Moxi Help

I have bought Moxi’s the last few years. Last year they worked great on Smallmouth even though they where not my intended target species. This last weekend I did get a hit on one but I could not get a good solid bite. My walleyes all came on jig and crawler. I was casting it out and slowly hopping it back. Is there any other advice people have?

Smaller/lighter jig. I have had times that the walleyes bite finicky and they are not flaring there gills hard enough to suck up heavier jigs on a longer bait. Takes way less then you think it does to get down there.

I was using a 3/8 oz and that was keeping me pretty straight up and down in the current and waves. I probably could have gone lighter

1/8 oz jig or texas rig it try changing colors till you find the magic combination

I’m a little confused. First you said you were throwing it out and jigging it back, then you said you were trying to keep it vertical? These baits are best fished with a dragging/hopping action IMO. This means no heavier than about 3/16, even in heavy current. Throw upstream or in a 45º angle up current and then jig it as its working its way back down river to you. 1/8 is about all I use with moxi and ring worms, even in high flow main channel fishing. 3/16 when there is a very stiff cross wind.

I don’t think you can get the proper action with a 3/8 jig head unless you are snap jigging them or vertical jigging.

I think just like any bait they are only effective in certain bodies of water at certain times. I have used them countless of times with most colors and styles. Similar to you I found them very effective on smallmouth. Most times current always dictates how big a head I need to have on to get near bottom, sometimes 1/8oz, lately at least 1/4oz. A single walleye has yet to be caught on one for myself and I have invested a lot of time with these things. Gulp and Powerbait products have been the magic ticket with me. Still hard to see all the monster fish in Ido galleries that have been caught on them and they produce nothing for myself. I would recommend getting a variety of plastics of all brands and types and let the fish tell you what they want instead of trying to force feed them something they might not hold interest in.

The plastics I have caught some eyes on though I have worked pretty good back. Couple good bounces then pause 2-3 sec. then another few good bumps. Since no live bait giving off the bumps to the fishes lateral lines you have to work that in yourself.

SOrry for the confusion. I was casting it out and jigging it back, but it was heavy enough that when i was below the boat it wasn’t getting pulled by the current.

Well the boss hasn’t chimed in yet, but I am a big fan of either swimming with a steady reel cadence on a rod held at a 10-11 position or with the rod in the same position, cast, let the bait settle to the bottom. Not moving the rod, reel til you pick up the line so it is a straight line to the jig. This will tighten it to the jig. Now take two or three cranks of the reel and let the jig swim on its own to the bottom again and settle. Repeat all the way back to the boat. This is my cadence with jigs and minnow and/or jig/plastics, be it a gulp/triggerx products… I will also add the I am of the belief that you are fishing Holcombe and while I am fishing natural lakes with less current 3/16th would be the heaviest jig I would be using unless the wind is a bear…

I have had some success snap jigging also, but once the lure is below the boat, its time for another cast.

Mark

Like said above maybe a lighter jig or changing colors. You could also try pinching off a little of the head of the plastic. I also find that sheep head and white bass will tend to short bite plastics more than walleyes or bass. Maybe they just didnt want plastics that day. Many trips Im starting out throwing a variety of baits to try and figure out what they want that day. Crawlers, hair jigs, crank baits, different color and style plastics.