ZIg Jig HD review

[Ham]

So, as it turns out the jigs that I handed out at Jigfest were not the "new" hook versions. Richard meant to send me some, but in his haste to send them out grabbed the wrong ones and I in good faith having never seen the HD model passed them out thinking they were HD's . My bad.

Richard figured out his error and sent me some of the HD models. Very noticable difference once you've seen one. Richard made a trip to Key West between Christmas and New Year's and caught a variety of saltwater species on the HD Zig Jig which should tell you plenty. He used the same hook that Super Dave does in his Ned Heads so a lot of you may have had some experience with that hook already. In the 1/8 oz jig  it is  a #4 and it is a #6 in 1/16 oz and 1/32 oz sizes. It is an amazing hook. Needle sharp and VERY strong.

I have told folks that the Zig Jig is an excellent cool / cold water smallie jig. It really is and if you don't have the skill or desire to tie your own custom winter time smallie jigs, you really ought to try the Zig. The HD version will let you use a little heavier rod and reel combo IF desired without concern that the fine wire hook of the Zig Jig is going to be overpowered. BUT I really havent had too much of an issue with bending hooks on fish using the original Zig with a light rod and 6 lb line. I had some concerns that the HD jig would require a heavier rod for a good hookset. This concern was unfounded. The same rods I use for the original Zig JIg will set the hook of the HD without any problem at all. I would think you would want at least 4 lb line and a rod that isn't a total buggy whip witht he HD.

Richard and I got out recently and caught some cool water smallies with the HD and it did just fine. No issues with the hook. Smallies ate them up.

Where I think the HD Zig Jig is really going to shine, is for Big Whites or Hybrids in fast water below dams and oversized trout, steelhead, or salmon. It will be a heck of a jig for flounders and redfish too. I'll be shocked if anyone runs into a fish that will bend this hook out.

The HD is up for sale on the website now. I will be buying a few dozen, but it is not my intention for the HD to replace the Original as much as supplement it in those certain applications. It is my understanding that the HD ones are going to be $14.95 a dozen online. A moderate price increase to offset the more expensive hook. Sizes and colors are a little more limited in the HD than in the original, but plenty of good choices.

[Smalliebigs]

Dang that's a great price!!!.....I'll be buying  a couple  dozen probably 

[drew03cmc]

I didn't view the hooks in these Ozark Finesse Heads as HD to be honest. Any of 3 ML spinning rods I own set them easily. A good L rod would likely be great too!

[Quillback]

Very nice, I look forward to trying some out.

[Ham]

The Mustad steelhead hook is Heavy Duty. I always come up with my names for stuff. The HD label is one that I use to set the Steelhead hook version apart from the original Zig Jig. 

The original has a fine wire hook that sets easily. It is very sharp an can be set with the softest UL rod out there. That hook can get soft after you catch a bunch of fish on it or pull it off a snag. I would not throw it on a ML at all. It is a finesse jig.

I can throw the HD version on any spinning rod I own without concern that I'm going to open the hook up.

 

[dtrs5kprs]

Mustad salmon/steelhead hooks are 2x heavy wire. For comparison, most shakey head hooks are 1x heavy, at most. These are more like tiny flip jig hooks. Built for strength in a small bait, with a gap advantage due to the short leg.