Fellow Fishin Freaks,
I was just invited to fish this tourney this weekend. My question is how do you fish a mini-jig, and any advise you may have on the genetic freaks they stock this put and take with.
My trout experience is just mainly out at Frenchman's Flats(Piru Creek) and the other stream areas. I appreciate any help and advise.

First, you need a jig-stick (AKA ultra-light rod that bounces easily at the tip) & a matching reel. 1/32 mini-jigs are the typical size. Cast out, let the jig drop about 2 ft. below surface & start dipping the rod tip up & down while slowly reeling in. Some guys I know who always jig for trout do awesome. Each guy can catch & release about 20+ trout on a good day following a plant. I am not a jig master like them but, I do see & learn. I like using other methods, though.

I have found that stockers react well to Kastmasters, Super Dupers, spoons, & mini-jigs. Colors for the metals: I start with gold, copper, silver, & then white w/red. In that order. A red stripe or a glitter/reflection sticker helps as an addition. Colors for the jigs: motor oil w/red flakes, charcoal w/flakes, white w/red flakes, milk w/corn flakes (oh, wait a minute that's MY breakfast - LOL!), & any other colors w/flakes. :7

I can't give you any advice on the big mommas. The biggest I ever caught was 4.5 lbs. I was dragging a worm.

P.S. - make sure your hooks are sharp. When you get a strike dip for a second then pull. I missed soooo many by not doing that. I do have a quick reflex. I hope my blabbering helps you some if any? Good luck! Let us know how it went.

Fisheez,
Thanks for the info. Gotta hide the check book cause I just bought 2 new trout outfits, one jig stick and another light stick for tossin spinners and spoons.
I'm used to chuckin forearm sized baits this sounds like a lotta fun, thanks again.
Oh yeah, 4 pound P-line good for my main line or should I use 2 pound?

You can fish with a second rod here. Don't forget Power Bait! Yellow w/ glitter is great. Most people at the Apollo Park tourney were catching them better this way when the bite slowed.

The water is warming up. So, fishing near bottom might be an advantage. Bring a can of nightcrawlers. I like dragging the worms. Floating a worm is good. Flyling a worm is also good when the fish are spooky.

If the bottom is filled with moss then, you may not want to drag anything.

Very early is probably your best bet. Spots that I know of are: the marina (generally small to mid-sizers bunched around there after the plant), Bubble-hole (first come, first served here), & Chris's Pond (a choice if you hate elbow to elbow type fishing & this place will have some big ones too). That was in no particular order.

If you are getting skunked & the trout are diagnosed with lock-jaw. Then, try the Catfish Lake area (east lake where the river water spills in). Go straight across from the water inlet. The cats should provide some activity. I hope?

P.S. - don't buy into that CRAVE rave. Power Bait has been more successful to the people I know. Also, I read a post once by some guy who caught a big trout (there) on Power Bait and Santa Ana River Lakes people released a report that he caught it on Crave. They were told it was on Power Bait. I wonder how many more times that happened?

Well, the ultimate question: 4 lb. or 2 lb. ??

I hear Maxima is the way to go for these choices. I personally have 2 lb. on my jig-stick & 4 lb. on my other set-up (which I use for casting spoons, kastmstrs., etc.).

Which ever you choose, remember proper drag technics & bring a net.

I think the water would be dirty now. So, 4 lb. moss green or brown or clear is OK.

P.S. - oh yeah, I forgot about mentioning spinners. DUH! Good thing your bringing them.

Fisheez,
Thanks for all the great insight. My kid brother has got all the crave and nitro smutz out there. I picked up 5 different kinds of power bait, and yes, got the yellow glitter by chance.
I'll try the maxima, 2 on the jig and 4 on the other. Hopefully will have some toadies to post pics of.
We'll have to hook up one of these days at the duct when I get back in town around Easter, thanks again.

Ok first off whoever said Maxima is the line knows whats up. That stuff is the best jig line you'll ever use. Go for the 2 pound. My favorite colors for jigs are any kind of shad print, green grasshopper, and lightbulb. Another technique that has caught a lot of fish for me is to drop shot Mini Power Worms. Best colors are orange, chartuse, chartruse and green, and orange peel. Remember, I do this every weekend and I have had days with like 40+ fish so I at least sort of know what I'm talking about. Also, if you can dish out the cash, don't even mess with any rods other than G Loomis or Phenix. Just my 2 cents. And one more thing. Don't go to SARL. You'll have more fun at a park lake.

Jake

Calico,
Thx for the info on the jigs. I was invited to fish the tournament at SARL this weekend. I'm and avid bass and striper fisherman, just never did the trout thing much.
As a matter of fact the rods I bought are Loomis sticks just for this type of fishing, thanks again.

Good luck out there at that mud hole, it's goin to be a zoo, elbow to elbow, there's already over a 100 pre-registered, there'll be a ton of walk ins.. There's great prizes though, have fun.
Bruinfootballfan!!!

Thanks Greeper,
The way I look at it, the worst day fishing is better that not fishing at all. I'll let ya all know how we did. My first time going here, so don't really know what to expect.

I have only tried the Natural color for the Power Worms. Drop-shotting these do work good. A very slow retrieve with an occasional stop has been good for me.
I don't fish for trout every single week. Although, I have learned so much this year. The people I know who did teach me, fish at least twice every single week. Sometimes 4x in one week. And has not been skunked this year. As for me, not at that level.
I find that some of the smallest details can make the biggest difference. That is a lot of info!

Expect what Greeper said.
Maybe even worse like inviting 100 guys to fish in your backyard pool that you just stocked with 100 fish. :o

I hope you still manage to have fun & catch fish!

Thanks for all the great info you guys gave me. I appreciate all replies to my questions. Crowded mudhole or not me and my brother are gonna give'em hell.
Thanks again Fisheez for all your insights, we gotta hook up one day and trade secrets about the duct.

How'd you do?

A friend of mine told me that it was elbow to elbow fishing..not that great...

Power worms..I prefer the orange color with a split shot bouncing on the bottom

Anyone who went to this tourney should have gone to Rancho Jurupa instead. Me and a couple of buddies went on Friday and personally I topped out with 36 trout all released. No one had under 30 that I fished with and this local kid I know had 60 plus. All on Power Worms and PC jigs.

Jake

Where is Rancho Jurupa? Is that a park lake? How many lbs. did they stock? Regular 1 lbers?