Favorite jig head

[Ed&Brenda]

I was looking on Cabela's jig heads and never realized how many different types are out there. The way I do it is go to the store and pick up the cheapest ones in the 18 range.

I have now seen there are so many types out there, to include some with spinners on them.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/subcategory/subcategory-index.jsp.2_A&_DAV=froogle&id=cat410008&navCount=2&parentId=&navAction=push&returnPage=&returnQueryString=&cmCat=froogle&parentType=subcategory&rid=

We like to target redfish, trout and flounder mainly.

What is your favorite jig head used and for what species?

[TexanJason]

I use the 1/8 ounce short shank jig head made by Saltwater Assain, normally with a chartuese head on it and a red shanked hook. The work well for all 3 fish you mentioned and the hooks seem to stay sharp trip after trip. H&H make good jig heads too. I like both the screw on type and the regular push on type also, just depends on the type of plastics I'm using.

[Eel]

I use the Saltwater Assassin and the Mr. Twister jigheads, ranging from 1/4 to 1/16 oz, depending on the amount of current, water depth, and time of year. These jigheads have a solid, strong hook on them that I've yet to have a redfish straighten. When redfishing, I use a fairly tight drag and bring them to the boat as fast as they will let me. Pinch the barb down of them and its easier to get the hook out of their mouth (or worse, depending on how deep they take it). They are a buck each, though, so losing one with a gulp on it can add up quickly.

For trout only, I'll often use the Lunker City jigheads in various weights. A Fin-S or fluke split tail will sit nicely against the jighead (if you cut the head of the lure so that it will sit flush) and if threaded properly, will swim well in the water. But a slot red will straighten these hooks if he gets it in his mouth and you're playing a tight drag.

For spinnerbaits, I replace the original jighead on a Redfish Magic with a Saltwater Assassin (1/8 or 1/4, depending on how fast I plan to retrieve it). The Strike King jigheads don't hold the lure on very well.

[Capt. Mick]

I only use the weedless Mustads. I love the way they sit on the bottom with the head down and tail up.

[Gunnar]

The wobbler jig head from Cabelas is one of my favorites. I actually get the bucktail version in 1/4 oz. and continue to use it after all the hair is gone as a jig head.

Gregg

[Dave]

I keep these in my box. 1/8 and 1/4 oz MTwister & 1/4 & 3/8 oz Calcutta. Both have strong hooks which are a mixed blessing - they won't straighten out on a big fish but they won't bend and turn loose of a solid snag either ;D

The extra large hooks used in the MTwister jigheads are really good for the larger, wider bodied gulp baits. The hook size on the Calcutta jig heads work best in smaller bodied gulp baits and twister tail style grubs. The head has a clear coat finish and I prefer it over all others with color.

Dave

Top - 1/8 oz Mister Twister Saltwater
Btm - 3/8 oz Calcutta (unpainted)

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc188/djerhart/MisterTwisterSaltwaterCalcuttaUnpai.jpg

[Slim to None]

i normally dont use jig heads, i use weedless style bait keeper hooks, like the mustad with the black bait stick on the front to thread the soft plastic on to. i do keep some DOA jig heads, as i feel they give the DOA cal tails the best movement. most of the time when i'm fishing soft plastics its for trout and i like to fish weedless and weightless to work the bait really really slow. i've used the mister twister, slayer, and even the cheap bass pro brand with success.

[Redfish]

E&B, jigheads are a mainstay in my tackle arsenal, and I catch A LOT of my redfish on them. I also use them for trout. I use mostly the style in the link below in either 1/4 or 3/8 oz depending on the current. I am not partial to a particular brand, but I do look for a good quality hook and, most importantly, I want jigheads with the tying eye clear of paint. I DO NOT want to have to punch out the eye when I tie on. I prefer the red, and will rarely use anything else.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=froogle&id=0030746120192a&navCount=1&podId=0030746&parentId=cat410008&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QZ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

I fish jigheads three ways, and they are VERY effective for me as a redfish and trout catcher. The first is I use them as they are intended: with a soft plastic jig or with Gulp artificials. I use a variety of colors and styles, but I like the swim-tail type plastics the best (like a Sea Shad from Bass Assassin) or a curly tail-type plastic. I do try several colors as that is sometimes the ticket to getting fish (especially trout) to bite. I like different shades of greens, white with red tail, and the candy cord colors are sometimes very productive. I fish these by bumping them along the bottom or pulling them very slowly just off the bottom. Casting along the bank and retrieving or throwing to oyster bars and retrieving is a good technique. I do trout the same way over the grass flats.

