Flat Fall Jigs - Any experience on here?

[goldenglory18]

All,

I have a charter trip planned for next Friday and considering the boat will be filled with newbies (its a work thing) I thought it would be fun to do something different. While everyone else is dropping drooper loop rigs w/8oz weight, I'd make a plan to throw some vertical flat fall style jigs.

Being that flat falls / butterfly jigs have been a hot item the last few years, I was wondering if anyone on BWE had some experience to share. What weight, what lbs test line, and any special hook rigging you've tried and had experience with (I've heard those owner harnesses have been failing at like half the expected test.)

I'll be throwing (or dropping) these with a 7'6" XH Proteus with a sized 30 Saltist if that matters at all...

Thanks as always!

- Kenny

[Denis_Ruso]

Flat Falls work. Can you elaborate on what boat, what landing and how long of a trip?

The trip will determine what kind of fishing you will be doing, setups are different depending what depth you will be fishing.

The jigs work completely stock the way they are. They work on a number of species. I like to run braid and short leader to the jig ranging from 3-10 feet. Weight of the jig will depend on depth.

[Baja_Traveler]

Here's my experience - last year spent what I consider alot for a 100g shimano flatfall, and put it on my rod with the Calcutta 400 just before the San Quintin halibut trip.

While there the first day decided that I'd like to see how the thing casts, so went out to the bank next to the resturant and took a cast. "Hey, this thing casts great!" I thought - then I took my second cast, birdnested the reel, and watched the flatfall break off and fly into oblivion.

Thats my only experience using the flatfall jig.

Did pick up a 5 pack of the cheap chinese clones at the Fred Hall show this year, but have not had a chance to fish them yet.

[goldenglory18]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

Flat Falls work. Can you elaborate on what boat, what landing and how long of a trip?

Bah, I know its a full day trip, limited load out of Channel Islands. We are leaving dock at 4:30, and I fully expect us to primarily target rocks, with a few hours spent looking for any trophies that are close.

Whatever I get, I'd like it to also be applicable to how WE fish in yaks as well, so I dont really want to go to 200g+ jigs for this upcoming trip, unless of course it makes sense for Malibu/LA Co/LJ as well.

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

Here's my experience...Thats my only experience using the flatfall jig.

Haha, anyone else have a POSITIVE experience?

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

Did pick up a 5 pack of the cheap chinese clones at the Fred Hall show this year, but have not had a chance to fish them yet.

Funny enough, Shimano is actually a knockoff itself. I've heard a lot of guys really like the ones that are on ebay and those are REALLLLY close to the same thing Shimano is producing. Makes you wonder about the actual manufacturer. I'm looking at these and considering....Keel jig imported from China

[Baja_Traveler]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Whatever I get, I'd like it to also be applicable to how WE fish in yaks as well, so I dont really want to go to 200+ oz jigs for this upcoming trip, unless of course it makes sense for Malibu/LA Co/LJ as well.[/URL]

No matter where you are using it, I think you will be hard pressed to find a 12.5 pound flatfall jig

[goldenglory18]

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

No matter where you are using it, I think you will be hard pressed to find a 12.5 pound flatfall jig

Hahaha, imagine casting that pig. LOL

[Denis_Ruso]

Originally Posted by goldenglory18

Bah, I know its a full day trip, limited load out of Channel Islands. We are leaving dock at 4:30, and I fully expect us to primarily target rocks, with a few hours spent looking for any trophies that are close.

Whatever I get, I'd like it to also be applicable to how WE fish in yaks as well, so I dont really want to go to 200+ oz jigs for this upcoming trip, unless of course it makes sense for Malibu/LA Co/LJ as well.

Personally I have not had any experience fishing calico bass for them so I cant comment on that. But they are great for Sandbass, rockfish and of course fishing offshore for tuna.

Given you will be most likely fishing Ana Capa or Santa Cruz Island there will be no tuna there. You will be targeting yellowtail in the morning. The yellowtail in my experience are not big fans of this jig, although some people do land yellows on these, I have not seen it outside of a hot bite when everything is getting bit. (some would disagree with me on this) For yellowtail I personally would focus more on a surface Iron or a coltsniper or the flylining the liveliest bait in the tank.

As far as rockfishing, the flatfall is about a good as it gets jigging off the bottom but you will be fishing 120-300 feet and you will want one as heavy as you can get it. Sinking a flat fall 2-300 ft with a boat full of people can lead to tangles if you are drifting and the jig is not heavy enough. Jig directly off the bottom. Problem with using them this way is the hooks get snagged on the structure and it suck loosing a 15$ jig rock fishing. I personally keep flat falls for the tuna fishing.

No sense in using a 15$ jig when the rockfish will bite anything down there that's tipped with a squid strip.

[goldenglory18]

Originally Posted by Denis_Ruso

Personally ...No sense in using a 15$ jig when the rockfish will bite anything down there that's tipped with a squid strip.

Fair points, thanks dude.

Maybe I'll just pick up a few more coltsnipers and stick with whatever squish jigs I still have left. I'm 95% positive I'll be the only person on this boat throwing anything other than a bottom rig or flyline.....

[Bruntoj]

I cast the 100g (3oz I think) Shimanos with my MH Teramar and Tranx400 with 50lb braid and 6-8ft 40lb fluoro leader. Sometimes casting and sometimes just dropping it. Keeps me busy while I soak livebait on flyline and dropper.
Besides bass and rockfish I've caught a soupfin shark and a 25lb'ish YT.


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