works best. Slow and steady with some pumps of the rod will give it plenty of action.
For me, current is one key for fishing the hair jig, but that is not always the case. When the fishing is tough and you need to downsize, current can be one of the best places to find active fish – no matter what lure you are using.
Rocks and sand and areas where they transition to one another is another type of area that I will target with the mini hair jig.
ROD, REEL AND LINE
One of the great things about all of these techniques is that you can use your favorite dropshot rod and still get the job done. A 7’, medium-light action rod will be light enough to cast these lightweight lures and still limber enough to play big fish on small hooks.
The changes that are more necessary are a smaller reel or one with a shallow spool. Instead of a Size 30 reel, I will scale back to a Size 20 Revo MGX reel.
It is a great size and the excellent drag system makes sure your light line won’t break when you hook into a big one. The reel mentioned comes with two different spools and one of them is shallower and holds less line, which is important with a thin line, so you can fill your spool up more and get better casting distance with these lightweight lures.
When it comes to line, going lighter
FALL 2016
is one of the best things you can do to increase your casting distance. Seaguar’s Finesse Fluorocarbon in 5.2 and 6.2-pound-test is a small diameter line developed for finesse fishing.
If using braid, a 10-lb Seaguar Smackdown, combined with a leader of the Finesse Fluorocarbon will allow you to have the ultimate finesse setup.
Going this light may not be your favorite way to fish, but when the fishing is difficult it may be the only way to catch a fish on a slow day.
Fishing this light also adds another element of excitement as you hook a large fish on light line and tiny hook. There is nothing better than getting a big one to bite and landing it with something less than finesse.
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