The second way I use jigheads is with live bait--almost always shrimp. Tie your jighead on just like you normally would. Then, pinch off the tail of your shrimp just above the fan. Thread your jig with the shrimp so that the hook passes through the shrimp and exits just behind the head on the underside of the shrimp between his legs. Your jighead will be at the tail-stub you created by pinching off the tail. Fish this rig on the bottom in deep rocky holes in the winter or you can "bounce" it along the bottom just as you would the soft plastics. Again, a totally deadly rig for catching reds and trout.

Third way, put your jig under a Cajun thunder cork: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/478702210msk.htm
Use either a soft plastic, a Gulp, or a shrimp rigged like I told you above. Fish this rig along the grass lines and over submerged bars in the summer. If you don't catch a redfish on this setup, they are NOT there or are not feeding. Throw your rig up next to the grass or over the bar and let it sit a few minutes. "Pop" the rig a time or two. This is, IMHO, the easiest and most effective way to catch redfish--especially for novice fishers.

[Dave]

Thanks Redfish, that threadin' shrimp on a jighead is a new one for me... gonna have to give it a try *Cheers* This here "jighead" thread is turning into a treasure trove of fishing knowledge *thumbsup*

Dave

[Redfish]

Threading the shrimp the way I describe keeps it on the hook longer and better. Also, I have noticed from years of fishing that fish tend to bite the head of a shrimp first. I don't know if this is natural, but you rarely will get a bite on live shrimp, pull in your rig to check the bait, and find the tail of the shrimp gone. If the fish is taking the bait head first, then it makes sense to thread it on this way, even though when you pull your rig the shrimp is "backing up."

Also, one more trick I will share that I think greatly improves hook-ups with jigheads. I always put a slight "twist" in my hooks so that the point of the hook is facing off-center from the tying eye. Not much of a twist, but just enough so that if you lay the jighead down on a tabletop it will not lay flat. This twist aids the hook in "biting" into some part of the fish's mouth--generally the side of the jaw--when you set the hook.

[Capt. Mick]

You also need to try the CW Crab. That thing catches redfish like crazy. I use the floater.

[Eel]

Third way, put your jig under a Cajun thunder cork: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/478702210msk.htm
Use either a soft plastic, a Gulp, or a shrimp rigged like I told you above. Fish this rig along the grass lines and over submerged bars in the summer. If you don't catch a redfish on this setup, they are NOT there or are not feeding. Throw your rig up next to the grass or over the bar and let it sit a few minutes. "Pop" the rig a time or two. This is, IMHO, the easiest and most effective way to catch redfish--especially for novice fishers.

True dat. The popping cork is the deadliest rig for inshore fishing. Lots of folks overlook it, but if you want to increase your catch numbers, you can't miss with a popping cork. Slow bite, popping cork. Windblown bank, popping cork. Dead high tide and the fish have moved into the grass, popping cork.

The Cajun Thunder has IMHO the most realistic shrimp popping sound. The Billy Bay Aggravator has the "plop" that sounds like a red or trout slurping bait on top. But these 2 corks are not your "2 for $3" variety. Haven't had the wire break (yet), but I've bent the wire on both of these corks something fierce.

Sometimes its hard to throw a popping cork rig into the wind. If you're fishing a protected bank and need some distance, try substituting the cork for a topwater lure (big heavy Chugbugs are best). Take the rear treble off the lure and tie the leader on. Just don't throw this rig into a school.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e188/Mal_Pais/pop-pop-whack-4.jpg

That said, I threw a popping cork for 4 straight hours (OK, I mixed it up with a MR27) tipped with a 4" gulp new penny baitfish minnow and only caught 3 trout and no reds. The bite was not happening today, at least where I was fishing.

[Ed&Brenda]

i normally dont use jig heads, i use weedless style bait keeper hooks, like the mustad with the black bait stick on the front to thread the soft plastic on to. i do keep some DOA jig heads, as i feel they give the DOA cal tails the best movement. most of the time when i'm fishing soft plastics its for trout and i like to fish weedless and weightless to work the bait really really slow. i've used the mister twister, slayer, and even the cheap bass pro brand with success.

Are these the ones Slim?

http://www.mustad.no/catalog/mikpublish/img/6433.jpg

[Slim to None]

Ed- yep those are the ones. they make them with or without weight. they work great for fishing grass since you can rig it weedless and let the soft plastic work its way into the grass then bounce it out without pulling grass too. the clearer the water the smaller and lighter i go on the bait and slower the retreive.

[chumhead]

If the fish is taking the bait head first, then it makes sense to thread it on this way, even though when you pull your rig the shrimp is "backing up."

When I shrimp is trying to get away from a predator and they flip their tail, they will be swimming backwards at a high rate of speed, so this presentation is actually very natural if you are 'popping' the shrimp along the bottom. Shrimp only move forward when casually swimming or walking along the bottom.

chumhead

[RAAB]

http://www.action-plastics.com/

these guys just sent me some 1/4 and 3/8 ounce plain old round lead head jigs, pretty good price and a nice place, also bought a bunch of plastics taht i intend to use in the upper chesapeake bay for tidal largemouth, striped bass and perch, the lead head jig works great for me on most available species.

