Hey guys, I was trying to experiment with getting my first jig fish yesterday and was trying to pitch to a dock with my baitcaster.  However, when my jig hits the water, the jig falls towards me instead of straight down because of the settings on the baitcaster.  

Do you guys change the settings on your reel so that it falls straight down when using jigs?  Does it cause more backlashes?

Thanks.  

Any other good jig topics I could read also?

i drop all my settings to very loose and drop the rod tip and pull out line at the same time so that it will drop vertically

i rarely backlash when pitching

Ok...should I loosen the reel with the magnetic grake or the other thing?

(The one with numbers or jus tthe small silver knob?)

I always peel off a few feet of line with my hand if I'm pitchin in deeper water.

Ok...should I loosen the reel with the magnetic grake or the other thing?

(The one with numbers or jus tthe small silver knob?)

The "small silver knob." (The cast control knob)

Pull out enough line right when your jig hits the water.

Like Gman said the only way to get the jig to fall vertically on a baitcaster is to pull off some line. If you already have the reel set how you want there is no need to change the settings. Almost all of my reels are the same.

To prevent backlashes just keep you thumb above/on the spool. This will help prevent backlashes. At some point or another you are bound to let the jig hit the water or a dock post and your thumb will save you.

Yes, peel line immediately upon water entry so that the bait falls vertical if possible.  I often pitch past the target and and swim it quickly forward by just raising my rod tip to the exact spot and then let it drop vertically. If the cover doesn't allow that option, I will flip directly to the target, peel line and let fall vertically.

The vertical presentation is necessary many times to trigger the reaction strike as the bait will fall faster in this manner. If you are not using an action packed trailer on your jig this presentation is even more important.

Big O

I always peel off a few feet of line with my hand if I'm pitchin in deeper water.

You nailed it right on the head!!! 8-)

Yep, just peel the line off as soon as the lure hits.

It is one of the reasons I prefer a spinning reel when drop shotting when I want a more vertical fall. When pitching with a spinning reel, the lure will fall vertically without extra work from the angler if the bail remains open.

I don't loosen up the reel's settings.  Instead, I pull line off while the reel is still in freespool mode and my thumb is on the spool. If I get a hit, the thumb is already in position to serve as a make shift drag until I can turn the handle. This is also nifty when pitching with braid with a tight drag setting.

When I pitch at the point the bait touches the water my rod is at the 10 or 11 o'clock position.  That keeps me from over reacting to instint bites then I follow my bait down on loose line and start pulling line if nessary. Thats a good clue on water depth.

Garnet

Bred,

A lure will hit the water and fall back towards you when you use a baitcaster.

A lure will hit the water and fall straight down when you use a spinning rig.

When jig fishing, do what the guys said:

Cast.

Peel off some line from the reel very fast.

Click the reel into position to retrieve as fish may hit jig on way down.

Repeat.

I use both a baitcaster and spinning rig when fishing jigs and pigs.  It all depends on the cover I am trying to approach and if I need to "skip" the jig under a tree or bush or to the bank or under a dock or pier.

Just remember that your lure will fall back towards you when you throw a baitcaster.  

And one more tip:  Use the Rage Tail crawfish or chunk. The action is outstanding and will attract bass to hit the jig.

You may also want to purchase Denny Brauer's Jig Fishing Secrets book or DVD. Excellent production and you will learn a lot from Denny.

I just watch the line as it comes off the spool and the trip the bail at the desired depth-  OOPS!  I'm in baitcasting territory  ;D ;D

As I'm bottom fishing with a baitcaster for the first time this year, I'm learning to watch the line and strip out extra line as the jig sinks.  I find it particularly trickybecause the quarry where I enjoy fishing is shallow where I can see the bottom, but much deeperhen I make distance casts.