smarandr
Well-known member
I've been watching Big Sky's fishing threads with much envy the last couple of years and last weekend I was finally able to get out and see what I could do as a novice jig dancer.
Me, my dad, and my two oldest sons got the jon boat out and headed down to float a local river Friday morning and I wasn't disappointed. Right off the bat I hooked into a nice 18 incher (pictured). A bit further down I hooked into another fish and rightfully suspected that it was even bigger than the first--too bad it was a sucker.
Even further down I hooked into one that felt like a real monster; it hit the jig hard and then almost immediately jumped out of the water. I was having a tough time keeping it under control and thought I should adjust the drag, but as I tried to do so i let my tip down, the fish made another run and then it was gone, taking my jig with it. It's been a lot of years since I'd hooked into one that large and I was shaking for a few minutes afterwards. However, I managed to tie on another jig and within a few casts I'd hooked it again. But, like I said earlier I'm a novice when it comes to jigging and I must not have set the hook properly (if at all) and the fish got off quickly.
By the end of the float I'd caught four or five nice fish and my dad only nabbed one. I kind of consider that a big deal; all my life my dad has almost always caught more and bigger fish than I have whenever we go fishing. Suffice it to say after my experience this weekend I'm a big believer in the marabou jigs i bought.
Perhaps even more importantly my kids (even though the picture doesn't necessarily show it) had a blast. Of course, they were more interested in playing with the paddles most of the time, but they were just as giddy if not more so than I was when ever we reeled in a fish.
Me, my dad, and my two oldest sons got the jon boat out and headed down to float a local river Friday morning and I wasn't disappointed. Right off the bat I hooked into a nice 18 incher (pictured). A bit further down I hooked into another fish and rightfully suspected that it was even bigger than the first--too bad it was a sucker.
Even further down I hooked into one that felt like a real monster; it hit the jig hard and then almost immediately jumped out of the water. I was having a tough time keeping it under control and thought I should adjust the drag, but as I tried to do so i let my tip down, the fish made another run and then it was gone, taking my jig with it. It's been a lot of years since I'd hooked into one that large and I was shaking for a few minutes afterwards. However, I managed to tie on another jig and within a few casts I'd hooked it again. But, like I said earlier I'm a novice when it comes to jigging and I must not have set the hook properly (if at all) and the fish got off quickly.
By the end of the float I'd caught four or five nice fish and my dad only nabbed one. I kind of consider that a big deal; all my life my dad has almost always caught more and bigger fish than I have whenever we go fishing. Suffice it to say after my experience this weekend I'm a big believer in the marabou jigs i bought.
Perhaps even more importantly my kids (even though the picture doesn't necessarily show it) had a blast. Of course, they were more interested in playing with the paddles most of the time, but they were just as giddy if not more so than I was when ever we reeled in a fish.
Nice job working the jig and nice fish!
