Dragging Jigs – Technique

I really enjoy all of the great information on this website. Recently there have been a number of fishing reports about dragging jigs to catch walleyes on Pool 4 but I had a couple of questions for James or Dustin or anyone else familar with this technique. Do you typically use this technique just going downstream? How fast is your boat speed? I assume it would be just faster than the speed of the current. Also, what position do you hold your rod & do you typically lift & drop your rod tip a little similar to vertical jigging? How much line are you letting out? Sorry for all the questions but this is a technique I want to learn. Thanks in advance for your replies.

EyesHaveIt

Good question Eyes.
I have practicied a little this spring with a technic of dragging jigs and lindy rigs in the river. Not sure if it is the same technic these other guys are using but here is my take on it.
It seems very basic but with just a couple tricks to keep the snaggs from ruining you trip.
While trolling up stream take a lindy rig or jig and run it like you where running a 3 way rig. Setting your speed and letting out just anough line to keep your bait near the bottom but not dragging it. Dragging it just seemed to find the snaggs for me. To make sure you are near bottom just drop the rod tip back and you should be able to feel your weight hit bottom. I would think the farther you need to drop the rod tip the farther you are off the bottom.
Take this and slowly start trolling around watching the depth finder for depth changes and keep checking for bottom every now and then. My first couple of atempts at this where strickly trolling straight up stream. It didnt take me long to figure out that if I cut the boat back and fourth across the current You could work a area completely different than running straight up river.
As far as baits to dragg and weights to use there is most likely no end to what could be used. Ring worms and crawlers have worked for me so far. Weights in the .5 ounce range. The best part is that I have taken fish doing this.

Looking forward to hearing more info on this.

Downstream with light jigs and upstream with heavier jigs. Downstream we typically use 1/8 – 3/16th ounce jigs. Upstream 3/8ths ounce is common.

Dragging down you’ll want to go approximately the same speed as the current to slightly faster. I flip my jigs slightly behind the boat as I’m drifting down stream, find bottom and lift slightly with the rod tip. Control is managed with the bow mount or transom electric.

This is a VERY simple technique. The trick is to find the fish first!

Thanks for sharing your fishing knowledge with me concerning this technique. I plan to give it a try tomorrow. Thanks again.

EyesHaveIt

For a change, try a willow spoon tipped with minnow/leech/half crawler instead of the jig.

HERES MY 2 CENTS WORTH. KEEP YOUR ROD TIP UP SO YOUR LINE BOWS ROD TIP TO THE WATER. AS THE CURRENT IS MOVING YOUR JIG JUST START PULLING THE JIG TOWARDS YOU AND THEN YOUR ROD TIP FALL BACK SLOWLY AFTER MOVING YOUR JIG A FOOT OR 2. REPEAT UNTIL YOUR RETRIEVE IS COMPLETE. WHEN CASTING JIGS ALL MY RETRIEVES ARE SUBTLE. I LIKE TO TRY AND WORK MY JIG IN AND AROUND THE STRUCTURE ON THE BOTTOM. IF I THINK I FOUND SOMETHING DOWN THERE OF INTEREST I TRY TO WORK IT AGAIN IF I HAVE TIME. IF I AM REALLY INTRESTED I MAKE SURE I GO BACK RIGHT AWAY. WITH SAND IT IS KINDA THE SAME WAY EXCEPT I LIKE TO VIBRATE THE END OF MY ROD ONCE IN AWHILE TO TRY AND KICK UP A LITTLE SAND TO GET SOME ATTENTION. I ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP MY TIP AT ABOUT EYE LEVEL TO SEE IF I CAN DETECT A PICKUP EITHER BY SEEING THE LINE TWITCH OR MOVE FUNNY. I CONTROL TROLL ALOT TRYING TO PUT MY JIG ON THE EDGE OF STRUCTURE. HERE AGAIN USING A SUBTLE RETRIEVE OR JUST TROLL WITH THE JIG. IN A LAKE I ALMOST ALWAYS TROLL AND RIP JIG. NOTHING TO FANCY OTHER THAN KEEPING ON STRUCTURE. AS YOU GET THE HANG OF THINGS A LOT OF OTHER LITTLE THINGS WILL SHOW UP. GIVE IT A CHANCE.

GUNDEZ-71

Just like H2O said.You want to be as light weighted as you can but be able to keep contact with the bottom.When you use an 1/8 ounce jig you are alot less likely to get snagged.I will even go lighter if I can.Just remember you line weight will play a huge roll in dragging jigs.I never use more than 6 lb test.Usually I drag while drifting,if I do troll it would be slow!! with the trolling motor.Ringworm
, crawlers, fatheads all work.Mono is my favorite for line
(trilene XT)but I always have a pole rigged with the hi-vis
fire line.It helps when you need to see your line.
Dragging can work really good some days.I think that constant contact with the bottom may stir up things a little and trigger that hit on a slow day.

hi Eyes,
lot of good suggestions here, I’d say if you really want to put these and other techniques to work for you. You should really consider going out with Dustin or James for a full day. late Spring and Summer different are presentations than say late Fall and early Spring. You CAN NOT GO WRONG with either of these two great river fisherman. they both REALLY care that you learn what you want to know. take a friend with you to share the costs and never forget to take your camera with these guys. It is really the best chance to learn new presentations that you can use the rest of your life. IT really is cheap learning knowledge. Jack..