hopping vs. steady retrieve

[bassguy]

What are some signs (conditions) to look for when deciding whether to hop or use a steady retireve on a jig or soft plastic?

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Bassguy, if the fish are aggressive they will like a steady retrieve over hopping. If you are fishing crawfish looking water then the hopping technique looks more like a crawfish. You just have to let the fish tell you by trying both techniques for awhile. By a steady retrieve I assume you are talking about swimming the jig or plastic? Personly, I prefer to keep hopping or jerking to a minimum, too many fish miss the bait when striking. Basically, if bait fish are the priority food souce stay with the swimming-steady retrieve, if crawfish, use the hopping. Good luck, Johnnie

[carl]

A retrieve I use with sometimes great success is a blue/black jig with a blue trailer. I cast out and lift the jig up (slowly) and let her drop. I'm usually shore fishing on those 50 degree winter days with a south wind. Yesterday I was fishing a small strip pit, but didn't bring my jigs. Caught a couple of little guys on a senko. Good luck. Carl

[RW-reeler]

I like the lift and drop much of the time also. When that does not work I try to ease it along the bottom and add some small hops with some wiggle or shakes of the rod tip to move the trailer while the bait stays in place. Some times the fish are on or near the bottom and these will work but if the are up suspending even a little you will fish below them. Always look for the bite and when it happens, if it is when the bait is still falling and never when it is on the bottom they may be up a bit. The hard thing for me is not what bait or where in the lake to fish but zeroing in on the proper depth to get the bites.

Good luck,
RW-reeler

[johnnie crain outdoors]

Guys, that's why I usually swim the baits to try to locate the strike zone. Speeding up makes the bait rise, slowing down lets it sink. You can check several depths with one cast. Good post-keep those answers and suggestions coming. Johnnie

[mofish]

Excellent answers so far. There is also another trick to try! Its called stroking a jig (but you can do it with a worm too)

Stroking is were you pop the jig up off the bottom letting you rod come to rest on your sholder. This puts a large sway in your line and actually lets the jig kinda swim forward back to the bottom. Its awsome for finding the depth that the fish may be located. Just something different to try.

[bassguy]

Thanks guys. This is good information. It certainly make sense that the more active fish will strike a steady retrieved jig and the less active fish will not.

[MMT]

Whenever I fish a jig n pig, I always move the rod tip a tiny bit, like jiggling it. If this is hoping, so be it. I do it to give the skirt and chunk a little kick. I do not pick the jig up and drop it on the retreive, I would say it is more like a dragging retreive.

[charger4404spd]

Good tip mofish, I will try that