Jigs/Line/SoftPlastics

[chopper]

Hi, im a begginer. :)


I was givin advice my a forum memeber, to use 2 inch singletail pumpkin seed SP on a 1/8th Jighead.

Now, i know jack all about jigs, other then what they look like.

1- Now, if we assume i am to use a 1/8th jighead with a 2" SP on it.
Do i need to just at the end of my line attach a swivel, then a leader with a jighead on it, and my SP on the Jighead?

And when i cast, i can either leave it to sink on the bottom floor or leave it sunk and give it a few twitches every now and then?

What fish can i expect on a Jighead with a SP pumpkin seed single tail SP on it?

2- if i use a Squidgy silver fox color 50 mm SP, Do i need to put that also on a Jighead?

3- What are the best knots to use for swivel, hooks, jigheads?

4- What are the main purpose of Jigheads?
I want to be able to attract a variety of fish, just incase the place i go there are no bream :)

Thanks Guys let me know. its time for me to start becomin a pro :P

sorry for the high amount of questions

[TheJigJedi]

1... don't use swivels when ya use'n soft plastics. Use a line to line connection from your mainline to your leader....with a fairly long leader.

Fish the plastic usually bouncing it along the bottom with pauses between 'jigs'...takes a bit of gett'n used to to work it all out.

In rivers you'd stand a chance at gett'n bream, heaps of flatthead and the odd tailor.

2... Yeah mate, all ya softies go on jig heads unless ya using some other sort of carolina rig...but i'd say stick to the jigheads.

3... dont use swivels. I dunno what the line to line connection knot is called...and i dont know what the knots I use on heads is called either. But they've never failed...some1 else'll help ya out there.

4... main purpose of jigheads?...ah...give y a wieght to cast it, gives ya weight to get the plastic down the bottom and bounce along the bottom....and theres a hook on em...

[grunter]

Chopper, you can't go wrong if you learn/use the 'improved albright' for line to leader, and the uni-knot for attatching any thing else.
If you don't know these knots, run a search on the net, your bound to find something or check out Geoff Wilsons books.
These are the knots I use for light to medium tackle, qiuck and easy.

thats my opinion
Grunter

[chopper]

Thanks alot for the info guys, you helped me out alot.

I was at Kmart today, they had 25 % off all fishing equiptment, so i decided to buy myself a 1.8m/3-4 kg/5-28g cast weight class fibreglass rod, with light tip. Its a penn brand.

I also decided to buy Berkleys Smoke Color 6lb Fireline.

I still need to look for a suitable reel. The rod sticker says use a 1000 -1500 series Penn Reels.

So i will do some shopping and might get myself a 5-7 Ball bearing reel for my 6 lb line.

Any brands you reccomend?
How do the Okuma Avengers go?
Might get the AV15 or AV20, not sure yet, need you guys to tell me.
Also, if the reel can take 200 + yards of line, and my Fireline is only 125 yards, how do i go about this problem?

Do i use a monofilament line first then the fireline on top of that. Also my Fireline is 6lb, do i need to use 6lb monofilament line as a backer or 8lb etc?

Okuma website says that the AV15 has 2kg/105m. now i have 125 yards of fireline, which im assuming is about 110 m.
Can i just use the fireline straight onto the spool?
Let me know, thanks, sorry for all these questions.

[snag]

Hi Chopper,
Mate looks like your getting all the gear set up you will need.

There isnt a rule regarding what lbs leader to attach to you fire line it just come down to what fish you are going for.

I use 4 to 6 lbs leader for when im fishing bream flatties and whiting and go up to 8 to 10 lbs for jewfish, trevally.

Also 1/8th jig heads are good but having a varierty is better, like 1/16 and even 1/22.These different ones are for depth, current speed things of that nature, but you will find out im sure.

The main purpose of a jighead is to give weight for your plastic, all it is really is a hook with a built in sinker.;) Some of the guys even make there own.

Regarding you reel i suppose it depends on how much you want to spend.I like the diawa myself but some prefer shimano or even penn,personally the lighter the better, all that flicking can be sore on your wrist if the reels heavy.

Putting fireline on to your reel chopper is tricky, i find putting some ordanary line on first and then putting the fire line ontop of that work well.

And last of all there are some fishing web sites that actually have knot animations on and you can watch how to put different knots,very handy indeed.

good luck and look forward to you first post with pics of you first catches on S.P.;)

[chopper]

Snag,

thanks for all the info mate, appreciate it.

Now since my Fireline is smoke 6lb.

Im thinking of buying some cheap 6lb $4.50 Supix monofilament line as my backing, then ill add the Fireline on top of that.

I am after Bream and whiting usually. So can i still just use a 6 lb Leader? or should i go to 8 lb.?

- ill see if the tackle shop will do me a favour and attach my mono line and fireline together on the reel i buy, hopefully they will do it for free :P
thanks

[snag]

Hi Chopper,
Yes you can still use the 6lbs leader or even lighter if you want.
I also noticed you had a fish around botany the other day, where about do you live and if you get a chance try Iron Cove great to start on soft plastics and not as many snags about.
0 good luck;)

[chopper]

i live in the Fairfield Council District.

Lane cove is about 45 mins away for me. same with Botany Bay.


iron cove, ill check it out in the street directory now, see where abouts it is, might go this week.

Thanks mate

[snag]

Thats right same area as me Chopper,
If your heading down Iron Cove start around near the rowing club and work your way around, i even hit the canals and bridges, good starting place for soft plastics.

[chopper]

snag,

are you the dude that told me you were from Canely Heights Region?

im from St Johns Park.

ill check out the directory now, of iron cove, and ill see wehre the rowing club is.

thanks champ

[snag]

Same guy Chopper,
Mate we have to get a session happening soon, before it gets to hot and i start going for different fish.
P.M me and ill give you a few other spots that might help you.

[chopper]

i pmed you snag.

I will definetely fish alot during the hot season, around december, ill fish from 6 pm till 10 pm, hopefully ill get a big one.


tell me , will the fishes available now change during December/January?

thanks

[snag]

Chopper the fish dont change but i need variety been fishing bream all winter and soon the samon and tuna will be on, and ill be going for them and when sumer is finished back to the bream.

[chopper]

Snag,

at which locations can you target for Salmon and Tuna?

Parramatta ?

[snag]

Hi Chopper ,
Mate you need to go to the heads for those fish but is you are land based and in the middle of summer balmorial is the best spot.

[8footugly]

Originally posted by chopper
Snag,

at which locations can you target for Salmon and Tuna?

Parramatta ?

Chopper, in the cooler months you can get into the Salmon at the South end of Whale Beach also.

[chopper]

8footugly,

thanks for that, but do you mean the ends closer towards sydney harbour, or the ends closer towars actual parramatta?

[8footugly]

Originally posted by chopper
8footugly,

thanks for that, but do you mean the ends closer towards sydney harbour, or the ends closer towars actual parramatta? Mate Whale beach is no where near Parra. OK, when you get to the steetfront before the beach and park the car, its on your right as you look out to sea. The rocks start there and just follow them for about 200m until you get to a nice big flat ledge thats safe from wash, and you get the chance for Kings, Salmon, Tailor and Bream. If you actually keep walking along the rock headland you get to the Inner Ovens, a well known part of Sydney for land based game fishing...in particular ballooning for Kings and Tuna.