What is a microjig? Everyone has heard of it, but not everyone knows about it. I have met anglers who were looking for a rod for microjigging with a test up to 10g or a stick that will be tapping in the hand with a 1g bobber. The first is wrong, the second is impossible, but more on that later.
Microjig, of course, many similar to the classic jig, but even more different from it. First of all, not even by weights, but by the variety of wires and animations. No other spinning direction does not give so much room for creativity and testing the skills of the angler. Here is not important the power of the boat motor or the steepness of the echo sounder structurescanner.
In microjig, as nowhere else, in the first place catch hands, in the second balanced tackle as a whole and then everything else. Microjig can not boast big trophies, but allows you to target any predatory and non-predatory fish. In microjig will not be able to feel the powerful resistance of a large trophy at the other end of the tackle, but super-light rods and equipment make each nibble bright and unforgettable, and most often such nibbles for one fishing a huge number. Microjig is the most sporting discipline of spinning fishing. It does not give to engage in “fish harvesting”, but gives an exceptional excitement and pleasure from fishing. This is partly why this type of fishing is most popular among followers of the principle of Catch & Release.
Micro-jigging tackle
Microjigging tackle in its essence is not much different from any other spinning tackle, but it has its own features. The main components to rely on are as follows:
- spinning rod;
- spinning reel;
- braided cord and fishing line;
- sinkers;
- lures.
Now let’s break down each item in more detail.
1) Microjig rod
Microjig stands out from other spinning rods primarily because of its weight and range of working weights. These are the lightest spinning rods and fittings available. The test range starts from 0.3 grams and up to 3.5-4 grams. In my opinion, even 4 grams is already a classic light jig, with the same classic jig fishing. The length of the rod is usually 1.8 – 2.2 meters. Stroi can be different. Someone is more comfortable using a regular blank, others prefer a fast stick.
Microjig spinning rods can be divided into 2 categories, according to the type of tip used – Solid Tip or Tubular Tip.
Solid Tip – is a monolithic flexible insert made of fiberglass or low-modulus carbon because of its flexibility. Spinnings with solid are the most popular in microjigging, as they allow you to buy an inexpensive rod, although made of simple materials and with cheap fittings, but allows you to work with super light weights. In this case, there are no such requirements to the blanks in terms of sensitivity, materials, the work of the blank as a whole as with the tubular. With a solid it is not so critical, because such a tip reacts to the slightest touch of the bottom by the lure, to the weakest nibble. And the higher the level of the rod, the better these indicators show themselves. But it should be noted that only solid allows to fish with weights about 0.5 gr comfortably. Both in terms of the reaction of the tip, and in terms of animation of the bait. Microjigging rods with Solid Tip most often have Fast or ExFast line, as the animation of the bait is set primarily by the tip.
For example, SLrods Atria Trout 602SUL.
Tubular Tip – classic hollow tip, which is a single unit with the blank. The rods of this type are not so popular in microjigging as solid due to a number of reasons. First, it is the price – for a good, suitable for microjig stick with a tubular top will have to give a minimum of 10-15,000 rubles and there are good reasons for this. It is difficult to achieve besides high tactile sensitivity on a super light blank also ideal rod structure and high visual informativeness, as close as possible to solid tops. But even with the coolest and most expensive tubular, you should not expect that 1 gr will somehow tapping in your hand, because the proportional difference between the thickness of the cord and the weight of the lure is too great. Secondly, the rod with a tubular tip is more difficult to correctly animate a miniature bait, it requires a certain skill, but this is also one of the main advantages, Tubular Tip provides more opportunities for animation relative to the solid. For this purpose, trout rods with fast or regular-fast line are most often used.
A prime example is the Abu Garcia Diplomat Nano 612UL.
2) Microjig reel
The reel in this type of fishing is also worth paying special attention to due to the presence of a number of critical factors that are not so important in classic spinning. The most important is, of course, the winding. Microjig uses the thinnest fishing lines and cords that exist. Therefore, it is enough the smallest backlash, the smallest inaccuracy in the winding and we get overlap, which at the next throw turns into a “beard”, and such thin lines and cords are almost impossible to untangle. Of course, we should not forget about the balance of the tackle. Although I do not pay attention to this parameter in any other kind of spinning fishing, but in microjig it plays a big role, because when using very light sticks and heavy reel imbalance is very noticeable. I would not say that it somehow affects the throwing, but just very uncomfortable. But in the pursuit of light tackle, you should not forget about the power of the reels. If you plan to catch weights of more than 1 gr, the size is unambiguously 2000 with some exceptions, so that the reel will serve you for a long time and do not cause problems. For weights up to 1 gr you can use 1000th size and even 500th. In general, I recommend not to save money on the reel. It should be taken into account that if you collect a good budget set, the reel will be more expensive than the spinning. The most budget working option of the reel for micro-rogging, which without problems digests cords 0.15-0.2 PE – Stinger Innova Ultralight 2004.
