Posted by Scully on 2002 AM:
The "Other Jig", A real "hairy story"
As I sit here sweltering
in the 90 degree mid April heat, I am taken back to one year ago today and a
story I wrote for the Foxwoods Bass Challenge news letter, "The
Limit".
The Column.....
"Man its cold" I yelled. Reaching back, I pulled the hood of my down
jacket over my head. My eyes began to tear from the wind, which was now
whistling and swirling inside the cockpit as we sped down the lake. It was
mid-April in the Northeast, but it seemed more like early February. According
to the calendar it was spring, but someone must have forgotten to remind
"Old Man Winter", because he was having a ball today.
Pat Xiques, a good friend, and I were fishing one of the premier smallmouth
lakes in this area, Candlewood Lake. Located in Southeastern Connecticut, this 5500 acre impoundment offers outstanding
fishing for a variety of species. Known primarily for its smallmouth fishery,
the lake harbors an outstanding population of largemouth bass as well. Today
however, the smallies were on the menu, if we didnt freeze to death first.
Our first stop of the day was a steep bank adjacent to one of the many spawning
flats on the Northwest end of the lake. Over the years, this type of location
has proven to be a consistent producer during this early pre-spawn phase. I
turned off the big motor a ways off the shore and brought us closer under
electric power, positioning the boat to take advantage of the wind and
structure.
Crossing my cold fingers, I made my first cast of the season, hoping the
smallmouth were here just as they had been for the previous two years. The
answer wasnt long in coming...."Im in " laughed Pat. Carefully
playing the fish on his ultra-light equipment, Pat fought the chunky two pounder,
back reeling as the the smallmouth surged at the boat. "Woa, come back
here little fella" he chuckled. As I watched this side show, my attention
turned to what was now happening at the other end of MY line.
I felt no sudden jolting strike, no tell tale tap, just the weight, as my rod
loaded up. I "worried" the hook home and was fast into a bronze
beauty of my own. It didnt take long for me to realize this was a good fish.
The smallmouth swam directly at the boat as I stuggled to catch up with her. I
was ready for that "maniac move", you know the one...the under the
boat, past the trolling motor, under and around the big engine (twice) then
just to throw me a curve ball....repeats the manouver!!! ... Yes that move.
Well, as you might imagine I was now back reeling for all I was worth and had
managed to stay with this fish through all of her "shenanigans". This
was just long enough for her to come up next to the boat, look me in the eye,
and return my little hair jig whether I wanted it back or not. Phewttt!...Man I
hate when that happens. Thank God it was the beginning of the day.
Early in the spring, when the water temperatures are still in the mid to upper
forties, you can experience some of the best smallmouth fishing of the year,
especially for big fish. The location, just as at other time of the year is
very important. In my oppinion, there are two key factors to remember when
trying to locate early spring smallmouth and they are..1. spawning areas
and...2. steep structure breaks adjacent to those areas. If there happens to be
an inside bend associated with the structure, all the better. During this time
of year, smallmouth will stack up in areas like this and the fishing at times
can be fast and furious.
Pat and I worked the area for the better part of two hours and caught enough
fish during that time to keep moderately warm on a very cold day. Did I mention
snow? Yes it flurried a bit than changed over to a light rain than back to
flurries. Springtime fishing, you gotta love it. We chose our next spot, a long
sand flat that was no deeper than three feet on top. This flat featured some
chunk rock and a few sizeable boulders as well. The key to the area was an
almost vertical drop into twenty feet of water on the outside edge. The edge,
an all rock ledge that was not very wide had two distinct and well defined rock
slides located on it about 50 yards apart. A "spot on a spot".
The action here rivaled the first and we caught enough smallmouth to consider
the day a success, regardless of the weather. This success, in my opinion, can
be correlated to our choice of tackle and equipment as well as the location. We
were fishing hair jigs on ultra-light equipment on 4 and 6 pound test line.
