How to Fish Using a Knife Jig

Knife jigs are stick-shaped lures that saltwater anglers use when pursuing fish such as cod, kingfish, trevally and wahoo. The knife jigs are available in sizes ranging from 4 inches to 14 inches and come in a variety of colors. The slender jigs fall through the water quickly and are especially effective in areas with heavy currents. When jigged up and down, the jigs move vertically, but they do not have much horizontal action.

Things You'll Need

  • Rod and reel
  • Line
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach hooks to the knife jig. The company that manufactures the jigs -- Charkbait -- also makes hooks for them, which are known as assist hooks. Use the larger hooks for the larger knife jig, the smaller hooks for the smaller knife jig. To attach the single hooks, place the loop through the eye on the bait, push the hook through the loop and pull on the hook to tighten. To attach the double hooks, hold the hooks so they hang downward. Push the thread through the hook eye and then push the hooks through the loop made by the thread and the eye. Pull on the hooks to tighten them around the eye.

    • 2

      Attach the knife jig to the end of 20-pound or heavier line spooled on a medium-heavy action rod and reel. A Palomar knot is a good choice for attaching the knife jig to the fishing line.

    • 3

      Drop the knife jig over the side of the boat and let it fall to the bottom.

    • 4

      Jerk the knife jig with a firm, upward motion. Many anglers are most comfortable jigging when they place the butt of the rod under their armpit then grab it between the reel and the first guide. Experiment with how high and how aggressively you lift the knife jig off the bottom. Each time you lift the rod, reel in two to three revolutions, which allows you to fish the entire water column. If you locate fish at a specific part of the water column, focus on that depth.

    • 5

      Set the hook with a hard, upward motion when a fish hits. You may not feel the strike, since most fish will hit when the knife jig is falling through the water. But if you feel extra weight when you go to jig the lure, set the hook hard.