Vertical jigging with a baitcaster

[TBone]

Anyone out there do it? I used to a little but have gone the conventional route. Its really very nice. You can thumb the spool when dropping and I felt I got fewer snags in the Trenton channel on the initial drop. Get a reel with a flippin' switch and it would be even better. Simply push the button to let out a little more line, let up and it's engaged again.

Ok, the real reason for this post . . . I was over at FFO.Com and saw a Techna A/V 35% off. I like the feel of the AV's myself, but can't come up with a use for this one. It would make a good vert. jigging rod though. (I just got a new sweet vj rod, so I am out.) Here's the link.

Rod (http://www.ffo-tackle.com/detail.cfm?PassProdId=671)

[walleyeman830]

TBone,

That's all I use when jigging, either vertical or even swimming a jig down a drop off to some good structure. You said it yourself, no where near as many snags, I thumb the spool all the time, when you feel a little nibble you can let out some line so he can inhale the bait easier. There's plenty of good reasons to use baitcasters or open face reels, but my vote is for the :

Baitcaster........:D

[WALLEYE MIKE]

I love baitcasters for jigging especially with a flipping switch.

[Homer]

Cast my vote squarely in the spinning reel column. Your point is well taken about the flippin switch helping you find bottom, but I see a potential loss in sensitivity - which outweighs everything else in my book. My spinning rods are perfectly balanced (equal weight on the tip-side and butt-side of my hand) and I swear there are times I can feel a walleye breathe on my jig. Seriously. the majority of fish I catch don't come from obvious "bites", but just because something felt *slightly* different. With a baitcaster, your hand is behind the reel and I have to believe that the lack of balance means a lack of sensitivity. To each their own.

Well, my wallet just dodged a bullet. I've always wanted to try out the Techna AV rod, but see that they only have the casting variety for sale over at FFO.com. My wife will be grateful.

[Hotwired]

I am right handed and I use a left handed baitcaster with a flippin switch for jigging.
When I was still using a right handed reel I was loosing fish when I would jig with my right hand and then pass it to my left hand after setting the hook so i could reel with my right hand.
Now I jig with my right hand and set the hook and on the up swing my left hand goes directly to the handle on the left side to start reeling.
Does this make sense to anyone?
Later,
Hotwired

[walleyeman830]

Hotwired,

That's how I play it exactly......

[Icet]

Hotwired: I use the passin method with my baitcasters. Been doing it for years. Might try your way. Funny though I throw right hand with a spinning reel but retrieve/crank with my left. Does that many any sense. Whatever works I guess. ;)

[Hotwired]

Icet,
I still use a right handed baitcaster when casting for Bass or Pike and pass it to my left to reel with my right.
I guess most of us are programmed to do that due to the fact we started with Zebco 202's and they onle came in right hand models.
Just my thoughts.
Hotwired

[gilly]

I just bought two left handed Garcia C-4's for the same reasoning. I typically drift fish with them and setting the hook with the right hand is faster and more sensative for me. However, reeling with the left takes some getting use to as well. I am also using them for whipping or still fishing for the same reasons. The only method I have not tried for walleye fishing is vertical jigging. I live in St. Clair and know this technique will work up here as it does down stream. Virtually no one up here does it with a few exceptions. I hope to try and figure it out this coming spring if my bow mount purchase works out.