"It's like a conveyor belt!"

A couple years ago I was showing my friend Marty the ropes of vertical jigging on the river as I knew it, but the current was moving pretty fast and that can make it difficult to learn vertical jigging.  To jig vertically, you must keep the boat even with the current, which often means the bottom of the river is zingin' by at 2-3 mph+!!

I'd find the bottom and start jigging, but when I'd look back Marty would still be letting out line trying to 'find the bottom'.  Little did he know he was already ON bottom, but the movement of the boat relative to the bottom of the river was still pulling out line, giving the illusion of the lure dropping indefinitely.

The best way I could explain it at the time was: "look. [the bottom of the river] is like a conveyor belt!".  The trick is knowing the difference between your jig dropping through the water column and your jig being pulled away by the bottom of the river, as if on a conveyor belt.


Anyways, here's a quick write-up I made a couple years ago on the technique of vertical jigging at the river:


#1) BOAT CONTROL

This has got to be the most important thing to master for successful vertical jigging. A bow-mounted trolling motor with a foot pedal is best.  You have to constantly be making small adjustments with your trolling motor, keeping your line as VERTICAL AS POSSIBLE. Even a small angle in your line is no good!  Factors to adjust for are wind, current, and line angle.


#2) TECHNIQUE

Never drag your jig on the bottom!  My jig spends about .5 seconds on the bottom, then about 3-5 seconds at 1' off the bottom. Rinse and repeat! The only reason to 'tap' the bottom is to make sure you lure is still close to the bottom. When you are drifting with the current the depth is almost constantly changing. Be ready to reel up or let out line in a moments notice. Don't let the lure sit on the bottom for more than a split second!


#3) ADVANCED STUFF

Once you master the boat control and technique, its time to start experimenting with 2 rods since you are allowed 2 rods on the river.  Its very difficult to master handling 2 rods and the trolling motor at the same time.  I can barely manage to do it myself.  There's a lot going on especially when the depth fluctuates and the current swirls and the wind blows.

Setting the hook while fishing with 2 rods is a challenge as well. You have to keep the line tight while setting down the other rod and fighting the fish at the same time. Be prepared to lose a few fish before you get this down.

Be sure to experiment with different jigs, different weights, different colors, different plastics, etc. Fishing with 2 rods helps save time when narrowing down what the fish want.