Flat Fall Jigs - Any experience on here? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

goldenglory18 · 07-21-2017, 08:38 AM

Quote:

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baja_Traveler

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

Haha, anyone else have a POSITIVE experience?

Quote:

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 · 07-21-2017, 08:52 AM

Quote:

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 · 07-21-2017, 10:21 AM

Quote:

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 · 07-21-2017, 08:57 AM

Quote:

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 · 07-21-2017, 10:24 AM

Quote:

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.....

Hunters Pa · 07-21-2017, 10:48 AM

Grab an Assault and/or Deception in mackerel pattern as well, in the heavier models. Ling love em.

If you were nearby I might have an extra to give you to try

jimichu · 07-21-2017, 10:51 AM

I use flat fall for everything, YT, rockfish, lingcod. It works really well for me, In fact I have more faith with my jig than live bait. BUT, I'm not using the shimano flat fall. Shimano's flat fall was one of the first generations of flat fall jigs, it's rarely seen now in japan because the newer ones works so much better. Try some "Seafloor control" flat fall jigs, especially the "Rector", I caught almost anything with that jig.

Lingcod is especially attracted to it. You don't need to cast, just drop it vertically to the bottom, depent on what you are try to catch, for rock fish and lingcod, just do slow up lift near the bottom and then drop back, repeat. For YT, do punchy fast up lifts continuesly to the surface with some random drops.

oh, you also need a "slow pitch jigging" rod, those rods are skinny with bouncy tips, the jig will dance better and be more attractive.

I just bought my first kayak, I think pretty soon I will be slow jigging on a kayak, maybe I'll try county line or LJ first.

FISH11 · 07-21-2017, 11:46 AM

I bought some in different sizes last year after going on a 3/4 day boat. Used them on the next 1.5 day boat but did not get anything because none of the Yellow or Bluefins we saw wanted to play, even with bait. Used it on my Kayak in March and cast it on some boils and landed a 34 lb Yellowtail. Next trip I cast it get a birds nest and watched it just keep going. I buy another (glow, now they are on backorder) on another Kayak trip bait is boiling I cast and get two huge Calicos and another Yellowrail. Later I let it fall too long get caught in the kelp and can't get it back, lost another. I have several other colors Sardine, Squid, and Anchovy. Haven't used the other enough to see how they do over the Glow color. On a boat I use 200 grams and on the Kayak 160 grams. I like them more than my Irons.

Mahigeer · 07-21-2017, 12:08 PM

They work great.

Baja_Traveler · 07-21-2017, 12:55 PM

Did a quick websearch for the Seafloor Control jigs - the only place I could find them in the US was from someone on Ebay - for $30 apiece.

Orca Winfrey · 07-24-2017, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimichu

I use flat fall for everything, YT, rockfish, lingcod. It works really well for me, In fact I have more faith with my jig than live bait. BUT, I'm not using the shimano flat fall. Shimano's flat fall was one of the first generations of flat fall jigs, it's rarely seen now in japan because the newer ones works so much better. Try some "Seafloor control" flat fall jigs, especially the "Rector", I caught almost anything with that jig.

Lingcod is especially attracted to it. You don't need to cast, just drop it vertically to the bottom, depent on what you are try to catch, for rock fish and lingcod, just do slow up lift near the bottom and then drop back, repeat. For YT, do punchy fast up lifts continuesly to the surface with some random drops.

oh, you also need a "slow pitch jigging" rod, those rods are skinny with bouncy tips, the jig will dance better and be more attractive.

I just bought my first kayak, I think pretty soon I will be slow jigging on a kayak, maybe I'll try county line or LJ first.

Not to hijack things, but does four hooks on a flatfall violate the two-hook restriction for rockfish?

goldenglory18 · 07-25-2017, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orca Winfrey

Not to hijack things, but does four hooks on a flatfall violate the two-hook restriction for rockfish?

I was silently thinking the same thing.....

