Ike In The Shop : Tight Lining for Bass

[@chuckhoeppner1459]

This was a great video on a technique I have been wondering about for years. Great info on everything about this technique. Every specific piece of this technique was covered. Excellently done.

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

Thanks Chuck! We will keep these videos coming!

[@bradleyrussell1973]

We catch them on Dale Hollow SUPER DEEP! I caught some nice Smallmouth this past December suspended in 70’ over 175’! The baitfish held at 60-70’ almost all winter last year, and the Smallmouth adjusted to keep feeding on the Alewives. Having to fizz Smallmouth in cold weather doesn’t seem normal, so I only used this technique during a tournament, resorting to jerkbaits when fun fishing. Hard to pass over nine BIG arches around those bait balls, knowing you could kill the fish by bringing it to the surface.

[@gottadutch]

Nice tip Ike! Those VMC MOONEYE JIGS have been a favorite of mine for years. I'd recommend using a LOOP KNOT to anyone fishing this rig. There are several advantages to using a loop knot on your jigs as opposed to a Palomar or standard fisherman's knot. The main thing is a perfectly natural horizontal presentation in the water. It'll give your jig a better action when twitching and will always settle in a natural horizontal position. Using a loop knot, you'll never have to worry about repositioning your knot on the eye after unhooking a fish or a few casts or whatever.

[@bradleyrussell1973]

I used to think the same thing! Until I tried looking at the lure in my kitchen sink. The boyancy of the bait makes it sit perfectly level when in the water, even when it’s angled when looking at it out of the water. I immediately went right back to the Palomar!

[@anthonylawson7073]

Same setup almost we use in East Tennessee for tightling Smalljaws in the winter.Except we use a loop knot and gulp minnows 👍

[@cherokeelaketennessee7895]

What Mike calls tightlining, we call Damiki Rig or drop shad. When I think of tightline, I think of what Nathan Light does with the Gulp and 1/8 oz ball jig head with 4# mono.

[@Pwrcritter]

Got cha. How do yall like the tiny 1" gulp minnows for panfish/trout?

[@konnorsweet632]

Yea man thats what I do, and I twitch mine!

[@sacpig6839]

Mike has caught me more fish on his rigs than any youtuber, the Chicken Rig just destroys. I truly believe that Mike has the best rigs and Tactical Bassin has the best knowledge, although I am sure Mike has the same. Both of these together has helped so much in extemely pressured area's. Thanks for all of your videos!!

[@CMmuskie]

This is a presentation we use a lot in the spring for those small-mouths hovering over deep humps

[@gordjohnson70]

For better horizontal.... slide the knot back on the hook eye. Krazy Glue if necessary. It's not rocket surgery. Tip: use an improved clinch knot with 10 wraps. That LONG knot (facing backwards) will get it even more horizontal. Your exact presentation works very good for walleyes in both still lakes and flowing rivers.

[@BWOUTDOORS]

good video and info on this type of fishing ,thanks IKE.

[@derrickhouse7063]

Cherokee Lake and Douglas Lake are my two home lakes . Some days i can leave the lake and be tempted to stop by Walmart and by a for sale sign for my boat lol. Thanks Ike for this info i'm definitely going to give this a try next time i hit Cherokee this fall.

[@cherokeelaketennessee7895]

Derrick, this technique is very popular on Cherokee on South Holston, around here we all call it a Damiki Rig, because a lot of guys use the 3" Damiki Armor Shad. The VMC mooneye jig like Ike is using works great. I use the flat nose minnow on the drop shot but going to try it out this year on the damiki rig. Video fishing is a blast, good luck

[@jeffs5922]

You should do an on the water video of you fishing this rig! NJ right now would be great time to show this technique!

[@earladams8012]

Love your videos and how much you explain how everything is set up and how it works and looks keep up the great work

[@gordjohnson70]

Use a small line counter reel to repeat exact depths. Put the reel on free spool and thumb it down slowly. Setting spool tension for slow drop helps a lot.

