Cheap vs Dearer Jigs
Submitted by Jarra on Mon, 2010-01-11 10:48
Has anyone noticed differences in the quality/action of cheap jigs compared to the dearer ones out there.
I realise that terminal tackle on the cheap ones needs to be changed. So i'm asking more about the action and durability.
Also taken into account the chance of bustoffs with tangles etc on charters where i do all my jigging for sambos.
bilby
Posts: 46
Date Joined: 30/12/08
I have some cheapies and
I have some cheapies and they are easy to bend...
egi egi egi
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Jigs!
For sambo's cheap or upmarket will do, they arent fussy and personally i use mid price jigs ie $20-$35. On charter you can looose em to line cross overs & sharks so cheap'er is fine also ie $10 plus, action not as important!
Demersals, the technology,design & swimming action means i'll spend the extra money to get a better quality jig that swims well and lasts along time.On fussy fish that can make the difference so I spend the extra, I stick to $20-50 jigs and dont loose hardly any at all so dont mind spending the extra for the rewards!
Deepwater demersal, you can by cheap'er but the finish isnt long wearing but they do the job. The more expensive jigs have a better swimming action due to the handmade process & design. On fussy fish that can make all the difference. I dont loose jigs out there at all so I dont mind spending the money. Most of my deepwater upmarket jigs I use are $100-140 each . My cheaper ones are $30-50 and still do the job but do better on the more expensive ones so thats my go-to jigs straight up!
I'll spend money on what works better, if its cheap'er than so be it, if its more $$$ so be it, you get what you pay for & with demersals the rewards are worth it especially when they're not on the chew!
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
I'll second Ryan
Mostly my jigs are fished on confidence.
If its snaggy, sharky, a charter or a mate new to jigging then cheapies for obvious reasons.
My next trip to exi, I wont really be pulling out the $30 jigs...well a few but my preference will be the cheaper versions......
I have a whole $$ range of jigs. Some are worth the $$ while some aren't. Fishing with mates helps so you can see the difference.
But like all fishing start cheaper and concentrate more on getting the technique and then spend some coin.
Jarra
Posts: 34
Date Joined: 16/12/06
For sambos would you change
For sambos would you change your jig weight to suit the conditions ie lighter jig for less drift?
Do you prefer a jig that shoots straight down or one that 'flutters' a bit.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
I usually pick jigs to match
I usually pick jigs to match the drift (fishing heavier than you need is usually more effort thans required). A lot of good fluttering jigs will drop straight down if you stop them before dropping and feed the line out with your fingers (kinda like thumbing an overhead but do the line directly). You can get them to flutter down at the bottom using the right action though.
For sambos though, high speed over fluttering in general though.
For demersal jigging at least, more expensive jigs tend to be better. (well, midrange, so 20s for me). Mostly you're paying for tried and tested action not just a cheap copy that looks the same but misses the point and doesnt work as well (i've seen one company come out with poorly finished/copied jigs, but charge as much as the japanese....). Not all expensive jigs are durable though. Shout suck for durability (they are great for action and catching fish though and fish dont care about a bit of paint chipping). Sea rocks do work for demersals (and good finish), but other jigs have more action. At the end of the day, you're paying to get out there (whether it be fuel, charter costs or time) so may as well use a decent jig that costs a bit more if you're demersal jigging (especially if you dont loose them often... I do occasionally, but makes me want those jigs more :p).
For sambos, a lot easier to go cheaper and save a bit of heartache. Searocks are my fav for that. SW labs jigs are good too (about $20 though). Cant find either of them though....
Some cheap ones suck though (bend way too easily, dont drop straight down given their reasonable weight, hard to work, sambos dont hit them). The williamson ones are ok, but not that cheap (comparitively). Sambo jig availability has been pretty crappy this season (luckily sambos have been good, at least for the start of the season).
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
It all depends Jarra
Drift will be one of the biggest considerations.
Personally I fish finesse with all my styles of fishing; which essentially means lightest possible.
So yes change your jig weight to suit the conditions.
Generaly to go deeper on lighter jigs one would choose a knife/straight jig as the jig needs to get 100-200 down quickly so you hit the school. But remember these are also designed for a speedy retrieval which is what sambos like. But sambos all fired up will hit fluttering jigs but at depth these are harder to fish because of the angle of refraction (ie there will be a greater angle of arc in the line from the rod tip when it hits bottom and mix this in with the drift and your jig may be no where near the fish....)
With shallow water a fluttering jig is not such a problem and they will still catch sambos and others.
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
i was out the other day with
i was out the other day with a mate
both jigging for dhueys in 35 meters
i had a shout lighten , mate had something like a shimano ??
i had two hookups , he had none. not a sniff.
proof enough for me and him anyway
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
Went yesterday with sw charters
2 sambos caught for the day
one by my father in law on a 400 gram ig that cost him $8 from a store in mandurah
one by me on a $30 jig bought at a local perth store
ive already placed an order with him to load me up on the $8 jigs he found down where he lived, they look as good as the high dollar ones and its obvious they work equally as well for sambos
Gooooone Fishin!
JACKO W
Posts: 80
Date Joined: 30/12/09
just go for cheaper stuff
just go for cheaper stuff most of the time. the cheaper knife jigs and octa jigs are wicked. they work well.
Theres absolutely nothin like hookin up to the first biggun of the day. JACKO W.
DieHard
Posts: 1823
Date Joined: 06/10/08
About the Octo Jigs.. i was
About the Octo Jigs..
i was at BCF and there were 2 types on was $8 the other $18 they looked similar but the $18 one had a nice paint job and looked neater. And how do you jig with octos?
DieHard – The Official “Ray & Shark” Chaser!
HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
I wont go top shelf with sambos
having seen people use a $2 shifter with an assist hook to catch them, I personally won't spend big $ on sambo jigs. I've found a good supply of them, US$12 in various sizes with owner hooks attached.
Dermersals is different. I haven't done a lot of it, but I tend to prefer the bay rubbers like octa jigs as that is what i have had most success on. I dont have as much confidence in the knife jigs as I do with the bay rubbers. I should do a day fishing without bay rubbers and force myself to get better at working small knife jigs.
For deep jigging, go reasonably weighty and with a heavily "scalloped" side section to get the flutter happening. I haven't really done enough of it to give any statements of conviction though.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Deep Jigging!
Yes heavy for the deepwater jigging a must. Scalloped jigs,(Sanme & Bozo Katch1 etc) have a "slice" (dart off to different direction) action on the upward retrieve. Being rear weighted they rocket back down after that!
The Andaman (not scalloped) being centre weighted do "flutter" heaps so 2 different actions, i use both and rate them!