Lets talk tog jigs
 

I have never used them but have seen magazine articles about them. They look weird. I broke down and ordered a 80 bucks worth of jigs to try them out. I have been an old school bait guy for tog. I can't imagine them working in deeper water > 30' with a current because with a crab on the hook it will kite out...I normally use an 8 oz +/- sinker to hold bottom with a crab with a strong current.


Another thing is some guys use circle hooks. I am going to try that and I have always gone for a quality sharp 4/0 J hook. I rigged up a few with circles. Plan to use them with a berkley peeler crab. Those suckers work and stay on the hook for like 4+ fish. I figured it would work on a soft dead sick rod and a circle hook while I try the jig out.

ive used circle with no change in hookup rate. prefer a j hook. I think I've only deep hooked 1 tog ever

I've never tried them but some guys I know swear by them. I think they are only effective when the tog are in relatively shallow water without much current. Where did you buy them? Guy not far from me in Mamaroneck bait & tackle claims to have invented them.

I got mine via tidal tails. http://www.tidaltails.com/Black_Fish_jigs.htm There a several guys that make them... I can't imagine there is much difference in them....they look like a jig with no hair painted to look a little like a green crab.

Short shank bullet head jig, magic marker green and red worked when I couldn't find tog jigs.

You guys move the jig much or just dead stick it?

I use jigs a lot the movement and color seems to grab the attention of the bigger more aggressive tog. When jigging, use short 8 inch or so strokes with pauses in between. Be ready to set the hook at the slightest nibble because there eating it off the bottom, you don't get the same bounce in the rod tip like you do fishing traditional tog rigs.
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Yeah, That's the guy.

Here's my opinion; I don't think they catch any more or less than the standard method of fishing for togs. The jig is just a means of getting the crab to the bottom, just as your regular rig would do with a sinker on the bottom; I don't believe they are attracted to the jig itself, just the crab that is brought to the bottom by the jig. It does allow you to scale down to lighter tackle and fish with a spinning rod setup. I think it is used more for shallow water fishing with not a lot of current; if you are fishing deeper water with stronger currents the jigs are not going to be enough to get you to the bottom and hold you there. I think they are an expensive way to catch tog, and I can make 6 regular rigs for the same price as one jig. It is a fun way to scale down and catch some togs on lighter tackle, but if you are after the big togs, I wouldnt risk it.
Again, just my opinion and observations.