[@darinkubin2596]

So it's almost like the ned rig built for the mid water column, huh? I like it

[@danieltaylor9459]

The max scent minnows are my “hack lure”-if I can’t catch much running different baits...when I want to catch just something...the flat nose Minnow pretty much is automatic lol

[@jessehernandez743]

It's also called a DAMIKI RIG. I use this method exclusively on CALI LAKES.

[@unkledoobz9662]

Cool, thank you. 🐟

[@gordjohnson70]

For a more horizon presentation.... push knot back toward to hook point. That'll balance it better... more so with heavier line.

[@gottadutch]

Better yet, you can do what I always do when fishing a jig. Tie on the jig with a loop knot. Not only does it give you a better action, it will always present your lure in a natural horizontal position, and you never have to worry about repositioning your knot on the eye after unhooking a fish. ;)

[@jhuntnfish6872]

I don't agree with the loop knot crap if your retreving and jigging it and want more action sure loop knot it is. But in this case you want a hard knot to make it sit as horizontal as possible in my opinion.

[@CMmuskie]

Another tip is to pull the knot back towards the bait. This will allow the presentation to be perfectly horizontal.

[@jhuntnfish6872]

Also it's deadsticking another term we use for it in oklahoma. Normally targeting striper and hybrid though.

[@dominickashadventures8550]

The eye looks like they are following you too. Nice.

[@FishingLakeCountry]

Been catching them on the spine rig. Made a video a review on the rig. Well load shortly. FLC

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

Nice man!

[@johncoopes1056]

Great info. Camera work drives me nuts though

[@chasestrode]

This is not tightlining, this is basically a damiki rig vertical presentation, Tightlining is a cast and let the bait pendulum back to you technique. We don’t tightline vertically in East Tennessee !!

[@rickyblackburn9533]

That is correct. I live in East Tennessee on Watauga and Holsten lake. This is Diminki fishing. Tight lining is a lighter head that we normally throw out towards the bank and barely shake the rod tip and keep the slack reeled up. Great smallmouth technique. And yes. We use a loop knot preferably 1/8 head.

[@cherokeelakeguy2386]

You have them mixed up. You are talking about damki rigging. Tight lining you thrown it out and twitch it in.

[@BassGeek]

WRONG!!!!! I live in East Tennessee my 2 home lakes are South Holston where this technique became poplar and Cherokee. Tightlining is a COMPLETELY different technique used to contour bank not fished vertically at all. Also a technique made popular on the two lakes mentioned above. What your are referring to is the Damiki or drop rig. I’ve been using both and have videos on both for years.

[@jeffgrier8488]

Great stuff Mike!

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

Thanks for watching Jeff!

[@howsbubbs]

Bro my ultimate dream is just to meet you one time. I am truly the biggest ike fan and always have been. Your such an awsome dude . tight lines bro. Maybe my dream will come true one day. I live in okechobee fla hopeing you will do a tournament here cuz i will be there to route you on. Keep it up bro. Not gay but love you bro lol

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

I appreciate the kind words Howard. Tight Lines!

[@simbajohn1882]

If you cant see rig on humminbird how do you know bait is just above fish you see

[@LukeBarnes5150]

For a bank fisherman would this work under a bobber to keep it steady at a certain depth?

[@JuzTheTip]

On a slip float rig to be able to adjust to deeper depths it could work.. Probably need a pretty long rod to make decent casts tho

[@jhuntnfish6872]

If this helps any I use a 10ft walliemarshal rod and a long wood slip cork for crappie in 30ft of water during winter. So yes I don't see why not. This is on a deep water dam face in my case.

[@Cody2nd]

Luke Barnes yes for sure man! I use the same technique for crappie fishing with a smaller bait, and I’ve caught a lot of big bass while crappie fishing. Started using it on one of my bass set ups with a bigger bait and was hammering them from banks on a lake, even caught my biggest crappie while doing that fishing for bass lol 18 1/2 inches.

[@LukeBarnes5150]

@@Cody2nd good to know!! Thank you!

[@ranger569h7]

Great video man!!!! Thanks

[@BernPisarcikJr]

Thank you.

[@martybarnes9330]

What kind of knot?