3) Braided cords and fishing lines in microjigging
I will not focus here in detail what and when it is better to use, fishing line or braided cord, as it is a material for a separate article. I can only say briefly that with weights up to 1 g often justifies the use of fishing line, due to the peculiarities of animation, in all other cases braided cord, even in winter with the right approach.
The main sizes used cords 0.15-0.2PE according to the Japanese classification and such cords cost money. Of course, there are many cords on sale, with a declared thickness of 0.05 mm and similar, which cost less than 1000 rubles. But it should be understood that a cord with honest stated characteristics, which correspond to reality, can not cost so much. Such cheap cords have a size much larger than the declared, sometimes even 2-3 times. This is characteristic not only for microjig cords, but in principle. But in microjigging it most negatively affects the throwing and animation.
For example, Varivas cords of the series Area Super Trout Master Limited Super Premium.
4) Microjig baits
Just as in the previous point, this topic is worthy of a separate article. But I will still try to summarize briefly.
The main sizes of baits that are used in microjig, are 1-2″, ie from 2.5 to 5 centimeters and weighing up to 1 gr, and the weight of the bait in 1 gr is considered very large. You can not say what size under what fish is better suited or on what color what fish bites better, because even on the same reservoir, in the same place, but at different times the situation can change dramatically.
5) Weights in microjigging
The choice of sinker type is not so great, either a classic jig head or a chuburashka. Jig-heads in microjig though have a place, but the phenomenon is very rare and completely unpopular, so a little more detail I’ll focus on the chuburashki.
Cheburashki come in two main categories, according to the type of material from which they are made. This is lead and tungsten. Cheburashki also come in all sorts of colors of the rainbow. In my opinion, the color of the sinker occasionally plays an insignificant role, and that only when using a standard unpainted cheburashka, black or gold. Other colors have never topped the list.
But the material of the sinker should be emphasized, because quite often it plays a key role. First, what is the difference between tungsten and lead. Tungsten chaburashki, of course, cost an order of magnitude more expensive, but at the same time have a greater specific weight, so the size of the tungsten sinker will be an order of magnitude smaller than the lead with the same weight. The consequence of which are better flight characteristics, better tactile sensitivity and more accurate transmission of animation from the rod to the bait. It always happens that when there is no nibble, after replacing the lead with tungsten, the fish becomes active and starts to peck, or even chew. This difference is very noticeable at competitions.
What is the need for microjig
Microjig is needed for the soul! First of all, it is for this purpose. As I wrote above, this type of fishing is not suitable for fans of fish harvesting, but enthusiastic amateurs and sportsmen will give incomparable sensations, when even a perch of 200 gr already makes you make certain efforts to catch.
Top 10 lures for microjigging
- Lucky John Baby Rockfish
- Reins Ring Shrimp
- Crazy Fish Polaris
- Kosadaka BugSy
- Select Uran
- Bait Breath Microgrub
- Merega Crazy Head
- Sprut Kanto
- MicroKiller Poddenka
- Berkley Power Nymph
3 microjigging sets (rod + reel + cord)
- Spinning SLrods Atria MJ Custom 722UL + Stinger Innova Ultralight 2506 reel + Varivas Light Game Super Premium PE 150m 0.3 cord .
- Spinning Maximus Pulse 702XUL + reel Shimano Soare BB 18 C2000SSPG + cord YGK Real Sports G-Soul X4 Upgrade 150m 0.3
- Spinning Zemex Impressive S-702XUL + reel Daiwa Luvias-12 2004 + cord Sunline Small Game PE HG 150m 0.2
Avtor: Bob Nudd je ribiški strokovnjak z več kot 20-letnimi izkušnjami in zmagovalec številnih tekmovanj.
Microjigging is such a cool technique! I remember the first time I tried it at the dock. The thrill of feeling those tiny nibbles was like a mini adrenaline rush. It really teaches you patience and finesse. Can’t wait to keep perfecting my skills!
I totally get that rush! I had my first microjigging experience at a local pier too, and those little bites had me hooked! It’s all about finding that rhythm and staying focused. Every cast feels like an adventure—can’t wait to hear about your progress! Keep practicing!
Microjigging? Oh man, it’s like fishing on a whole new level! Last summer, my buddy and I tried it out at the lake. We were using tiny jigs to get those finicky fish. It’s all about finesse and patience, but when you hook one, it feels amazing!