow walleye fans, the future is now.

Let us tell you about a new system of jigging for ol' marbleye and cousin sauger that is almost as simple as it is effective. Although it is a super refinement of techniques that have been around for awhile, beginners and experts alike will be able to start catching fish with it right away.

The core of this system is Berkley FireLine. This product uses micro Dyeema fibers that are thermo-fused to create a super thin, no stretch line that has the best properties of both the braided super lines and monofilament. It's thin and non-stretch like the braids, but has some texture to it, like monofilament. It also allows the use of almost any normal knot--our favorite being a simple polamar knot. Like monofilament, FireLine has good knot strength--unlike braids which tend to break. How strong is it? We predominantly use 6-pound FireLine which has the diameter of 2-pound test monofilament. We've caught many trophy fish over 10 pounds, including one giant weighing in at an incredible 15.8 pounds! Not a single fish has broken off yet. And we can routinely haul three and four-pounders right over the side of the boat without the line breaking.

FireLine makes jigging easy because it is so fine and sensitive. Veteran river jiggers will appreciate how easy it is to keep the line vertical in current because the thin diameter doesn't let the current push it around as much. And whereas wind used to be one of the biggest annoyances for all jigging scenarios, the fine diameter means it won't billow with the subsequant loss of feel like mono does.

We're not sure how the rest of the fishing world will like it--it might not catch on among bass fishermen and muskie addicts--but it is perfect for jigging up walleyes. As pro fishermen, we don't switch to something unless it means more fish in the boat, and since the fall of '95, all of our jigging rods have been spooled with FireLine.

The thinner diameter and added sensitivity also means you can use lighter jigs. We've found that we can usually drop a whole size. For example, where we'd normally use 1/4-ounce jigs with monofilament, we can now use 1/8-ounce jigs. Smaller jigs allow for more efficient feeding as the lighter weight makes it easier for a walleye to inhale the bait, resulting in more fish coming in over the side of your boat.

Although traditional jig fishermen resist this new technology, we think that if they give it an honest try, their success will improve dramatically. There are just a few alterations you'll need to make.

First, you'll need to use a slightly lighter action rod. In the Walleye Angler Signature Series Rods we designed for the Walleye Angler Catalog, there are three rods that could be used for jigging. The best walleye jigging rod on the market today (in our humble opinions) is the model WS59JSH. Made with HM85 graphite (85 million modulus), Fuji SIC guides and #1-grade cork handles, it's unbelievable you can own a 5 foot 9 inch jigging rod this light and sensitive for about $100. We challenge anyone to compare this rod to rods priced twice as much. You'll be impressed. We also designed a 5'9" IM-6 jigging rod (model WS59JS) as well as a 6' IM-8 all purpose rod (WS60MS) that could also be used for jigging.

Second, you'll need a reel with a good drag system. We actually want the drag to slip slightly on the hook set so the jig doesn't tear out of the fish's mouth. We like Bass Pro's Pro Qualifier spinning reel model PQ10F, which features an excellent drag and infinite anti-reverse, which means there is no slop in the bail when setting the hook. If you are an angler that prefers a rear drag spinning reel, try the model PQ10R.

You'll find that your fishing style will change, too. While many veteran fishermen jigging in rivers have learned to watch their line to help detect strikes, you'll soon discover that the FireLine, thin and colored gray, is extremely hard to see. No problem. With a sensitive graphite rod, you'll be able to feel everything. But if you are a die-hard "line watcher", never fear, word is FireLine will soon be available in a very visible "solar green" very soon.

The line is great for casting, too. On a spinning rod, you can cast small jigs much farther than you can with monofilament.

Now, we're going to stop short of calling FireLine perfect. It has some drawbacks. First, unlike braids, it is not something you can put on in spring and remove in the fall -- it will wear at about the same rate as monofilament. You'll also notice that the foot above the jig will fray. While this doesn't seem to affect strength, it looks funny and can billow a bit in current. We've gotten in the habit of retying every hour or two. You'll also want to use some mono backing on your reel, because, like the new braided lines, FireLine is slippery and will spin on the reel. The mono backing is actually a good thing, though, since it means you don't have to put a whole 100-yard spool on each reel. We typically spool on about 50 yards when we change line. Lastly, make sure to be extra careful to avoid line tangles as they are almost impossible to get out.

The final part of this system is a jig that we started using a couple of years ago. It's called the Buck Shot Rattle Jig and comes from Northland Fishing Tackle. We never really thought that the jig itself could make a big difference in the number of strikes we got, until we started using these noisy rattlers. The jig has a long shank, something we really like for vertical jigging--and a silicone band with a single rattle. Because you can move the jig so sharply with the no-stretch FireLine, you can really create some sound with this rattle set-up. When we compared the number of bites on rattlers versus non-rattlers, we found that on the average we got twice as many on the rattler. Sometimes we got three times as many bites! We don't know if this will always be true--there will probably be times when non-rattlers will work better, depending on the mood of the fish--but for now we're going to keep Buck Shot Rattle Jigs as a front line option.

Northland also sells the Buck-Shot Rattle Rings separately to add to your own favorite jig style. We like customizing the Northland's Lipstick jig with rattles. The location of the eyelet gives it a good flipping up and down action--perfect for the Buck-Shot Rattle Ring.

We really encourage you to try the new jigging system. We know you won't be disappointed--it will definitely make you a more productive jig fisherman.