But this one was really painful

So I made a goal this year of trying to become a better jig fisherman. I have never really even tried this technique which is crazy considering it is one of the most effective out there. I guess there are several reasons for this, probably the biggest being that I typically do some sort of finesse technique and almost always use a spinning rod.

I use a spinning rod for almost everything because I have found that there are very few if any circumstances where I can’t do with a spinning rod what a baitcaster does for you. Oh, and by the way, I have never had a birds nest in my spinning reel.

I suppose it’s probably a bit of laziness, fear of the unknown, and quite frankly just a lack of the gear. Whatever it was, I decided it was time to get better.

So, I had a weekend without a million family obligations and a beautiful spring afternoon to take the kayak out and try and see what I could manage. I rigged up my jig on my baitcaster setup and I set off in my kayak. I went to the lake I typically fish and I headed directly to where I know there are fish.

I took a few “practice” casts as it had been some time since I had a baitcaster in my hands. It wasn’t awful and I hadn’t lost my touch.

I worked my way down the shoreline to the spot I know there is some great structure and almost always fish. After about 3 casts, I had one absolutely destroy the jig. I set the hook and reeled him in. He was a monster. Maybe 8″, but the fact I got him on the jig was amazing.

I continued down the shoreline where I usually had very little luck. I made a few more casts. I raised up on my rod and it definitely felt heavy. I lowered the rod, reeled in a few feet, and raised again. It felt really heavy like I was hung up. I have done this before where it felt wonky and I didn’t set the hook. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

I set the hook and reeled in another couple of feet. I definitely thought I was hung on something….until the line went sideways. I knew I had a fish on now and I knew he was not another little dink.

I also knew that nothing on my reel was set because I didn’t bother. I thought to myself, I am just trying to get the feel and practice, no need to set the drag and all that business. Well, lesson #1, you never know, so always set up your gear the way it should be set up.

I was reeling him in and I got my first glance at him. Not a complete picture, but he was a good fish. I almost lost my paddle in the excitement and had to take a hand off the rod and reel to save it otherwise it would’ve been a long haul back to the dock.

I survived that scare, he was still on. This lake definitely has some bigger fish, but 90% are in that 8-12″ range, so I don’t bother with a net either. I thought about that as I continued to fight him. He dove under my kayak and I thought for sure that was the end, but I somehow managed to fish the line around and I was in what I thought was a good position.

I was almost there. I took a few more reels and he came up right next to the kayak. I got a good look. He was all of 4.5 to 5 lbs. Now that’s not a giant by any means, but that is a great fish for me and certainly, the biggest I had ever hooked on the kayak and it was on a jig no less.

My heart pounded. He dove back down. My drag was not helping me. He came back up for one last hoorah and came up out of the water and literally spit that jig right at me. He was off. He was gone.

Needless to say, I felt devastated, but then I thought to myself, what an experience. If there was anything that was going to happen to give me confidence in continuing to jig fish, it was this. I continued to fish for about another hour with the jig to no avail, but I will certainly tie one on the next time out!