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Assist hook length?

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Heavy Metal - Jig fishing
Forum Description: Anything related to jig fishing here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=67131
Printed Date: 04 Jul 2026 at 12:19pm


Topic: Assist hook length?
Posted By: iceman666
Subject: Assist hook length?
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2011 at 8:47pm
Hey, on my last trip out I was using my own custom made assist rigs.
 
Owner # 9 solid rings
Sufix 280lb kevlar
Owner SJ41 hooks
Heatshrink (stiffness)
 
I was not happy with the amount of kingfish that hit but did not stick.
 
Just wondering anyones ideas on assist rig length, not taking IGFA rules into it.
 
I have been told first 1/3 of the jig being the kings will hit the head area first. also been told by the marks left from kings hitting jigs  1/2 way down the jig is the ideal length.
 
I was using large 300 - 400gm jigs so were resonable size
 
 
Everyones got an opinion so come on lets hear it.



Replies:
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2011 at 9:02pm
Take a piece of cord and make it the length of the jig...cut and when folded and knoted it will be the right length for the jig...(personally,I make it just a bit shorter than the jig.maybe 1 inch for the longer ones 300.400,420,500)....If the cord is too long,you stand more chance of hook ups that dont stick(face hook) but you can always drop a fish even when the cord is right....putting a squirt on hook  helps as the fish can suck it in but then some dont like to use them at all as it spoils the action of the lure.I dont think you are doing anything wrong.You can also get fish not sticking=RATS
p.s the marks on the jig could also  be couda too.


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Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens.


Posted By: JigNut
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2011 at 9:03pm
Originally posted by iceman666 iceman666 wrote:

Hey, on my last trip out I was using my own custom made assist rigs.
 
Owner # 9 solid rings
Sufix 280lb kevlar
Owner SJ41 hooks
Heatshrink (stiffness)
 
I was not happy with the amount of kingfish that hit but did not stick.
 
Just wondering anyones ideas on assist rig length, not taking IGFA rules into it.
 
I have been told first 1/3 of the jig being the kings will hit the head area first. also been told by the marks left from kings hitting jigs  1/2 way down the jig is the ideal length.
 
I was using large 300 - 400gm jigs so were resonable size
 
 
Everyones got an opinion so come on lets hear it.
You have made good observations Iceman... Your choice is personal preference.
 
LBD... if scuff marks look like 100 grit sandpaper marks it's kingys...


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Posted By: iceman666
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2011 at 9:26pm
From the fish in the target area they wernt rats........ and the one that OWNED me on a OCEA jigger with the drag done up as much as i could handle without being pulled into the tide the  Blue Rose 420gm rod  bent in half with tip under the water at times........
 
Yea easy to tell diffrent marks from kingy "SCUFF"  marks as apposed to sharp dents into the jig left by the  mailto:F@%KING - F@%KING razor gang.!
 
Yea was extremly frustratng and as i know some days they just dont stick aswell as others.
 
So frustrating i just wanted to hear everyones opinion so i can put it all in the mixer and see if i missed anythung.
 
 
 
 


Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2011 at 1:51am
Short as I can go to still get hook through loop. Kings generally get ahead and hit bait head on. I don't really worry about missed hits etc. if they are big enough and keen enough they'll eat it.

Anyone using that varivas assist cord, is it stiffer than used zylon?


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6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division


Posted By: worksux
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2011 at 7:29am
I keep my cord length to around 75mm for all the long jiggs, seems ok. 
I am starting to use the shorter zest flutter jig more and more and wonder if the assist should be shorter for them?


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Posted By: Captn Phil
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2011 at 8:24am
Look at your jig and picture it as a bait fish. Put the hook where the gut of the bait would be. That is about one third or less of the way down from the top. That is the most vulnerable part of a fish and where predators are most likely to target when attacking. Also, check that  the hook isn't able to fall over the jig ang get caught up. Don't be scared to use bigger hooks. 

