Basic Principles of High Pitch Jerk
High Pitch Jigging (Sato Sensei calls it High Pitch Jerk) is a part of slow pitch jigging. Sato Sensei emphasizes that high pitch jerk is within the variations of slow pitch jigging principle.
The application of slow pitch jigging is to give a moment in every pitch. A moment for the rod to spring back so that the jig swims and falls on its own. You actually let go your jig for the moment. And these moments are when fish makes most bites.
High Pitch Jigging is on the same SPJ principle, but with more power. It utilizes;
- Stronger rod that whips the jig harder.
- Use a reel which has maximum speed, preferably more than 100cm per crank.
- Long jig which has greater momentum to swim on its own.
- Give strong punch (by reeling and jerking) and longer moment to hold up the rod.
As a consequence, the characteristics of high pitch jigging in comparison with slow pitch jigging are;
- The range of jig movements are horizontally wider.
- Works better under the influence of currents and swells.
- Requires far more of your energy.
- Targets bigger fish.
High pitch requires a little different setting from slow pitch.
- Don’t put on the tail hooks as they get tangled with leader.
- May use a big single hook with a thicker assist hook line.
- May use a thicker PE line and leader.
High Pitch Jerk Application
- Swing the rod with the full range from 0 degree down to 90 degrees up. It’s nice to push your rod and reel FORWARD, rather than UPWARD. Your rod will be more angled that way for more spring back to follow. If you try to bring it UPWARD, you’re like to use the muscle in your arms. You’d be totally wasted pretty soon this way. You would want to push FORWARD, using your big muscles in your back, keeping your chin down. You’d want to be as much energy efficient as possible.
- Watch the line slack after pitch. This hang time attracts most bites. It’s nice to bring up the rod to follow the line without giving tension so that you have less line slack and you can sense the contact. And when you just feel the weight of the jig at the tip of your rod, bring it down for another pitch.
- It doesn’t have to be a heavy weight jig. i.e. Slow Pitch Jerker 603-6 with a 100g jig can make high pitch. It just needs to be balanced in strong action tone.
Hope the information helps you! Good luck!
