advice on knots for jigheads

[bulldogs195461]

g day all,have purchased some nitro pro series 1/8 jigheads to try my luck with flatties on plastics size 2 hooks(first timer soft plastics)whats the best way to put jighead on line?guy at bfc suggested uni knot then also said small hooked snaps(dark colour)which i bought.any advice appreciated guys.also with this set up can you catch other species like bream etc.regards john
ps.my rod is a daiwa procaster and a stradic 2500 reel,ive got 6lb fireline and a platypus leader of 8lb(this has just come off lay-by)so hence why im keen to try these plastics.have been learning on a penn elite combo chasing bream for 6 months on the shore,.

[BaitThrower]

Yep mate the uni knot is a winner... Also called a lot of other names etc but this is how it is tied:
http://www.marinews.com/Uni-Knot-361.php

Anyway I have used this knot a lot and I can't recall one time yet where it has ever failed. The line usually breaks elsewhere from heavy fish on too light a line then at the knot. The trick is not to cut the extra off too close to the knot, because as tension is applied to the hook on a bite or frun of a fish, it tightens the knot a little more drawing in that little tab of extra line, and if too short, the knot will release, so keep a good 3-4mm of extra hanging off the knot. Make about 4-5 wraps on the line when tying the knot too.

[breambandit]

Been using soft plastics and hard bodies for quite a few years to catch flatties. I am not sure what gear you are using. I use a rod 2-4 kg, reel 1500 to 2000, braided line about 4lb and about a rod length of 10lb flurocarbon leader for flatties.

I never use snap locks on lure fishing as fish can see them underwater. This is the reason we use flurocarbon leaders, as these can't be seen underwater. At the end of the day you want the lure to closely resemble a baitfish in some trouble and if you hang a snap on the line you are defeating the purpose plus the lure swimming characteristics will change.

For the braid to leader, I use the Albright Knot and to tie the lure/jighead you need a Lure loop knot. Type these on the net on U tube and you will see demos of these if you are not familiar with knots.

The Uni knot in my opinion is not a good knot for lure fishing and I dont use it as it snells right on the eyelet of the hook and this restricts lure movement. At the end of the day when lure fishing you want as much movement as possible from your lure and the Uni is not going to do it for you.

Now the important thing with plastics or lure fishing, is to think like a fish Eg where is the source of the food coming from and security from predators.
For example most of the fish I catch is in less than 0.5 metre of water, around weed/vegetation, structure, sand banks etc etc, so I look for these areas when I fish.

I am self taught with a bit of help from the gurus at the annual Brisbane Boat show. If you seat through the fishing lectures at the show and listen to the gurus, you will amazed how much you learn and may end up with a few free giveaways, as I have over the years.

Hope this give you some insight on lure fishing and once your hooked you will never return to bait.

Cheers and all the best in fishing

[tunaticer]

If you are using a snap you can use a tight knot to the snap, however if tying directly to the lure you should opt for one of the loop knots. Personally I use a uni-knot that is not snugged up to the lure and when a fish strikes it snugs up tight. You can back them off to a loop before recasting again if the leader is not damaged in any way.
Perfection loops, rapala loops and overhand bowlines all work well as loop knots. Spend some time learning to tie each of them and settle with the one you tie best.
Never ever use a knot you are not 100% happy with as it will fail. I re-tie knots regularly after fishing for 40 years nearly every weekend. Sometimes i might retie a leader to braid knot 6 times before i am happy with the result.

[Mark-P]

Mate, this is the knot i use & its available here in the
animated knots section ( Perfection loop ) http://www.ausfish.com.au/knots/
Hard bodies & jig heads !!!

Mark

[goat boy]

g'day mate,

I've been dabbling in plastics for about 12 months or so. I was put on to small snap swivels a little while ago as a means of quickly changing jig heads when needed. I haven't noticed anything to turn me off them, here's a nice solid flatty I caught a few days ago on a snagless jighead attached via snap swivel. Unfortunately it's a vid as I'm a tech retard and had the camera set to vid instead of pic but at least I get to see if I can upload it, haha!
I also use the humble uni and up to this point, have not had a reason to change

[slyman]

A well tied knot will catch you fish regardless of what it is, whether its any loop knot, or a uni knot or any other form of closed knot (ie snug up the jighead eye), the important thing is to find one you are comfortable with and confident in using.

I use a perfection loop when chucking lures for barra, but when in the bay I'll use a Palomar knot, which gives me a double line through the jighead eye and closes down onto the eye but doesnt lock solid against it. I've used this in leaders up to 80lb and like all knots they get harder to tie with heavier lines. The only time its ever failed me has been when I've tied it incorrectly.

Heres a link to an animated knots website, contains all sorts of stuff, not just fishing knots: http://www.animatedknots.com

[Horse]

I like a knot up hard on jigheads as I like their action better that way (smoother glide). I use a Centauri (slightly better than Uni in most tests) and a loop knot on small hardbodies

[Dodgy_Back]

Don't get too carried away with knots for jigheads.
Go to any Bream comp and half the field will use a loop knot and the other half will tie it tight on the jig head.

Personal preference only seems to be the decider.

I just use a simple half blood knot, locked. If that is what it's still called !!
Don't bother with a snap thingy, just get used to tieing knots.
To be honest I'm a little surprised that some one at a tackle shop sugggested you use them.

Unless you are under water with the fishies you have no idea how the jighead sits, glides ,shakes or shimmies.

Keep it simple and enjoy your fishing.

Mick

[ellis_d]

i use a perfection loop to connect to my jig head
and an improved Albright Knot to attach the leader
the two easest and most effective knots for soft plastic fishing im my oppinion
the albright knot slips through the guides easly and is very neat
hope this helps
i use 8lb fire line and 12lb fc rock
fishing for flatties

[LostNearBribie]

Unless you are under water with the fishies you have no idea how the jighead sits, glides ,shakes or shimmies.

Keep it simple and enjoy your fishing.

Mick

That is what swimming pools are for mate.

Use a loop knot. I use the lefty loop knot.
Easy to tie and the loop allows more movement of the lure.
It does come down to what you are more comfortable with though.
Our opinions are just that, opinions.
Find a knot you can tie in the dark with 20knots blowing into your face and go with that one!

[Goldfinch]

Uni Knot is easiest to tie quick when you're on the boat and need to re-rig quickly. You can actually lock the knot off about 5mm from the Jighead Eyelet so you still have the same effect as the Loop Knot. Takes some practice but it works well. My braid breaks before my knot does.

dave