Droppin’ the “Hammer”! 5

When we're not mooching for ocean fresh salmon here in Craig, Alaska we're banging the ocean floor for halibut, ling cod, yelloweye, and whatever else happens to climb on. Jigging is by far my favorite technique for catching halibut and bottomfish because it creates a commotion down below that fish can't resist.

One of the jigs that I had Papa Endsley build for me this winter is a pipe jig we call the "Hammer" because it clangs, bangs, and rattles every time it hits the ocean floor. Pipe jigs have been around for years and after some discussion with top Washington charter captain Mike Jamboretz, owner of Jambo's Sportfishing, and several other saltwater captains we decided to proceed with construction of some new jigs in dads shop.

In addition to the noise factor pipe jigs also emit a slight positive electrical charge that has been proven to attract fish. Add a salmon belly strip, a little halibut skin soaked in Pautzke Nectar, or any other bait strip to this jig and you've got a lethal combination for hammering bottomfish and halibut.

Here's a recipe for making these jigs yourself:

Jambo's 2 Pound Pipe Jig

9 1/2" 3/4" ID Copper Pipe

Lead and melting pot

1 inch long 1/8" cotter pins

#10 split rings

250 lb swivels

10/0 to 12/0 Mustad treble hooks

Delta Tackle Giant Skirts

Building the "Hammer"

Once the pipe is cut to length press approximately 3/4 of an inch of one end closed and drill a 1/4" hole for the heavy split ring and swivel that will go on top of the jig later. Fill a bucket with sand and press the jigs into the sand so that just the end of the jig is showing above the sand with the open end up. Fill the jigs with lead from the melting pot and once they are cool remove them and add another batch if needed.  

After the jigs are cooled drill a 1/8th inch hole approximately 4 inches down from the top. This placement will allow the hook to swing both up and down on the jig without catching on the mainline or onto the bottom of the jig. Add #10 split rings to both ends of 250 pound swivel and place the hook on one split ring and add the cotter pin to the other. Next pull a hoochie skirt over the first split ring above the hook. The Delta giant hoochie skirts come as a double skirt and we pull the skirts apart to get four skirts out of each package of two. Slide the cotter pin thru the hole that was drilled in the pipe and bend the ends over to hold the pin and hook in place. Add a #10 split ring and swivel to the top of the jig and it's "Hammer" time!

To build a lighter 16 ounce jig use 8 1/2 inches of 1/2 inch ID copper pipe and use the same formula to build the jig, using 10/0 Mustad treble hooks. In Southeast, where it's common to release numerous chicken halibut in a days fishing, I've gone to a 10/0 Mustad siwash hook that makes releasing fish much easier. These lighter jigs work excellent in water as deep as 350 plus feet. Any deeper than that and a heavier jig is the way to go. 

If giant hoochies aren't available add some glow tape to the "Hammer" to give it added visibility on the ocean floor. I've experimented with jigs that have a swivel attached to the hook and ones that don't and prefer the swivel, as ling cod and sometimes halibut will twist after they are hooked. One other trick is to sand or use a wire brush on the surface of the jigs occasionally to get rid of any surface oxidation. These jigs are a killer for both bottomfish and halibut!

Rob Endsley
The Outdoor Line
710 ESPN Seattle
www.theoutdoorline.com

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