If you're reading this, you're likely on the hunt for the best VTJ (Vertical Tube Jig) size to target your local lake trout. Whether you're purchasing lures from us or crafting your own, our goal is to help you catch more fish while ensuring their healthy release. After years of experience, we've gathered valuable insights on what works best in different fishing conditions. Read on to discover the ideal VTJ size for your next fishing adventure.
 
## The Cheat Sheet
 
Here&apos;s a quick reference guide to get you started. While we plan to expand on this with more detailed explanations, this summary provides a solid foundation for selecting the right VTJ size:
 

* 3/4 oz - 20g: Ideal for shallow water with little to no drift.
* 1 oz - 28g: Best suited for shallow to medium depths with a slower drop.
* 2 oz - 56g: A versatile option that drops fast and entices a chase—perfect for most situations.
* 3 oz - 85g: Designed for faster drops, great for kayak fishing or when drifting.
* 4 oz - 114g: For deep waters or heavy currents where a fast drop is necessary.
 
## Selecting the Right Size: Key Factors to Consider
 
When choosing the appropriate VTJ size, two main factors come into play: your fishing method and the presence of current or drift. Here&apos;s how to determine the best size based on different scenarios:
 
## Ice Fishing:
 
* Medium to Deep Waters: Opt for 2-4 oz lures to maintain control in varying depths.
* Shallow Waters: Stick with 3/4 to 1 oz lures for precision in shallower areas.
 
## Boat Fishing:
 
* With Spot-Lock (Open Water): You have the freedom to use any size based on what the fish are chasing.
* Without Spot-Lock (Open Water): A 2-4 oz lure is recommended, depending on the drift to keep your line vertical.
* With Drift (Heavy Current): Choose 3-4 oz lures to counteract the current and maintain effectiveness.
 
## Kayak Fishing:
 
* Calm Waters: Use 1-4 oz lures unless you&apos;re in shallow water with no drift, where lighter options might suffice.
* With Drift: Heavier lures (3-4 oz) will help you stay vertical and maintain control.
 
## The Importance of Staying Vertical
 
One of the most crucial aspects of using a VTJ effectively is keeping your line vertical. Drift can significantly impact your success; if you&apos;re not staying vertical, you&apos;re not maximizing the potential of your VTJ. Pay close attention to your drift and adjust your lure size accordingly to ensure you&apos;re fishing as effectively as possible.
 
By considering these factors and choosing the right VTJ size, you&apos;ll be better equipped to target lake trout successfully. Whether you're ice fishing, kayak fishing, or out on a boat, the right VTJ can make all the difference in your fishing experience.

Keith Brandie

A guide to choosing the right size VTJ for your conditions and body of water.

Finding the Perfect VTJ Size for Targeting Lakers


This article will detail a few of the strategies we've found that work best. If you have something to add please send us a note, we'd love to add your suggestions to the list!

First and foremost, you need to make sure you are VERTICAL. The V in VTJ is for vertical, and it's important to understand that wind, currents and boat / kayak drifting will affect your ability to see the lure on the fishfinder.

Second you need a fishfinder! Being able to see your lure is important, watching the activity and mood of the fish is the key to knowing when to reel up, how fast to reel and when to get ready to give em' the beans.

Here is, in no particular order 5 different strategies we reccomend for fishing the VTJ:

## 1. First Drop Magic

We find that the first drop after drilling a hole has a special bonus to it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but we treat every first drop like a fish is going to get it. If you fish for a few minutes and you're not seeing any action, don't be afraid to move. Sometimes that next first drop will be the one!

## 2. The Elevator Game

Depending on the season, lake trout can be in various parts of the water column. Maximize your odds by spending time moving up and down at various speeds. Spend a little time at the bottom and then reel all the way up to the surface and take the lure out of the water. Wait a moment before you drop your lure, one of the things you should try to do is vary your action so you are not doing any prolonged repetitive actions. The fish will get bored and so will you!

## 3. Dead sticking

Lake trout are often chasing bait fish, and sometimes they are either almost dead or just quite there and sitting lifelessly. We often see fish streak up while we are messing with our phone or other distractons! One of the hardest parts of lake trout fishing is staying engaged for hours on end waiting for that one brief moment of heart pounding action. If jigging isn't working or fish aren't comitting try leaving your bait 5-20ft off the bottom of the lake and wait for one to shoot up like a rocket. It's important that you start reeling your bait when the lake trout gets close or they will lose interest and peel off. Some folks swear by dead sticking and it should not be ignored as one of the more effective methods.

## 4. Stirring up the bottom

Heavy VTJs are great for dropping down to the bottom quickly and giving you very good feel for what the bottom is like. Sometimes you will have a harder, rockier bottom and with an appropriate braid you will clearly feel the solid bottom. On the other hand if it's a sandy or silty bottom, the VTJ will allow you to stir up a cloud of dirt and mud that can bring in curious fish to investigate.


## 5. Surprise chase

Once in a while, especially when fishing gets slow I will pretend that I am getting chased by a fish and reel up furiously. I usually do this after dead sticking or slowly jigging for a bit, I find that the surprise motion and noise in the water column can trigger fish nearby who are responding in a reactionary way to the agressive reeling action. Sometimes after reeling up you will see a mark rise up just off the bottom to investigate, this is a great indicator you are in the right place!

Keep varying your presentations and most importantly PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE FISH LIKE! If they want a slow flutter, switch to a smaller size lure or even a spoon. If they are agressively chasing you can size up to 2, 3 or even 4oz for kayak applications where the drift is a factor.

We hope this information is helpful, if you have any insights or suggestions on how to fish the lure we would love to hear from you! Head on over to our contact page and send us a message!

Strategies and techniques to engage and catch more fish using the VTJ

How to fish a VTJ

A VTJ is a barrel weight with a split ring and a treble or single hook attached to the bottom ring of the weight. You can either sleeve a plastic tube over the weight, or you can paint it colors. Our most effective color is pearl white. We find it's even more effective if you add a dressed treble or some rattling / vibrating elements.

<Figure src="https://res.cloudinary.com/vtapico/image/upload/v1672160724/verticaltubejig.com/vtj_research/20220726_195442_01_fvxocw.jpg" alt="A tube jig with battle damage reveals the inner barrel weight after catching several Lake Trout" caption="A tube jig with battle damage reveals the inner barrel weight after catching several Lake Trout" />


A VTJ is a big heavy weight, and it's designed to dive FAST, or as fast as you need. We offer them in weights from 3/4oz up to 4oz, and you should adjust the size of bait you use to the activiy level of the fish you see.

<Figure src="https://res.cloudinary.com/vtapico/image/upload/v1679029338/verticaltubejig.com/vtj_research/20230123_233417_yureio.jpg" alt="A few VTJs painted, with and without dressed hooks" caption="A few VTJs painted, with and without dressed hooks" />



This website talks about VTJs a lot, so it only made sense to create a page to describe what they are and how they work. This page covers the fundimentals and from here we will have more posts about how to rig your own and suggestions on how to pick the right one to maximize your potential to catch bigger fish.

A vertical tube jig is a combination of a trolling weight, split rings and a treble or single hook

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Finding the Perfect VTJ Size for Targeting Lakers

How to fish a VTJ

What's a VTJ?

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