MrPukaShell · 07-25-2017, 01:03 PM

What boat are you going to fish. MY guess is you will be heading out to Anacapa to fish for Yellowtails. Lately it has been sardines for bait. Nice size bate in the 4 to 7 inch range. They usually anchor up on a ridge after looking around and chum to see if they can get them to go. If the fish get on the chew it can be awesome. Get there early so you can be towards the front of the line. You want to claim a spot on the back of the boat. This way you can fly line a sardine and let it go back in the current. You will usually see the fish boiling around in the chum line. Last Saturday they did not want the iron and only sardines were getting bit. You can use a small egg sinker if you think you need to be a little deeper. Dropper loops are another method used with a 6-10 oz torpedo and hooks to match the bait. Did not see anyone fishing a flat fall last Saturday on the trip I went on. Keep an eye on anyone catching fish to see if they are fishing the surface or on the bottom. Also 20-25 pound floro for leader. Good luck.

07-21-2017, 11:46 AM	#8
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,643	I bought some in different sizes last year after going on a 3/4 day boat. Used them on the next 1.5 day boat but did not get anything because none of the Yellow or Bluefins we saw wanted to play, even with bait. Used it on my Kayak in March and cast it on some boils and landed a 34 lb Yellowtail. Next trip I cast it get a birds nest and watched it just keep going. I buy another (glow, now they are on backorder) on another Kayak trip bait is boiling I cast and get two huge Calicos and another Yellowrail. Later I let it fall too long get caught in the kelp and can't get it back, lost another. I have several other colors Sardine, Squid, and Anchovy. Haven't used the other enough to see how they do over the Glow color. On a boat I use 200 grams and on the Kayak 160 grams. I like them more than my Irons. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

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07-21-2017, 10:48 AM	#6
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,361	Grab an Assault and/or Deception in mackerel pattern as well, in the heavier models. Ling love em. If you were nearby I might have an extra to give you to try

07-21-2017, 10:51 AM	#7
jimichu Junior Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pasadena Posts: 8	I use flat fall for everything, YT, rockfish, lingcod. It works really well for me, In fact I have more faith with my jig than live bait. BUT, I'm not using the shimano flat fall. Shimano's flat fall was one of the first generations of flat fall jigs, it's rarely seen now in japan because the newer ones works so much better. Try some "Seafloor control" flat fall jigs, especially the "Rector", I caught almost anything with that jig. Lingcod is especially attracted to it. You don't need to cast, just drop it vertically to the bottom, depent on what you are try to catch, for rock fish and lingcod, just do slow up lift near the bottom and then drop back, repeat. For YT, do punchy fast up lifts continuesly to the surface with some random drops. oh, you also need a "slow pitch jigging" rod, those rods are skinny with bouncy tips, the jig will dance better and be more attractive. I just bought my first kayak, I think pretty soon I will be slow jigging on a kayak, maybe I'll try county line or LJ first.

07-21-2017, 12:08 PM	#9
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,908	They work great.

07-21-2017, 12:55 PM	#10
Baja_Traveler Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Table 17, Bay Park Fish Co. Posts: 943	Did a quick websearch for the Seafloor Control jigs - the only place I could find them in the US was from someone on Ebay - for $30 apiece.

07-25-2017, 01:03 PM	#13
MrPukaShell Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ventura COunty Posts: 521	What boat are you going to fish. MY guess is you will be heading out to Anacapa to fish for Yellowtails. Lately it has been sardines for bait. Nice size bate in the 4 to 7 inch range. They usually anchor up on a ridge after looking around and chum to see if they can get them to go. If the fish get on the chew it can be awesome. Get there early so you can be towards the front of the line. You want to claim a spot on the back of the boat. This way you can fly line a sardine and let it go back in the current. You will usually see the fish boiling around in the chum line. Last Saturday they did not want the iron and only sardines were getting bit. You can use a small egg sinker if you think you need to be a little deeper. Dropper loops are another method used with a 6-10 oz torpedo and hooks to match the bait. Did not see anyone fishing a flat fall last Saturday on the trip I went on. Keep an eye on anyone catching fish to see if they are fishing the surface or on the bottom. Also 20-25 pound floro for leader. Good luck.