CO & NE

[Hawnjigs]

Sorry, no location pics as I don't have a cam or partner to take pics. Had a very enjoyable 3 week solo jig fishing trip. Best fishing was for trout in Antero Res.(CO) and L. Ogallala outlet(NE), + channel catfish in the Sutherland Res. outlet(NE). Plains reservoirs were dead from shoreline, lucky for the cooler moving water outlets. Trout were mostly bows 15 - 20", and cats averaged 3-5#.

Best I can show is a pic of whats left of the most productive jig pattern, JiggerJohn's "Boolie" prop design tied in natural brown mink. Was surprised the trout consistently hammered what I thought was a plain looking oversize 1/12 oz. #2 hook jig. Think the lighter tin metal allowed for slower retrieves over weed beds often with less than 1' of water over them.

View attachment 7

 

[JSC]

Hawn

Glad U have had a great trip ... Can tell by the jigs U have

 

[Jig Man]

Looks like they eat um up...

 

[CrappieHappy]

Awesome.... Good Times!!

 

[Radtexan]

Sounds like a great trip Mainland !!

 

[StumpHunter]

Had to be great to get out and fish for 3 weeks. Nice catches always makes it better. Those jigs are well used.

 

[LedHed]

Congrats - excellent vacation

 

[jiggerjohn]

This is the way all good jigs should look -EATEN !! Forget all the fancy colors&patterns,when a jig is well chewed it is at its most beautiful stage!! Congrats to a dedicated,very proficient jig angler & tier!!

 

[Fatman]

Cool looking jig, your buddy better get a patent on it before some company does. Never seen one like that.

 

[toadfrog]

That's the way to go Pard . Catch and eat . No time for darned ole pics . I always feel better bragging on a full belly myself.

 

[Hawnjigs]

Arg, thought I might enjoy some fish frys, but turned out to be hard core dawn to dusk water sessions with quicky meal breaks. Jigs were flying before sunup to after sunset. NE & CO came out way ahead on me - annual non-resident license fees, state parks entry & camping fees - only kept & ate 2 catfish I brought home for the family.

Anyone can tie a JiggerJohn Boolie jig - just slide a prop and bead onto the hook shank, leave a little clearance for free spin between blade & bead, and tie your fave pattern. Well, it takes practice to get it right, but not that difficult. Amazing how much attraction the spinning prop adds to a jig. Works on any jig head, but a longer shank doesn't crowd the bite gap as much.

 

[AtticaFish]

Sounds like a fun trip & looks like those jigs got a workout! You need to throw a camera on a lanyard and put it around your neck for a trip like that. If not for fish pics, just for the scenary. Were you camping the whole time? Got a funny vision in my head of a Hawaiian man back-packing it across the country... with a rod holder off the side of the backpack of course.

Works on any jig head, but a longer shank doesn't crowd the bite gap as much.

Which jighooks were you using on these jigs - the heavy style or the custom bend lighter wire? Those light wire ones have alot more shank to play around with. And the BIG question: Did you loose any to the rocks???!?!

 

[jschmidt]

Spent my childhood on the beaches of lake McConaughy, we would fish Ogallala alot. I didn't even know there were trout there till about a month ago when my grandpa told me about 5 lbs Rainbow people have been pulling out of the spillway. Next trip to Lincoln I am making a detour for sure.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Hawnjigs]

AF, I prefer the #2 light wire long shanks narrow bites - small enuf for trout, crappie, & even bluegill but still able to handle much larger predators like cats, smallies, wipers, etc. Yes, fast running dredged & rock lined outlet canals ate lots of jigs, regardless of up-planing deflection hydrodynamics.

9 nights at a drive up park campsite - maybe next year I'll invest in a pack.

Um, didn't see any 5# come out of the Ogallala spillway - the nice ones were around 15-17" with most a bit on the lean side. Think South Park trout look better fed.

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

I found a picture of the boolie jigs. Now I need to start searching for those little propellers and beads I got stashed somewhere.

 

[Hawnjigs]

For #8 & #6 hooks in 1/32 & 1/24 ball heads I like the smallest fly props + 1/8" countersunk solid brass beads or 3mm plastic beads. For the next upsize #4 & #2 hooks I prefer #1 props and 3/16" metal or 3.5mm plastic beads.

JiggerJohn however has successfully upsized props up to #2 on a #8 hook.