I'm looking for a good method to fish salmon jigs with single barbless hook(s). I have tried many methods over the years, but thought I would pick your thinkers for some new options.

The problem, of course, is that salmon jigs are somewhat heavy and with the weight being right at the hook, barbless hooks are tossed easily with the head shakes and occasional jump. Slider-type jigs (Zingers and Buzz Bombs) do a pretty good job of relieving the problem, but I think that hanging two single barbless hooks on a completely free sliding jig will cause the hook to fall away from the jig when it drops through the water.

I tried using a toothpick to lightly pin the line in the jig one time, and the result was rather hilarious. I hooked a fish and by the time I got it close, my jig had slid up the line from the head shakes and was now 15 feet up my line and no way to shake it back down to the fish to net it.

I think I have the right idea, but could use some input on a different way to lightly hold the hook tight to a sliding jig. I know you guys are smarter than me.....what do you have?

maybe try some rubber bands or bobber stops? or if you just want to keep the buzz bomb from sliding up your line you could put it on a leader and have a swivel up the line a few feet...i ran across these a couple days ago (JIGS) , the way the hook is set on these i think they would take some stress from the headshakes...i also saw Jose Wejebe fishing tuna with them the other night and they ate those things like no tomorrow and he kept talking about how good the hooks stayed in.

mark

speaking of jigging spoons what types of spoons do you guys use for jigging?? I really got into jigging for kings last year and proved to be really effective but I was just using the standard stuff like cleos, krocodiles and kastmasters that we use for casting....

downtime:
Pt. Wilson Darts
Buzz Bombs
Zinger
Crippled Herring

There are a ton of other smaller name jigs that you'll find in tackle shops...

I think its really hard to beat the Zzinger. If you match the size and color o local baitfish the brand doesn't matter all that much. But the Zzinger does rotate on the drop better than most. One single barbless hook has worked pretty well for me.

Not sure which of these will be readily available in mid-west tackle shops...

TJ Nelson was at our last Gig Harbor PSA meeting and he showed us how to rig a Pt Wilson dart with a single hook at each end...i thought that this was a great idea and would try it myself...why not...he also added a snap ring i think its called and a stinger type hook...im going to try it when i actually get a chance but it doesnt look like i can do that untill May...wish i had a pic...c

For midwest things, use the Bay De Noc lure's stuff. The Do-Jigger and the larger Swedish Pimples. Do Jiggers are more for shallow things, but has a VERY enticing action. Have used it off the beaches here in Puget Sound and caught 4 to a Krokodile's 0. They were all shakers, but... you get the idea.

lovetofish365, I'd really like to see a pic of that dart with a single hook on each end. That sounds like a great idea.

I jig Pt. Wilson darts more than anything else because they get down quickly. I don't really think the action looks that good but they certainly catch fish and I have plenty of confidence in them.

Buzz Bombs have a much, much better flutter than Pt. Wilson Darts IMO but they fall much more slowly so I avoid them in deep water or when the current is moving much.

I love Krocodiles because they fall so slowly and have a deadly flutter. If fish are feeding on baitfish in top 10 feet of water, that is what I want on the end of my line. Anything deeper and you are just waiting for the spoon to get to the right depth.


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Thanks all for the input. I think I'll try the bobber stop idea and see how it works out. I also came up with a new thing I'm going to try as well....leaving a tag end on the hook that is long enough to go back through the sliding jig. The extra friction of having two lines through the jig body might just be enough to keep the hook up tight to the jig body when fishing, and yet would easily slip out when fighting the fish.

Again, thanks.

I use Buzz Bombs all the time, like stated before thay are deadly if the water isn't too deep or fast. what I do is tie a rubber band on the line above the jig then clip the ends short. I tholds the hook at the end of the jig when fishing but it will allow the jig to slide up the line when fighting a fish.

I have used the big green cheap float stops and they do seem to work! The two hook Pt. wilson dart would be a good concept too! I love those Zzingers in Alaska!

I just put the Gami Stinger hook on some of my darts. I have not had a chance to try them yet because conditions have not been right for jigging when I have been out. I am curious to see how they are going to work when compared to how I usually rig them.

The following are my favorites, listed according to my preference.

1. Point Wilson Dart (favorites are white, green /yellow, green/silver metallic)
2. Webster (Locale Manufacturer,An Elliott Bay Cult favorite)
3. Buzz Bomb & Zingers
4. Cripple Herring

JLH, do you have a pic of the Webster jig (or a link)? Just curious what it looks like.

Myself I am exlusive to Pt Wilson darts, mostly white, but wish I could find a place to get a good deal in bulk.

K D you can get them at Outdoor Emporium. You can also find Webster the producer at Seacrest Pier when the Kings are in Elliott Bay. He usally brings a few when he comes to fish and will sell from the trunk of his car, as he is not permitted to sell them on the Pier. I buy them a dozen at a time and get a better deal. They are about the same price as the PWD. They are a little lighter in weight than the PWD. They are a little flatter and flutter more on the drop than a PWD. They come in all the usual fishy colors. Tight lines!