Origin, structure and advantage over the classic jig head
The Jika rig comes from Japan. Unfortunately, the translation into German does not help us much in explaining the action. In addition to the “original name”, the term jig rig has also become established in our country. The name is not so far-fetched, as the rig is very similar to classic jigging. Both in terms of its structure and the way it is guided.
The jika rig is a very simple rig. All you need is a weight with an eyelet, a snap ring and a single hook.
Pear-shaped weights are just as suitable as rod-shaped weights. The difference lies in the mobility. Bar weights tip over at the bottom and lie on their side. This ensures that the bait gets additional play. However, it will also follow the weight and come to rest directly on the bottom. If you use a floating bait, it will stand diagonally off the bottom.
Pear-shaped weights have the advantage that they are a little more stable - or take longer to fall over - and keep your bait a few centimetres above the bottom. When the line is taut, the underwater current can maintain the action of your bait.
The snap ring should have a relatively large diameter. This is because both the weight and the hook must fit inside it. Of course, it is important to ensure that the eyelets of the other two parts are also large enough so that they can move freely on the snap ring.
As usual, the hook is selected according to the situation and bait. We recommend offset hooks in terrain with lots of snags. The point can be sunk into the back of the softbait so that it can no longer get caught on obstacles. Shads or craws are particularly suitable for this. Classic single hooks are very suitable for narrow worms or small softbaits.
A little tip: If you often want to change your bait or weight, the connection only with a snap ring is annoying in the long run. You can find accessories specially designed for the Jika rig in the store. Our tungsten weights, for example, have a small clip that allows you to change them very quickly.
The running behavior of the Jika rig in relation to the bait presentation
The Jika rig can be fished in a similar way to a classic jig head. The simplest method is jigging. In contrast to the jig head, the Jika rig has significantly more movement as the hook and weight are separate. In addition, it wobbles after hitting the bottom, tips over and the softbait can continue to develop its action depending on the buoyancy.
Another option is to drag the Jika rig along the bottom. The bait is held a few centimetres above the bottom and animated. At the same time, the weight swirls up sediment from the bottom. This imitates a bottom-dwelling fish looking for food. The additional cloud of sediment provides a further visual attraction.
You can take advantage of the separation of the weight and single hook by letting your rig sink to the bottom and then applying tension to the line by holding the rod up. This will keep the jika rig upright and you can animate the weight and bait with light tugs. It twitches on the spot and performs small jumps. This is particularly effective if you know a hot spot where you are sure there will be fish.