How to

Slow pitch jigging

THE demersal zone in a body of water represents the lower section of the water column towards the bottom. Demersal species that inhabit this zone tend to be prized table fish and often slower moving when compared with pelagic species and other speeders that reside near the surface. Targeting demersal fish with bait is common practice however anglers in the know have been using specific metal jigs and techniques to effectively pursue bottom dwelling species. Slow pitch jigging is not a new technique but is still yet to be widely adopted and as with any technique that you are attempting for the first time, persistence is critical to success as is understanding some key fundamentals which are detailed below.

Science explains the rigging

Oxygen enters the oceans from the atmosphere; mixing with the surface water and is then conveyed throughout the water column via currents and hydrodynamics. Photosynthetically active organisms and plants generate oxygen below the surface. As you venture deeper in the water column however, currents and light penetration diminish. This reduction in current and light results in less plant life and mixing of water which leads to lower oxygen levels; the reduction in sunlight also sees lower temperatures in the deeper water. Demersal species live in these darker, colder and lower oxygen environments with their metabolism evolving to a slower pace. Slower metabolism means slower movement; the science of the depths indicates demersal species are slower moving fish and therefore jigs and outfits should be tailored accordingly.

Suitable jigs

Jigs for demersal fish are biased towards slower moving models that are typically centre weighted and tend to fall almost horizontally or flutter through the water column. Alternate forms have keels or an asymmetric design resulting in the jig sliding and darting. Contrast this with high speed a streamlined jig used for mechanical high speed jigging for species like kingfish and you will notice that high speed jigging requires vigorous mechanical action to elicit a strike whereas slower demersal jigs have inherent action and fall slower through the water column enticingly with the jig doing the work.

Slow pitch and long fall techniques

There are a couple of main techniques used when slow jigging and both have very deliberate presentations. Slow pitch technique involves repeated stop start actions involving the rod being mostly still and using fractional turns of the handle, say a half turn for example, to load the rod up slightly causing it to recoil and flick the lure enticingly. Once you get into a rhythm you’ll find that a half or a three quarter turn of the handle every second or two will give a gentle loading of the rod and unload on the pause as the jig springs to life before fluttering back down. Once the line becomes taut again, the handle is wound, and process repeated. The long fall technique involves a long sweep of the rod upwards to flick the jig upwards and maximise freefall. You then lower your rod to follow the jig down and as the rod tip goes below horizontal and nears the water, you pause to take up the slack as the jigs falls then once it comes tight you then sweep the rod upwards again and repeat the process.

Rods and reels

Dedicated slow jigging rods are typically softer in the tip section, exhibit a more parabolic action through the length or the blank and offer a more subdued recoil than you would see on a faster action rod. The key to these rods is the deliberate recoil which gives a dampened acceleration to the jig, flicking it through the water column without too violent an action. This is important because slow pitch jigs can foul or tangle if moved too quickly through the water column. Long fall jigging typically uses a longer rod to give a longer stroke and greater fall time. Whilst you can use a spin reel effectively, overhead reels are ideally suited to slow jigging as they offer superior line control when dropping and working a jig.

Use your technology

A quality depth sounder is an incredible tool to have in your arsenal, allowing you to pinpoint likely looking bottom formations and actively target schooling fish. There is no point fishing featureless and barren areas devoid of any life; you need to locate structure, baitfish and predators and jig into those locations. A chart plotter perfectly complements your sounder, allow you to identify fishy looking depth contours and mark locations or drift lines. Another tool that is gaining more and more traction amongst inshore and offshore anglers is an electric motor. The ability to vary the speed of your drift or hold position over schooling fish with an electric motor gives an incredible advantage, allowing you to stay in the strike zone for longer and maximise your chances of success! 

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