weed guard
Sep 20, 2020 07:46:38 #
Good morning all, I've been fishing with skirted jigs lately and haven't been doing so good, I've had some bumps and the fish just drop it, i was wondering if this was due to the weed guard and if so is it reasonable to cut it off. I know its a great bait to use and would like to continue using it without dropping fish, any opinion will help,,,, thank you have a great day
Sep 20, 2020 08:38:09 #
you could spread the weed guard out so it wont be so tuff and easy for the fish to push down when they bite.
Sep 20, 2020 08:43:49 #
You can either cut it off
OR
I like to fan out the guard. Trim fibers at an angle so only a few strands are over the hook. Repeat on other side of fanned strands. Leave the strands fanned out
This provides snag protection From sides and above hook , but minimizes the resistance of the strands during Hook set
I also do the same thing with skirts.
Hold the hook with head down. The skirt strands should be hanging below the head
Bunch the skirt material and trim strands as described above
This will make the shorter strands “puff” out more presenting a larger profile and motion and minimizes bulky strands form the hook point area
Greg Hackney has a good video on this.
Last I sometimes bend the hook slightly upward. This moves the hook point into a more efficient position for hook sets
Make sure the hook is sticky sharp!
Try one or all of these and your bite to hook ratio will improve
OR
I like to fan out the guard. Trim fibers at an angle so only a few strands are over the hook. Repeat on other side of fanned strands. Leave the strands fanned out
This provides snag protection From sides and above hook , but minimizes the resistance of the strands during Hook set
I also do the same thing with skirts.
Hold the hook with head down. The skirt strands should be hanging below the head
Bunch the skirt material and trim strands as described above
This will make the shorter strands “puff” out more presenting a larger profile and motion and minimizes bulky strands form the hook point area
Greg Hackney has a good video on this.
Last I sometimes bend the hook slightly upward. This moves the hook point into a more efficient position for hook sets
Make sure the hook is sticky sharp!
Try one or all of these and your bite to hook ratio will improve
Sep 20, 2020 09:51:22 #
Maximo
Loc: Jupiter, Fl
Ben’s right about your hook tip being super sharp. Should grab into your fingernail. Your can buy a mini diamond file for hooks.
Sep 20, 2020 12:01:12 #
Ben Bragg wrote:
You can either cut it off br OR br I like to fan... (show quote)
I tried what you said but the strands don't fan out because there made of nylon or something of the sort,but i trimmed off some strands on either side to make it less stiff, lets see if this works and i trimmed the skirts on my larger jigs look pretty good i'll try them out Tuesday and see how they do, thanks for the advice
Sep 20, 2020 13:26:34 #
Are you using a trailer bait on the hook with your jig? I've always found the bite to be much more aggressive compared to not using one.
Sep 20, 2020 13:34:49 #
NoCal Steve wrote:
Are you using a trailer bait on the hook with your jig? I've always found the bite to be much more aggressive compared to not using one.
Yeah, I've been using trailers, i shorten them so just the claws or swimmers are hanging off the hook and out the skirt
Sep 21, 2020 14:42:10 #
jfbanzai
Loc: Menomonie, Wisconsin
Lee626 wrote:
Good morning all, I've been fishing with skirted jigs lately and haven't been doing so good, I've had some bumps and the fish just drop it, i was wondering if this was due to the weed guard and if so is it reasonable to cut it off. I know its a great bait to use and would like to continue using it without dropping fish, any opinion will help,,,, thank you have a great day
I had the same problem, so I started cutting about half the fibers off of the weed guard. The trick is to get a feel for the guard being stiff enough to function, but not interfere with the bite. Cut some of the fiber, tie the jig to a piece of line, and drag the jig over your finger. It should ride over your finger without hooking, but give enough to allow a fish to get the hook if it bites down. It take a little practice, but once you get it, it works quite well. Just remember, you can always cut more off, but it is really hard to put it back on.
Sep 21, 2020 15:40:08 #
gr8advice
Loc: Boston
There is another solution. Strike King makes a swinging Swim Jig that uses an EWG hook. The trailer can then be texas rigged on the jig. I haven't tried the Strike King, but it does seem to get good reviews on Amazon and Tackle Warehouse.
Sep 21, 2020 15:47:48 #
gr8advice wrote:
There is another solution. Strike King makes a swinging Swim Jig that uses an EWG hook. The trailer can then be texas rigged on the jig. I haven't tried the Strike King, but it does seem to get good reviews on Amazon and Tackle Warehouse.
that sounds pretty good, i'll have to look for those although i did trim the guards on all my other ones and they seem like the'll work, only one way to find out
Sep 21, 2020 16:22:56 #
Yea they will fan out. They are strands. Right ?
Split the bunch in half.
Push Or bend one Half to the right other half to left. Takes a little effort. You are trying to deform those strands.
Good luck. This works !
Split the bunch in half.
Push Or bend one Half to the right other half to left. Takes a little effort. You are trying to deform those strands.
Good luck. This works !
Sep 21, 2020 16:24:11 #
The swinging jig that was mentioned works good as well.
I’ve seen em Valles structure jigs. I use these alot
I’ve seen em Valles structure jigs. I use these alot
Sep 21, 2020 16:24:32 #
Sep 21, 2020 17:52:14 #
bass don't usually 'bump' a jig, make sure and stay in touch with your bait so you can see movement. the guard wont bother the bass ( the natural bait has spines, claws, etc.) but a stiff guard requires a hard hook set
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