Fishing a hiar jig during the early spring is no great revelation. There are
many successful anglers who do just that, though there are equally as many who
dont for one reason or another. Most likely those anglers have never tried, or
are not comfortable fishing such light weight equipment for such a powerful
adversary.
A "hair jig" is just what it claims to be. Some hair, take your
choice, deer hair, marabou, fox etc. tied around a ball head jig (mostly). A
very simple bait. One of the few decission you have to make besides color is
whether to dress it up with a pork chunk or piece of rubber worm or to fish it
"as is". Let me offer a word of advice.....NEVER put anything on the
back of a hair jig at this time of year. This is primarily a subtle bait and
the less action you impart, the better.
There are many ways to fish this bait and here are a few of my favorites. Cast
the jig out and let it settle to the bottom. Point your rod tip straight down
and reel the jig back to the boat slowly, keeping in occasional contact with
any cover. This presentation seem to work best when fishing shallow flats. When
fishing deeper water I still utilize the same slow, steady retrieve, but I
concentrate more on keeping the jig in the lower 30% of the water column, and
off the bottom. When fishing vertical drops with cover on them, I try to stay
in contact with that cover. Your fishing is now more vertical than horizontal,
but the movement in your presentation should still be slow. I rarely move the
jig more than a few inches off the cover when fishing this type of break. Its
here you want to "listen for the bite".
Completely satisfied (for the moment), Pat and I decided to call it a day. As
we were loading the boat on the trailer we spoke with a pair of fishermen who
had aslo braved the elements to put in a day on the water. A quick glance at their
equipemt told us that we werent the only ones tuned into the right station
today. As we exchanged some pleasantries Pat remarked.."Well, at least we
all have a few good fish stories to share on the ride home. "We sure do I
noted, some real "hairy ones". The laughter came easily....
Hope you enjoyed the piece.
Scul
Posted by joe pido on 2002 PM:
nice story, Ray
..and quite informative
too. Cant wait to try this out at Bantam 
....
What kind of rod/reel combo do you recommend and what line test...
see ya next week...
joe
Posted by Scully on 2002 PM:
I use a 6' light action
St Croix Premier series rod with a Team Daiwa 1300 with 6 lb test or a series 700
with 4 lb test.
Ray
Posted by John/NH on 2002 PM:
Ray,
Some of us up here in NH (clear water) use hair jig's a great deal / myself
included.
The best results are those made from any of the following fur bearing animals:
Deer, Moose, Beaver, Squirrel and even Bear.
A couple of local guys tie them on 1/8 oz to 1/2 oz jigs with almost any size
hook.
Our best success ratio comes with light jigs (black or black-brown or brown and
a bit of craw color) in the 1/8 to 1/4 oz size and jig them on 4 lb or 6 lb
test.
Great in drop offs, weed lines, rock, gravel and rivers.
There's nothing as exciting as a hit from an early season smallie on a well
presented jig on light tackle - (but then of course there is always the thrill
of a big LM on a surface plug).
Hope all is well,
John/NH
PS: 3 of my trail buddies spent the day on Winni on Sunday. They had a banner
day with silver buddies in 30' of water = about 50+ fish each and they ranged
from 2 Lbs. to low 4's.
My new boat is ready and I am heading for the jig spots this weekend.
Posted by JOHN G on 2002 PM:
Great story buddy as always...felt like I was there, also, I am trying to envision the exact spot you are talking about, I have fished the two upper arms more extensively than any other spots...... JOHN G
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Posted by patx on 2002 PM:
Great work Scul!
ahhhhhhhh....memories! I wish both you and I would have enough hours in our day
to write down all the times we spent on the water together. Thanks for keeping
me in mind my friend.
"The best is yet to come"
Pat Xiques
Posted by JPBass on 2002 PM:
Nicely
done..................Now gimme the GPS numbers!! LOL
Seriously though, well put.
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