Small jigs

Small jigs have been around for a long time, but they are evolving. They are essentially a lead lure, about the size of your finger, with a hook at the bottom. The hook got turned around a while ago, so it's now on the top on most modern jigs. Now butterfly style jigs are making an appearance. Imagine running over your finger-sized jig with a steam-roller. Your jig is now flat, with a fluttery movement and a thumping action as it drops or falls: "butterfly action". Power Jig was first on the NZ scene, in early 2011, with the hot-forged brass/chrome butterfly jig. It's proven popular and effective, for both top-workup dropping and sea-floor fluttering with a high lift and unimpeded fall action. Daiwa have released the Slow Knuckle this spring in a lighter 20-60g, with 80g and 100g due in early summer. Depending on the drift, heftier jigs will better for our heavier Auckland currents on windy days (depending also on the physical size). Butterfly jigs are best rigged with an assist hook (a hook with a cord attachment) or with an inchiku-type assist, which has an octopus skirt. Overhead reels suit best as you are constantly working the lower water column, in-gear/out-of-gear style. Use 10-15lb braid and a soft, slow taper rod, slow-jig, or light jig-style rod (you probably have the right rod already). Dump the jigs into a workup or drop them to sea floor and then lift the rod-tip high, before dropping the tip quickly so the lure falls freely, then point the rod tip at the lure in a straight line and hang on! Last summer it was one lift, two lift, three lift and bam!: snapper.