August 9Th. 2012 Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

Abkeenan

The Owner is indeed a fine hook. If I am using fethered hooks I will alot of time use them, along with the Gamagatsu.

Remember this about the Owner however it is a cutting point hook and cuts a tremendious hole as it enters. It is not a pin-point hook like the Death Trap. The entry wound of the trap is a mear prick like a hypodermic needle and then you have the barb to hold the fish as the entry wound is extremely small to almost non-existant.

Very little damage to the fish, unless it double hooks itself in the side like on a spook or a redfin.

The entry wound of the Owner is a 1/8th. inch cut, that slices like a fillet knife and will allow the barb to back out of the cut that the hook has made on entry. Very few jig companies use Owner for that reason, way to big a cut. Take a look at the hook wound you are creating on the fish. Looks just like a slice instead of a jab.

As far as the extra wide gap hooks, I am not a fan. I have killed so many fish with them that I just will not use them anymore. Again most of the jig companies shy away from the EWG, or they have alternatives. I love the boys at Chompers, but just think their jigs are to hard on fish. You let that fish get that bait back in his mouth and that EWG will stick him in the brain 2 or 3 times out of 10.

Great points you have made however and no pun intended. There is always method behind my madness.

Good Luck

[Jason Essary]

Pigstickers Jigs are awesome. Great hooks and no ewgs used. Bout the only jig I buy now.

[Bill Babler]

J. You and me both. Boys really they are pulling away from the compeitition at PigSticker with lots of products that are extreme top of the line. Jig and Skirt colors are off the chart. Check out that Green Pumpkin head color. You cannot beat the paint off it with a hammer.

Excelleny quality made here in the Ozarks.

[denjac]

The death trap hooks bill refers to are dangerous to humans! You even look at em cockeyed and they are sunk into your hide. Use extreme caution when using these.

[abkeenan]

Bill,

Good info on the hooks. I guess I really never thought about the damage they can do to a fishes mouth. May have to reconsider. As far as the EWG's go I haven't had an issue with killing fish on them. I think the EWG's are necessary on bulky baits like fat grubs, brush hogs, etc where you need some extra clearance for that hook point to come out and stick them. Only time I use EWG's is texas or jika rigging. With big 10" worms or any worm for that matter I use just the regular offset worm hook because the plastic is not as bulky and you don't need the clearance. All of this is my opinion obviously. As far as Jigs go I have been using Bass X Jigs out of Rogers, Ark. as I like their color selection and price is fair as well as trying to keep the money close to my region or as local as possible. They also don't use the EWG's and I don't think you need an EWG on an exposed hook like a jig or jig head when swimming a grub/swimbait or something like that. I've been looking at Pig Stickers Jigs and might give them a try as their prices are also fair. I loaded up on Bass X so I am good for a while on those buy when I need to load up again I will look into the Pig Stickers for sure. Thanks again Bill.

[Jason Essary]

Bill, I will say that I love the owner hooks for texas rigging. I understand that they cut a big hole, but they take little effort to drive a heavy gauge hook compared to most. The best thing I have found is that on big fish, we would "roll" the point as the hook hits their crushers a few times a year and always lose that big fish. Since I have went to the owners for texas rigging, I havent rolled one this whole year. Love gammys but have went to the owner.