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Taking sportfishing charters to the next level.
Blue Water Adventures Ltd
Whangaroa / Bay of Islands


Posted By: blackboat
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2011 at 11:30am
big hooks ,nylon/braid tuna assist cord halfway down jig and the skirt as well helps ,,had couta cut clean off the kevlar but they cant or as yet cut through this tuna cord


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Posted By: kaveman
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2011 at 7:09am
I have more "missed" hookups using long rigs. better hookups using shortish ones.ie less than one third of jig length

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www.kavemantackle.co.nz


Posted By: ChrisW
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2011 at 1:59pm
Make sure you are using a hook wider than the jig where it hangs.  Also keep assist cord short - 1/4 to 1/3 is about right.  Also make sure you strike on every take.  I strike up to 3 times.
If I don't set the hook, I am never confident that it is a firm hookset.


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give it death!


Posted By: JOLLY
Date Posted: 20 Jun 2011 at 7:39pm
Originally posted by blackboat blackboat wrote:

big hooks ,nylon/braid tuna assist cord halfway down jig and the skirt as well helps ,,had couta cut clean off the kevlar but they cant or as yet cut through this tuna cord

Where do you get your tuna cord from?


Posted By: blackboat
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2011 at 8:33pm
this is what i use in tuna cord in blue very strong stuff bit tight with knot but all good




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Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2011 at 11:58pm
Where do you get this cord from?


Posted By: M@CC@
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2011 at 12:15pm
This may cause some problems and I don't have a current picture as I'm overseas, but last Novemeber I made a couple of assist rigs with two hooks (one at about 1/3 and one just past 1/2 way), I can tell you my hook up rate was 2 - 1 compared to others on the boat ...till they snagged on the bottom Unhappy. The other issue was sometimes it was difficult to get the second hook out for a clean release. Haven't stuck with it but it was worth a crack.
Any one else given this a go????


Posted By: krow
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 12:56pm
Two hooks on the same cord or seperate?


Posted By: Fugu
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 1:09pm
Originally posted by worksux worksux wrote:

I keep my cord length to around 75mm for all the long jiggs, seems ok. 
I am starting to use the shorter zest flutter jig more and more and wonder if the assist should be shorter for them?
I shortened mine, looked wrong when changing from a 300gr jig.
Originally posted by fish i fish i wrote:


Anyone using that varivas assist cord, is it stiffer than used zylon?
I've used the varivas cord. I thought it was too soft and it frayed really easily. I wont be buying it again Confused
 
 


Posted By: M@CC@
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 3:54pm
Two hooks on the same cord mate, Only did this on 400gm + Jigs (would affect the smaller jigs, i would think), it certainly did the trick for the couple of days that I used it.Smile


Posted By: straks007
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 3:58pm
He is named Cluster for a reasonLOL


Posted By: M@CC@
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 8:06pm
you wanted one, mate!


Posted By: straks007
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 8:24pm
Yeah and all your jigs they were attached to, and your custom rods, and your bling reels etc


Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2011 at 8:47pm
Originally posted by Captn Phil Captn Phil wrote:

Look at your jig and picture it as a bait fish. Put the hook where the gut of the bait would be. That is about one third or less of the way down from the top. That is the most vulnerable part of a fish and where predators are most likely to target when attacking. Also, check that  the hook isn't able to fall over the jig ang get caught up. Don't be scared to use bigger hooks. 


That would be the case for sharks and other toothy critters I would think Phil, as sharks hit the tail or mid section in order to disable them and they have got the teeth to mow through them. But I thought kings hit bait fish head on with speed and suction.


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6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division


Posted By: Kenshin
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2011 at 9:06pm
.
My assist cord would also be just about a third of the length of the jig. No more, No less. Fish I.. forget about the varivas assist cord, better use shoe lases I reckon LOL.





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Be patient and calm – for no one can catch fish in anger. –Herbert Hoover



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