The Perfect Jig Recipe

[plateboater]

Pouring jigs last night....I thought as the new guy out here what are the thoughts of the perfect weight, style and hook if you could only choose one jig.

I pour a large amount of round ball jigs 1/16oz #4 sickle jigs. My second large amount is 1/8oz round ball jigs #1 in straight 90 or a sickle. Both are Do-It molds.


Would appreciate any thoughts from all the experience on this site! Attach is pic if you have something to share.....please

 

[Jig Man]

1/16 oz. horsehead would cover most of it for me....

 

[Fatman]

Now you say If only one jig - I'm taking for granted that you can have as many of them in that style as you want. As much as I really like the redman head - I'd have to agree with Jig Man with a 1/16th horsehead jig with a #2 sickle - but I'd have different blades to cover all different types of cover and technique. I'd base that decision on how many fish I've caught using them.

 

[StumpHunter]

Have caught many fish on the horse heads jigs but I do fish a lake were the fish doesn't care for them so I would have to go with a 1/16 round head as one that works everywhere I have fished. (IF I HAD TO PICK 1)

 

[plateboater]

Thanks for the post!

 

[pjmcla]

If I could put a beetle spin frame on it as well as alone; I would go with a 1/16th ball head. No frame allowed; then it would be a 1/16th horse head. # 4 hook for all around. Either of these styles and I can make it work.

 

[Hawnjigs]

I'll also call #4 hook, but a heavy wire, in a 1/10 oz. head for multi-species jigging. Since my favored custom mold maker appears to be tanking, I'll settle for a ball head.

After 50 years of supposed practice, I still can't cast 1/16 & lighter with consistent accuracy.

 

[jiggerjohn]

The best jig for me is Hawn's 1/14 oz HU model with a no 4 or no 2 thin wire hook -this can work shallow or deep on light tackle, and glides even in shallow streams or near shore areas due to its flat bottom shape. The Hu is one of the very few jigs,due to its forward hook eye and pointed design, that'll walk over moss without fouling and is mostly snagless over bottom rocks & rubble. It has a slight side to side nodding during a steady retreive,which puts most tail dressings into a nifty wiggle. I've caught everything on these -either tied with various materials (really adds a shimmy to a hand shaped wool minnow!), used with a propeller as a Boolie, or with a soft plastic dressing.

 

[Hawnjigs]

I agree on the performance advantage of the HU, but I need at least 1/10 oz. for optimal casting distance and accuracy from shoreline with favored 5# Power Pro. Are you 1/16 guys mostly jigging off of float craft?

 

[Fatman]

I'm a shore bound unless my nephew calls then I'm on the water

 

[LedHed]

1/32nd Chubhead with a #6 hook.

 

[Hawnjigs]

What advantage(s) does the #6 have over a #8 ?

 

[dblevens]

If I was gonna pick only one, it'd be a 1/32 minnow head with a #4 sickle hook. I'm a single poler, and I like dippin a jig in the treetops. I like the slower fall of the 1/32 and the action of the minnow head. Obviously there's not a perfect jig. Just a jig thats perfect for the way you're fishing in the mornin.

 

[plateboater]

Not to many have said 1/32. What is the max depth you would fish?

 

[Pup]

All-purpose, freshwater, boat and shore, tailwater, multi-species, tied or with soft plastic...

A 1/8-ounce, collared, ball head jig. Its hook would be a relatively thin-wired #2 bronze Aberdeen hook.

I like a hook that bends out of snags easily and has a chance of rusting out of a deeply-hooked fish.

 

[LedHed]

Hj - for me the larger hook is incase I run into a non target fish. Usually fishing for Bluegill or Redear - sometimes we run into Catfish, Bass, & Crappie.

pb - at times we fish a 1/32nd in 60 FOW, with 2lb test.

 

[plateboater]

1/16 is from the boat.....no shore fishing! The monthly payment makes the shore not a option!

 

[dblevens]

Not to many have said 1/32. What is the max depth you would fish?

I hardly ever fish deeper than 4'. Usually less than 2'. Always for crappie, and that fuzzy 1/32 jig with its slow fall is irresistable for a hungry crappie.

 

[redman]

This may shock some of you but my choice would Be a 1/16 oz. pill head with a # 4 sickle bronze hook. This is a very versital head in this configuration. Very the body length along with the tail paint a big eye and the jig looks large. Paint a small eye and a short body and tail you have a small bait fish. Coming up very soon I will use a 1/16 oz.
with a# 6 sickle to fish the shallow water and the cypress tree roots. I like to paint Big Eyes on them this time of year. Seems the large eye with a short body and tail is killer for the next two months.

Redman

 

[plateboater]

That is a curve ball redman....but making the post that much better. Thanks! Maybe a new mold in the future! I was at the tackle shop this afternoon looking at the pill with use of eyes. Did not have the right size.