Open Water and Jigging Rap

Whay size do you guys used that have tried this technique prefer for snap jigging a jigging rap? Do you tip with anything? Do you cut off the nose hook?

On some of the larger jigging raps I’ve replaced the belly hook with a treble about two sizes larger and popped them over the side of the boat with pretty good success. Been a couple years but time doesn’t change a things whole lot. I don’t think a lot of people try this, but hat sure as heck doesn’t mean the heavy raps won’t work.

#5 and replace the bottom hook with a #8 EWG treble. Snip the front hook off and you are ready to go. Don’t use it around brush or rocks though, wont last long. Best success has been trolling at about 0.8-1mph and snapping it along the bottom on mud flats and sandbars. It is a reaction strike so be quick when you feel the hit. For a little more action you can put a 2″ crappie grub or a fathead on the back hook.

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#5 and replace the bottom hook with a #8 EWG treble. Snip the front hook off and you are ready to go. Don’t use it around brush or rocks though, wont last long. Best success has been trolling at about 0.8-1mph and snapping it along the bottom on mud flats and sandbars. It is a reaction strike so be quick when you feel the hit. For a little more action you can put a 2″ crappie grub or a fathead on the back hook.

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Do you lose many fish with this technique? I have heard with those smaller hooks one has to reel them up nice and slow to prevent them throwing the hook.

Most of them are hooked by the back hook and the treble either gets them in the gill or the outside of the mouth. When a big one hits it he just swallows it whole. The back hook is in the throat or way back of the mouth.

So, no not many are lost. Seems when one hits it he hits it to eat it not just peck at it. So generally they are hooked deep and hard.

If you are targeting BIG walleye, I’d use a #7 or #9.

Fishing on the ice below Lock 9 we always used a minnow head on the treble hook. Works good.