[Tparkin]

Are these the ones Slim?

http://www.mustad.no/catalog/mikpublish/img/6433.jpg

Those are the same ones that I use pretty exclusively for a weedless presentation. Good hook size and strength and as Redfish said, they come weighted or unweighted. Easy to use and the soft plastic stays put.

I also use plain old unweighted worm hooks with soft plastics if I'm around oyster rocks or very spooky fish. The worm hook allows the bait to work on the surface...use 'em with a Berkeley Powerbait jerk shad and you'll be hard pressed to find a more realistic presentation.

For Redfish, I've also had VERY good luck using a Johnson Weedless Spoon with a tailer. It's a bit off the "jig head" topic but worth mentioning. If you slightly bend the weedless prong out away from the hook you can slide a soft plastic onto the prong and then run the hook into the plastic, weedless style." I like the way it makes the spoon "swim" and it'll tend to draw a little more attention with the extra splash of color and/or scent. The Saltwater Assasins salt and pepper grub with the chartreuse paddle style tail will absolutely draw the reds. Makes an excellent search bait and you can cast it a country mile with no chance of getting hung.

[Redfish]

Tparkin, good point about a little color added to the spoon. We throw a lot of Johnson-type weedless spoons in the summer, but sometimes they become ineffective. I've often used these:

http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/picture.php?albumid=155&pictureid=2617

They are not weedless, but I have seen reds bite them when they would NOT bite a regular weedless spoon. Notice they have that little plastic color piece on them.

Also, something else I have caught reds on is a plain old bass rubber worm. I used to use a black worm with fire-red tail and catch em. For these, I use a weedless hook (one with the little wire that keeps your hook from fouling) with no weight. Work it just like you would for bass--bump and go, bump and go.

[Shakespeare]

Jighead??? *006* You call THAT a jighead???

Now this is a jighead!

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee78/CSO_Shakespeare/MiscFishing/DSC01015.jpg

It's a 5 ouncer. Aint she cute?

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Also, one more trick I will share that I think greatly improves hook-ups with jigheads. I always put a slight "twist" in my hooks so that the point of the hook is facing off-center from the tying eye. Not much of a twist, but just enough so that if you lay the jighead down on a tabletop it will not lay flat. This twist aids the hook in "biting" into some part of the fish's mouth--generally the side of the jaw--when you set the hook.

I've been doing that with my buck tails when striper fishing, the angle is much greater though, i would say 25-30*. 99% of the time the fish are hooked like i use circle hook. This was not my idea though, an old salt opened up his tackle box and i was there and noticed all his bucktails were"defective", i asked him what's up with that and he told wispering"just try it kid and you will thanking for ever", that was over 20 years ago and still doing that.

[Ed&Brenda]

Tommy, Where can we find those hooks local?

[Dave]

Ed, hopefully Tommy will have a local source but I haven't found them in any of the local shops I go to. Capt Mick introduced them to me (and our Crystal Coast Chapter members) last year at a Captain's Meeting during his "tackle box" presentation. I couldn't find them locally then, but they are available at Cabelas and Bass Pro Shop. If you buy from one of these suppliers, remember they are both CSO affiliates, so please use the link on our home page any time you make purchases from either of these guys.

If you call around and find them this side of Swansboro, let us know. They are called Mustad Power Lock Plus hooks. Check them out here http://www.mustad.no/catalog/emea/product.php?id=1791

Dave

[Tparkin]

Ed,

There are several different brands of the same style hooks. Some have a little corkscrew thingy that you thread the grub on to and some have the barb...either way they accomplish the same goal. You should be able to find them at most any tackle shop. I've gotten them at The Reel Outdoors in Emerald Isle, Chasin' Tails in AB and I'm pretty sure Dudley's Marina in Sboro has them. Custom Marine Fabricators in New Bern is fast becoming one of my favorite shops too...they have a really good selection. Not sure if they carry these but I would not doubt it one bit if they do.

I have two brands on my box right now. Owner makes a jig head called the "Sled Head"...top pic below, which is an inline variation. That's an 1/8oz. 2/0 size.

I also have Mustad Ultra Points...bottom of pic. That one's an 1/8oz 3/0 size. The weight on these is adjustable front to back to control the "sink" and "retrieve" of your bait.

Tex's Tackle in Wilmington is also a good place to find these if you're ever out that way. My new career requires me to drive all over creation so I get plenty of tackle shopping in ;)http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3420/pics2005.jpg

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Strike King jig heads also have a clear tie eye.