Ive been fishing football jigs and texas riging some worms with a bullet 1/8 ounce weight on 12# YZ hybrid and have lost 4 jigs in one day this week with a few plastics. The bottom of the lake ive been fishing is pretty rocky. Am i just getting unlucky or is there something on the retrieve i need to be doing?

Just the name of the game when you're fishing through rocks. Most days if I'm dragging a jig through chunk rock I'd be pretty happy with only losing 4 jigs.

I've noticed football head jigs tend to get snagged (or really wedged) between rocks a lot easier than other style jig heads. Which is strange considering they're supposed to be good for rocks and more snag-proof than other jigs. 

If you can't get to the opposite side of the snag, bow and arrow method works well most of the time.

Just now, alzun664 said:

I've noticed football head jigs tend to get snagged (or really wedged) between rocks a lot easier than other style jig heads. Which is strange considering they're supposed to be good for rocks and more snag-proof than other jigs. 

If you can't get to the opposite side of the snag, bow and arrow method works well most of the time.

They actually get snagged a lot less for me in rocks, but when one does get snagged, it's a goner. 

Like others have said its the name of the game. I've lost 4 jigs in 4 casts. Super frustrating but if your not throwing them to loose them you aren't going to catch as many fish. I refuse to pay more than 30 cents a jig because I loose so many. 

15 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They actually get snagged a lot less for me in rocks, but when one does get snagged, it's a goner. 

I think the problem is when fishing big rocks/boulders. The football shaped head will fall in there and really get wedged tightly between the rocks making it hard to recover from any angle. Most of the lakes I fish have this type of bottom and it's gotten so bad that I rarely throw that style head anymore. 

I also forgot to mention that I don't think any retrieve you're trying to catch fish on the bottom with is going to keep you from getting snagged. I feel like its more of a design flaw than an angler mistake.

On a more positive note if you can invent a snag-proof jig you'll be rich in no time.

I've had days fishing that I look back and it makes me shed a tear at the number of baits i lost and the cost. I've lost countless 8 dollar and up lipless cranks. They seem to be the worst for me, but like everyone else said its the name of the game. Once it's gone, it's gone.

When I am fishing rocks I start out with a t-rig to find out what the bottom is like.  If I hit a lot of snags I keep fishing the t-rig.

I learned years ago I can either have lures in my tackle box or fish in the live well but I can not have both!

Some days I loose em some days I don't!

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They actually get snagged a lot less for me in rocks, but when one does get snagged, it's a goner. 

Yall need to get a clip on pocket knocker . This jig was brand new on Friday after 3 days of getting my grind on most of the powner coat is gone. I must have knocked it loose 15 times. 

1 minute ago, clh121787 said:

Yall need to get a clip on pocket knocker . This jig was brand new on Friday after 3 days of getting my grind on most of the powner coat is gone. I must have knocked it loose 15 times. 

I make my own, a jig cost me about a quarter since I don't even have to buy the lead. I'd rather break it off than bother using my lure retriever to get it back unless I'm running low on a productive color. Plus, if you use a plug knocker around zebra mussels like we have, it just means you get to lose that and your jig. 

 

16 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I make my own, a jig cost me about a quarter since I don't even have to buy the lead. I'd rather break it off than bother using my lure retriever to get it back unless I'm running low on a productive color. Plus, if you use a plug knocker around zebra mussels like we have, it just means you get to lose that and your jig. 

Maybe true.but I've got 100 percent success rate with the pocket knocker. I'd like to think of my jigs as slightly more than expendable.  And 3 pocket knockers cost the same as 1 jig. No brainer for me. 

That's chunk rock fishing for ya.. if the cost is hurting you try swimming a jig just off the bottom or try a heavy billed crankbait (depending on depth ) and bang the rocks.. in either case, hang on to your rod.

Try switching to a t-rig with a boss punch hub and a skirt.  

 

These are a good option:

http://www.powerteamlures.com/25-ct-3-5-texas-rig-jig-pro-pack/

 

I rely on timing and knowing when my lure touches down . Snags still happen but getting   that lure back up before it has time to sink deeply in the crevices sure cuts down on them . .

4 jigs in an hour ? not bad, normally I loose 4 jigs in around 10 casts, and probably 3 of those will be on the first cast.

My personal record is four for four!

 

 

 

Ever tried Charlie Brewer slider heads? The bullet shaped jigs come through rocks much, much better than most other jigs. The offset hook makes rigging plastics seedless easier too.

6 hours ago, drew4779 said:

Try switching to a t-rig with a boss punch hub and a skirt.  

Texas rigs are the only thing I throw around boulders/big rocks anymore. Adding a skirt to that sounds like a good idea.

I once read a quote by a pro that if you're not losing at least 4-5 jigs in an outing when fishing them, you're not fishing them in the right spot.

17 hours ago, Fishing03xx said:

Ive been fishing football jigs and texas riging some worms with a bullet 1/8 ounce weight on 12# YZ hybrid and have lost 4 jigs in one day this week with a few plastics. The bottom of the lake ive been fishing is pretty rocky. Am i just getting unlucky or is there something on the retrieve i need to be doing?

Let's see if I read this right; Texas rigging some <jigs> with a 1/8 oz bullet weight?

Why are you adding 1/8 bullet weight to a football jig?

What weights are the football jigs?

Tom

4 hours ago, alzun664 said:

Texas rigs are the only thing I throw around boulders/big rocks anymore. Adding a skirt to that sounds like a good idea.

My home water is very similar in the fact that throwing a jig is the same as throwing dollar bills directly into the water due to the broken bedrock.  I saw a post a few years ago (I'll credit you yet again a-jay) about these boss punch hubs and it changed the way I fish these rocky waters.  If you can get your t-rig through, then this is the way to go.

The way I see it, if snagging becomes too excessive, then its time to switch to a different presentation, or a different location.  I don't buy into this jibber-jabber about "If your getting snagged, your in the right spot."  No thanks.  Here are some things you could try....

- Texas rig with skirt, as mentioned above.

- The Lead-butt Paca Craw - Since the Paca craw is hollow, insert one of those lead weights with the rubber twisty things on either end, inside the body of the craw.  Thread a skirt onto your line (without a hub), and thread your hook through the concealed rubber thingy, T-rig it, and peg the skirt.  (This also works with a Yum craw bug).

- The Crawl Jig - Thread a skirt onto the screw lock of a weighted swimbait hook.  Then screw on your preferred jig trailer.  Retrieve it by slowly crawling it on the bottom, allowing the bait to ride that hook like a sled, while the hook weight creates noise by scraping and scratching along the rocks.   Not sure if your rocks are ideal for this or not.

- The Line-through Craw Bug - Insert a....well....just send me an IM if you want, and I'll show you a picture.

 

Now none of these are really optimal substitutes for jigs, but if your snagging has got you pulling your hair out, its always good to have some creative alternatives.  

 

Or you can look into different shaped jig heads.  I switched from football jigs to structure jigs by SK & Omega.  This improved my jig hangups to at least, a satisfactory level.