[@WAEofFishing]

Hey Mike, what leader knot are you using with such light line? I have the problem of breaking my lines when cinching my knots. Just curious, I've given up on FG knots because of this.

[@mattchapman3221]

9 loop blood knot or double uni works well for me

[@WAEofFishing]

@@mattchapman3221 I am using the double uni now. I have to look up the other. TY!

[@TheRick2130]

not just bass.. this setup works with walleye.

[@andrewbrenneman4944]

I actually first heard of this technique in In-Fisherman for walleye. It didn't surprise me that it's an all around technique

[@jhuntnfish6872]

If you think about it crappie fishing upsized.

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

You are right!

[@Thumpaholic]

Crappie fishing style...ol vertical jigging

[@ReelJedi]

Sweet

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

Thanks man!

[@1776PonySoldier]

I can't figure out how this is different than drop shot?

[@chrishenning3212]

I am a Bass fisher for sure, but this is a technique we Walleye fishers have been doing FOREVER here on the Detroit river. Apparently the Basser's needed to rename the technique to make it their own. NOTHING NEW HERE!

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

My disagreement is that it doesn't look like an injured bait fish, it looks like a resting suspended bait fish just hanging around doin nothing. Injured fish dart around erratically like a weightless fluke...unless its already dead.

[@willwork2fish261]

Can you fish it shallow as well?

[@franciscolafontaine1362]

Walmart jig head for $2.59 working super nice and is 10 pices

[@jakechimiak9626]

I tried this the last time I was out but with 1/4oz ball head with zoom fluke

[@XxNiteStockerxX]

Jake Chimiak catch any?

[@mikeiaconellifishing]

How did you do?

[@jakechimiak9626]

Did ok it’s a spotted bass lake in NC a lot like lake Norman but normally I use the damiki stinger something small and compact gets more bites

[@brettu45]

Why the white braid?

[@jacobanderson4101]

Loses effectiveness in muddy water? You mean the bite falls off a cliff into "do not try" status?

[@christowphersadventures6527]

You'd be a cool guy to hang out with I feel like

[@MrAluislugo]

How is this different from a Damiki rig?

[@cummins4408]

ARMANDO LUGO What he’s describing is Damiki rigging. Tightlining is casting it out, and letting the lure pendulum down on “tight line”.

[@judweaver3635]

So basically, jigging for bass just like for crappie. Got it.

[@ryanivers]

Aka damiki rig

[@William-Bill-Munny]

lol that tail is a little more "realistic" than the huge head. Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode.......

[@moc1969]

what if you are a bank fisherman

[@jcreel4055]

Isn't that like the damiki rig

[@XxNiteStockerxX]

J Creel I think so. Ike calls things differently sometimes. But he is using different components

[@jcreel4055]

@@XxNiteStockerxX looks exactly same to me

[@XxNiteStockerxX]

J Creel Damiki is a brand. Damiki rig uses their components like the “Armor Shad” and the “Damiki Rig Jighead”.

[@funkymojo111]

Focus!!!

[@JiffyBiff]

Forget all that... who makes that coat? I want one !!

[@OhMySack]

The 1980's called....they want their "Members Only" jacket back.

[@coreyballard8359]

It’s the Abu Garcia Ike Series 3’ medium light fast action VMC jacket in the shop

[@daddymidwest4111]

Please upgrade your camera, or technique. Current setup is headache inducing, Ike.

[@nicetele735]

WTF... that was a long way around the barn

[@adski1348]

How are we feeling about MLF buying FLW?

[@jimwareham8967]

Anybody noticed he talks like Christopher walken?

[@TridentDriver]

Suspendit 🤣 jersey lingo

[@jhuntnfish6872]

Honestly it's crappie jiging. Also you forgot to mention your never perfectly still in a boat anyway. But thanks for sharing info.

[@JuniorB86]

Definitely not tightlining. That's damiki rig or drop rig. It's for vertical fishing. Tightlining is casting and retrieving on a "tight line" while shaking the rod tip.

[@aqualung1466]

Good info, a bit dragged out. This video could have been 1-2 min