Question about jig heads and swimbaits

good points Al...thos jig pics are just for spacing reference
 and not the jigs for swimbaits like he asked

I have some good shad head jigs in 1-1/2 to 4 oz  with long hooks and it sounds like RB is coming down to fish with us this Saturday.....so i will have a few extra and some teaser rigs to hook a brother up

Are you using mono?  Braided line (much smaller diameter and no stretch) really helps with "feeling" the bottom.  Since I switched I can use much lighter jigs.

I use braided on the main but always a mono or flouro for the leader so it can be broken off if you hook the bottom.  Ever try & break off braided?  It's NOT easy to do.  With a braided mainline, you still feel EVERYTHING.

for rockies I run the main line (braid) to a three way swivel. from one of the eyes I tie 2-3ft of mono and attach a 4 oz head with swim bait. Off the other eye i loop in a simple pre tied snell (see link - I use 3/0 mostly) and on that I put a small grub or swim bait. When you jig it the large swim bait looks to be chasing the small "fish" Lings hit the swim bait and rockies hit the "baitfish" 90% of the time. I like this set up b/c its simple (I hate retying dropper loops on the water) and if you want to go with just the swim bait you can simply un-thread the snelled hook

http://cdn.yourzoom.com/sp/301664_1223450/301664_1223450.yz/detail.jpg

I take 10 Pre-tied droppers out with me. Also take 10 straight leaders for swim baits only. My main line terminates in a Duo Snap. From there I have a swivel on my leader I just attach in a matter of seconds.

you guys will laugh...
I now use 65lb super slick 8 braid..with an 80 lb snap swivel ...and 80-100 lb steel leader with crimped teaser loop and cheap snap swivel...and a bottom 70 lb snap swivel for swimbaits...I can switch top smaller teaser lures and swimbaits from diff weights and colors on this steel rig whenever I want...and dont get rubbed to break off thin on the rocks so much... when a bigger ling does the head shake and gator death roll by my kayak ,they do not nick the leader with their teeth and take my swimbait as they leave...lot less losses now


for pulling this heavy set up free, off reefs and such ,I carry a little wood dowel about 8 inches long-broom stick thick- with a wrist rope drilled on one end...I can tighten my snagged line by the side of my kayak...wrap it three time around the stick and pull like a lawn mower handle...it will either free my jigs...or pop the swivels..either way I dont loose all ,and dont loose 180 ft of braid...

60#braid, bb swivel, 3 feet 80# mono to three way swivel. 30# mono to jig, hoochie etc. 30# mono will break before yak stability becomes an issue. 70# swivel popping sounds a tad precarious to me.

Are you using mono?  Braided line (much smaller diameter and no stretch) really helps with "feeling" the bottom.  Since I switched I can use much lighter jigs.

I use braided on the main but always a mono or flouro for the leader so it can be broken off if you hook the bottom.  Ever try & break off braided?  It's NOT easy to do.  With a braided mainline, you still feel EVERYTHING.

You don't use braid to the terminal end because it WILL break. One nick from the rocks and its done. I use 30 lb Seaguar or 40 lb seaguar. If I hooked on the bottom I wrap my EWB fish bonker around the braid 5 times then pull. Always breaks at the palomar.

I was using mono leaders of heavy and med heavy lbs and was loosing more swimbaits than I was happy with and some failures seemed pretty stupid and a waste of jigs/tails...as my technique and skill level rises I will for sure try mono again other types of tying leaders...
for now I like tying the steel leaders ,it does require a good tug to get it to break  but that is the point-I want it to be hard to break- the reef often sends up a chunk of rock or other item and my jig is back in action.....it never feels unsafe...I have my big fat ass for a counter weight to offset any stability issues 

I was using mono leaders of heavy and med heavy lbs and was loosing more swimbaits than I was happy with and some failures seemed pretty stupid and a waste of jigs/tails...as my technique and skill level rises I will for sure try mono again other types of tying leaders...
for now I like tying the steel leaders ,it does require a good tug to get it to break  but that is the point-I want it to be hard to break- the reef often sends up a chunk of rock or other item and my jig is back in action.....it never feels unsafe...I have my big fat ass for a counter weight to offset any stability issues 

I'm sure you make for a good counterweight