Jigging -
Fishing with artificial lures is just about the ultimate in deception of predatory fish. It has become an artform where the angler is the puppetier, manipulating the rod to deceive the fish into biting. Predatory fish attack their prey mainly because they are hungry. Other times they attack purely out of reactionary instinct. Depending on the fish behaviour at that time, the angler must adapt their approach in order to get bit.
Most lures are worked by the angler to mimick a wounded baitfish. In the aquatic world, the weak are an easy meal and are usually picked off first by predators. Modern jigs are designed to produce that wounded action when worked in the Japanese style of jigging which has since become better known as "Mechanical Jigging" or "MJ". These designs produce enticing actions at moderate retrieve speeds, no longer must you bust your gut jigging at high speed.
There will be times when the fish are off the bite, a different approach is needed. The solution might call for sheer speed which requires much more angler effort to produce. Select thin narrow jigs that are streamlined, this requires less effort to produce the speed needed to entice a "reactionary" bite. When fish are disinterested, a quick fleeing jig could be enough for a predator to reactive instinctively to chase down and engulf that jig.
Zest Jigs
Zest is a Japanese company who specialises in original jig and lure designs with a manufacturing facility in China. Zest jigs feature high-end Japanese materials, technology and designs at attractive pricing. The Principals at Zest are also the designers with many years of outstanding work behind them. They have been well known in the Japanese tackle industry as some of the best around, often producing designs and products for some of Japan's biggest brands. These guys know their stuff!
Jigs are classified by their weight distribution -
Centreweighed jigs are the most popular and common jig design. They tend to be long flat shapes with an even weight distribution throughout its lenght. The jig can find a balance point near its centre, hence its name. Centreweighted jigs tend to have a lot of action on the drop so are slower to fall. They benefit with a moderate/slow retrieve but with a higher rod lift to give it time to slide or glide between rod lifts. This type of jig appeals to slower moving bottom fish and in shallower depths. This jig remains in the strike zone longer than any other jig type.
Tailweighted jigs are long jigs with a narrow streamlined neck graduating into a bigger heavy section near its tail. Due to its streamlined shape, Tailweighted jigs have little action but descend very quickly enabling the jigger to hit small deep water targets successfully. These jigs need to be retrieved quickly to produce much action. They work best with a fast, short jerk action to entice the bite and suits deep water.
Top Water Fishing -
Much like jigging, top-water fishing is about deception. Fish that prey on surface baitfish are principal targets in this lure-casting discipline. Much of the anglers' skill is to work the rod and reel to produce a convincing baitfish action from their lure.
Good lure action is paramount. Action can be drastically altered by changing hooks or choice of leader connection to the lure. Tune the lure by experimenting with these variables to find what makes that lure swim convincingly. All lures have a sweet rod/reel technique so tune and swim to find what works best for that lure. If the fish are about, they will quickly tell you if you have it right!
Starwalker Lures are an inexpensive but productive top-water stickbait. They are easy to swim after the addition of a suitable treble or in-line single hook.
These lures are available in a range of natural baitfish colours and vivid colours. Choose from either 180 or 160mm lures in either floating or sinking versions.
Starwalker lures cast like bullets, no distance-robbing tumbling from these well balanced lures.