Ned Rig - Need A Source For Head With Cable Guard

[Old plug]

Last time I checked Walmart sold Arkie jig heads. They are OK. What attracted me to them was the longer shank and wider bend. I did not care for those cable guards because they were a little to stiff. I cut most of them off. Mitch has the right idea about cable guards.

[Ham]

It must have been Dutch. I'll share what I know, but greatly prefer to buy rather than craft my own.

[dtrs5kprs]

Super important to remember that smaller is better on the hook. It is not a rig that needs even a 1/0 hook to be effective, and hooks above a #1 are generally less effective.

[Guest]

Super important to remember that smaller is better on the hook. It is not a rig that needs even a 1/0 hook to be effective, and hooks above a #1 are generally less effective.

He's right.

It took me a long time to "unlearn" my big hooks ways.

I caught a 3.7lb largemouth on the #2 hook, saturday. I hooked it in heavy current and didnt bend or break.

[dtrs5kprs]

He's right.

It took me a long time to "unlearn" my big hooks ways.

I caught a 3.7lb largemouth on the #2 hook, saturday. I hooked it in heavy current and didnt bend or break.

If this guy didn't destroy the #2 hook pulling over 80' of water by the 13 bridge, then those green fish won't hurt it either.

There are some smaller hooks that will bend, but the Gamakatsu 604 and Mustad 32833 are small size, heavy wire hooks. They do not bend easily. The 32833 is made for salmon/steelhead jigs. Have an acquaintance who guides in KS for whites and hybrids and uses those in his jigs. A good strong hook. The 604 Gammie is night and day different than the 114 Gammie light wire hook.

In no particular order, the hooks I have seen bend are Mustad 90 degree (regular wire), Owner (under extreme pressure), Daiichi (surprised me), Sohumi. Plain old Eagle claw 570's stand up fairly well.

[abkeenan]

Last time I checked Walmart sold Arkie jig heads. They are OK. What attracted me to them was the longer shank and wider bend. I did not care for those cable guards because they were a little to stiff. I cut most of them off. Mitch has the right idea about cable guards.

The cable guard on the model I posted earlier in this thread collapses pretty easily. A LOT easier than the fiber strands in other "weedless" jigs. Have just enough strength/stiffness to pull them over and through stuff but don't impede hook sets on fish at all.

[Bitethis]

I found these wacky heads at bpro, seemed to rig up alright. I used super glue, and squeezed the cut end and cut the bulge to make an "insert". Although the shank is shorter, the hook sticks out a little more, I hope this works alright.

[Old plug]

Abkeenan----- Yes I know they do but the wAy they come put of the pack I still soften them. I bend my fiber jog. I work over a fiber guard pretty good before I tie it on if i am using one. I trim some of the fibers off then nip the end of the guard to shorten it and spread it wide It makes a jig head that is soft and sinks slowly. Anything though that is pure finesse I do not use a weed guard. I can feel the line crossing a tree branch or something most of the time before the jig gets there. So when it does git against the limb I can often hop it over. My sense of touch though is getting worse every year as I git older.

[Guest]

Dave,

the Mustad 32833 hook is by far my new favorite hook.

[Mitch f]

Dave,

the Mustad 32833 hook is by far my new favorite hook.

Yea, those Mustads are underrated!