Helpful Zman rigging video

[dsaavedra]

I know a lot of people on this forum swear by Zman and use it all the time so this might be old news, but for those new to the lures or wanting to try them out, I found this video from Angler's pretty helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntRGjtVZnmk

I've started using Zman this year and I'm still getting used to it... the stretchy plastic Zman uses can make it tough to rig. This video gives some useful tips to keep it rigged properly. I thought the tip about stretching the plastic over the eye of the jig when it starts to slip was pretty clever! Also, pulling the lure forward over the lure keeper on the jig works way better than trying to push it on, in my experience. I've found that jigs with wire keepers hold Zman much better than molded-in lead keepers - one of the jigs in the video has wire keeper. I have been using these jigs for Zman and have had really good success so far: https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/offs...eeper-jigheads

[J.A. Veil]

Dave -

Thanks for posting the link to that video. I have not been a fan of Z-Man baits, primarily because they do not stay on the jighead very well for me. The video offered some suggestions on how to counter that problem. I will try some of those tips out.

[dsaavedra]

Glad you found it helpful John.

One more tip that they didn't cover in the video is that it is very important you always keep Zman baits in their original packaging. The stretchy elaztech plastic they use interacts with other plastics and breaks down. If you mix Zman baits with regular soft plastics you'll have a melted puddle of goo in no time. Similarly, they will melt and warp tackle boxes if you put them loose in a box. Always keep them in the original package.

[kuljc]

I tried the "pulling the lure over the keeper" technique last time I went out. It amazed me that, that was the key. I think for most other soft plastics it'll rip the lure, but it worked well for the stretchy zmans. But i also was doing it with a zman jighead, so that might have helped as well. But you can get a really good stretch on these guys and pull them pretty hard over the lure keeper.

[dsaavedra]

I tried the "pulling the lure over the keeper" technique last time I went out. It amazed me that, that was the key. I think for most other soft plastics it'll rip the lure, but it worked well for the stretchy zmans. But i also was doing it with a zman jighead, so that might have helped as well. But you can get a really good stretch on these guys and pull them pretty hard over the lure keeper.

It is crazy how well that little trick works for keeping them on the jig. Try it with a wire keeper jig next time. It almost works too well... if I find that I didn't thread the lure on perfectly straight and want to re-rig it I usually have to tear the plastic to get it to come off the wire keepers so I can re-rig.

[Slobber Bob]

Thanks for posting.

I had a love hate relationship with z-man's too because of them not staying on the jighead correctly. I switched over to VMC Boxer jigheads and now I LOVE z-mans because they never slip.

[UnkleRob2020]

This is great. I had a lot of success (for me) with Zman early this year. I completely moved away from them because I found them so frustrating to rig and to stay on the line. I have not been catching as many fish or the quality of fish that I was catching earlier this year when I was using zman. I am sure there are a lot of variables in there, but I am going to try these techniques. Thank you for posting Dave!