Over the course of the last several months, we’ve had the opportunity to target trout along with panfish.
We want to show you one more multi-species lure before we leave this genre; the Rapala Pro Series Tungsten Fly Jig. This is another jig that was introduced for use under the ice but it has so many more applications that we still haven’t exhausted all of its capabilities.
You might think that a fly is just a fly. Well, not really. The Fly Jig has produced trout, crappie, bluegill, sunfish and bass for us. Perhaps the secret lies in its simplicity. While it looks like any other well tied fly, the action, sink rate, castability and components separate it from the pack.
We obtained the 1/16 in two colors, Glow Chartreuse and Metallic Rainbow. The Glow Chartreuse is fantastic in stained or off color water while the Metallic Rainbow is a clear water killer.
These jigs come in six colors currently that all share a 90 degree line tie for efficient hook setting, a specially designed hook whose gap is 5% wider than traditional hooks of the same size and a wrapped body with hair around the beaded head.
The colors, while limited, represent a wide palette that mimics any number of bugs.
The weights are 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64 with all the colors being available in all the sizes. This allows you to choose and customize a sink rate that fits your specific situation. For that matter, these jigs are inexpensive enough to pick up some of every size so that you’re prepared for any and all eventualities.
How We Fish It
We’ve been fishing these using spinning gear spooled with 4# line. For as small as they are, you can get pretty impressive distance when casting.
The action is a subtle slow sink unless you impart something extra to the jig. Our most productive technique has been a very subtle yo-yoing of the bait once it gets to the depth we’re targeting. You can keep a steady cadence or mix it up. We’ve had success doing both.
Our hook-up ratio has been excellent. This may be due to the Fly Jig’s diminutive size or the extra gap in the hook or even that when a fish takes this fly, it’s for keeps. Short strikes don’t exist for this bait. At least we have yet to experience that.
This is one of those baits that after having used it for a few months, you tell yourself that you’ll always have one with you. No, you may not go fishing with the intent of catching any panfish but how many times have you gone, hammered your target species only to find a nice school of tasty little fish that you aren’t equipped to catch?
Having one of these tied on, ready and waiting will provide the flexibility to catch darn near any panfish you might run across thus giving you the option of bringing some home for that fish fry you’ve been looking forward to for several months.
Overall Performance
The Fly Jig has also proven to be well above average where durability is concerned. Typically, anything that is tied has a tendency to start falling apart after some period of time in the water coming into contact with small teeth. The Pro Series has not even begun to unravel after repeated catches of several species. That is the kind of value we appreciate.
Beyond using them as a stand alone bait, employing them on a float and fly rig is right up their alley. Suspend it below whatever float you choose (we prefer the smallest, lightest one we can get away with) and it not only catches fish but doesn’t spook them because of how natural it appears in the water.
The bottom line here is that the Fly Jig is one of those baits that have found a permanent place on one of our rods. No, it may not see as much action during the hot summer months as it has in the colder weather but it will always be only arms distance away. If for no other reason, just to have a little bit of fun with some of the myriad panfish that are available.
| Rapala Pro Series Tungsten Ice Jig | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |   |
| A great little multi-species bug | |
See ya’ on the water …
