Dance a Jig

[Big Skyz]

While all y'all in the south and east are having a nasty winter, it's actually really quite nice out here this year. Most days are in the upper 40's to mid 50's. With this unusually early/warm spring the ice is disappearing fast around here. I actually found enough open water yesterday to dance a marabou jig through some open holes. I absolutely love fishing these jigs that I get from Kit's Tackle out of Helena. The fish seem to love them even more than I do. One of the things that is really cool though is all trout seems to like to hit them as is evidence by the variety of fish on this quick little outing after work last night. I was fortunate to land about a dozen trout in two hours and missed about that many strikes as well. I love it when the fish are active and feeding like that!

First up to bat was a beautifully marked rainbow.


Next up a couple of browns. I was surprised at how much these two browns looked alike even though they were caught about a 1/4 mile apart.


The only thing bothering me a little is how skinny all the fish were. Hopefully with the warmer temps the bug hatches will start and fatten these snake skinny fish up a little.


Last but not least was this super fun surprise. Prior to last night I had only caught 2 brooke trout out of this particular creek. Needless to say catching one is a rare occurrence. The photo doesn't do this fish justice, but he is one of, if not the biggest brooke trout, I've ever caught out of a creek. I had just caught a brown trout right before him that I measure at 15". This brookie was a little longer. I meant to measure him, but I got so caught up in trying to take a quick photo and get him back in the water, that I forgot to put a tape measure on him. Oh well, maybe I will catch him again someday and he might be even bigger.

[Chicken Dinner]

Man, that's a nice brookie. Around here, that'd be a bigger trophy than some of those huge browns you catch.

[Big Skyz]

Chicken Dinner, trust me, I was doing a happy Jig Dance when I landed that brookie.

[LJ3]

Nice feeshes!

So... tell me how you fish those jigs? do you bottom bounce them or keep them suspended or just keep messing around till you find what the fish like that day?

[Big Skyz]

Len, I generally try to keep them off the bottom in order to avoid snagging on rocks and stuff. Yesterday however most of the fish seemed to be in the lower water column so I kept the jig fairly deep. On days when they are in the upper water column I run it a little fast to keep it from getting too deep. One rule I hold fast to though, if you see a fish rise, always cast for the circle. As in the circle formed on the water by the fish rising. I would say about 80% of the time if I see a fish rise and I can land my jig in the circle before is dissipates I will get a hit and usually land the fish. That little fact drives a lot of my fly fishing friends crazy as they frantically try to match the hatch.