March/April 2006 Volume 1, Issue 6
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©2006 Tsunami Fishing Systems

 
View From The Helm

Recent news items and commentary... 
Deep Jigging Seminar  |  Downrigger Seminar  |  PLBs vs. EPIRBs  |  Recent Articles       
We recently had the opportunity to attend a seminar on the Shimano Butterfly jigging system, put on by one of the Shimano Pro Staff at the Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show in San Diego. It really helped to clarify a number of points about the technique. Here are the things we found particularly enlightening:

  • Rod action is critical. If you are using a long, parabolic action rod for jig fishing, you need to swap it out for a faster action rod. The tip needs to give a  bit on the lift, then recover quickly. This type of action is needed to impart the proper action to the jig (a side-to-side darting action). Parabolic (slower) action rods can not do this.

    A shorter, lighter rod is also a good thing to have, due to the need for constant motion of the rod. Much less fatiguing. Since you are using super-braids with this system, a long rod is not needed to move the jig, even at depth.

  • Reels - A Stella or Trinidad is not required. The main things to look for are: speed of retrieve, a stout drag, and a rigid enough frame to withstand the heavy drag used.

  • The Retrieve - An interesting point had to do with speed of retrieve. When fishing deep with conventional jigs, we often used a technique called "yo-yoing". The jig is dropped to the desired depth, then the jig is reeled in as fast as possible. The Buterfly jig retrieve is NOT like this. The side-to-side darting action is what causes the reastion strike, so a crank-for-all-you've got straight vertical wind with these jigs is NOT desirable . A moderate speed pumping retrieve is all it takes, and is much less tiring than conventional yo-yo jig fishing.

  • Rigging the jig - The key is this: attach the line to the solid ring, which has the hooks attached. The jig is attached to the split ring. If you want to try a different jig, take the jig off the split ring, rather then re-tie. Rather than rig every jig with hooks, you only need a few of the solid/split ring setups, in case you break off.

    A split-ring plier is a must for this technique, and Shimano has developed a couple of advanced split ring pliers (their Baysteel series), which contain a couple of different feature for opening the rings, along with scissors capable of cutting super braid, and a specialized cutter for super-heavy mono.

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  • Selecting jig types - the long skinny jigs work better in a slightly more horizontal retrieve, rather than directly below the boat. The jigs that are a little more teardrop-shaped are ment for vertical jigging.

 

 

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