Shakey head jig fishing

[JORDAN54]

I fish alot of clear lakes and have beeen using the shakey head setup with 10 pound monofilment line. Even though I have alot of success, I am still losing some fish. I am wondering if anyone has tried using fireline with a monofilment leader attached, and would this setup be better?

thanks in advance

[Rebbasser]

Powerpro with a fluoro leader. Works pretty well for me. Also, are your hooks sharp? That causes more lost fish than anything IMO-if they aren't sharp you will lose more fish.

[bassthumb32]

like reb said check the hooks if the hook doesnt go through the mouth your going to have a hard time bringing it in.

[bassfisher02]

Mono has a lot of stretch, take Reb's advice and use powerpro with the flouro leader.

[jigfisherman]

I am new to this site, but I will give my input. I have found that if you set the hook sideways and not stright up you will not lsoe as many fish. I make my on Shakey Heads and thats all have been fishing lately, I was loseing alot of fish also until I started setting the hook that way. Here is a picture of some of the ones I have made.

[bassfisher02]

Originally Posted by jigfisherman

I am new to this site, but I will give my input. I have found that if you set the hook sideways and not stright up you will not lsoe as many fish. I make my on Shakey Heads and thats all have been fishing lately, I was loseing alot of fish also until I started setting the hook that way. Here is a picture of some of the ones I have made.

I dont know about that Jigfisherman, sweeping hooksets have a good chance of pulling a hook from the fishes mouth, whereas setting it straight up will always give you the highest chance of hooking the fish. Just think, sweeping hooksets can pull the hook from the fishes mouth, but going straight up will always keep the hook in the mouth.

[jigfisherman]

I read an article on it about 2 or 3 issues ago in Bassmaster mag and KVD was talking about and said he has better luck by sweeping it, so I tried it and it seem to produce for me also.

[bassfisher02]

Hm, well who knows. I've always gotten more hook ups setting the hook straight up to my left shoulder. But i guess it can vary.

[jigfisherman]

I too have always set it straight up on any and everything, it was hard to get used to. Give it a try it may work and it may not.

Thanks,
Brad

[bassfisher02]

I used to use sweep sets a lot, and dont get me wrong i'd catch fish, but i was also losing quite a bit, they'd be on and then half way through the fight just throw the hook, this happened ratrher often. Then i was fishing with my stepdad one day and he suggested that i try the straight up hook sets, and this was a long time ago... since then i've been getting a lot more hook sets. I still lose the occasional fish, but thats to be expected. But in my case i certainly noticed the difference between fish landed on the sweep hook set and the upward hook set. I believe it must depend on the fisherman.

[leroy]

I think its this particular bait. I do a lot better with a sweeping hookset as well. But everything else I do it the other way.

[skeeter944]

I like to sweep the hook, but yall just do whatever yall have confidence in.

[bassnman30]

Check the action of the rod. I went from a light rod to a med. rod to a med. heavy rod. No more problems. With a stiffer rod you can set the hook and not worry about the fish comming off. (normally)

[bassthumb32]

If Its A Longer Cast And The Line Will Stretch More You Will Prolly Need A Sweep Setting To Compensate For The Line Strething But If It Is Not Very Far Away A Quick Snap Up Will Set The Hook. Try To But Jigs With Small Hook Diameters. They Will Penetrate Much Faster And Easier.

[Rebbasser]

jigfisherman, those are some good looking jigheads.

[jigfisherman]

Thanks, they work really good also.