Weedguards

Not all jigs come with weedguards. Many casting jigs—designed for fishing deep, rocky structure—don’t have guards as they can interfere with a solid hookset. Others use a single or double fiberguard or wireguard. Most jigs designed for timber and grass have a stiff multifiber weedguard.

Anglers often fish a jig right from the package. Confident in their hook-setting abilities, they like the typically stiffer, multifiber guards that resist snags. Many experienced jig fishermen massage and trim stiff weedguards, however, to increase their odds of a good hookup. Flexing the fibers back and forth weakens them, making the guard more pliable to bend under light bites.

Many anglers also trim the end of a fiberguard so it stops short of the hook point. Using a pair of scissors, they trim the guard at an angle parallel to the hook, to prevent a fiber from catching the point. Note, though, that shortening the fibers stiffens them.

New Designs

One of the most innovative jigs on the market is SoSlo Performance Lures’ SoSlo Jig. This jig features an interchangeable weight and rattle system, which allows anglers to determine the lure’s rate of fall. Without the 1/32-ounce rattle packs and interchangeable weights, the SoSlo Jig actually floats. The jig also features a weedguard of “cable flex,” a plastic-coated steel cable.

For ages, jig fishermen have faced the problem of trailers slipping down the hook shank and catching on the hook tip. When this occurs, the hookset has to drive the hook through both the trailer and the bass’ mouth. Often, the fouled trailer results in lost fish. Moreover, slipping down the hook tears plastic trailers.

Several recent designs solve the fouled-hook problem. Nichol’s Mango Jig uses a patent pending “toothpick collar” to secure plastic trailers. Terminator’s Pro’s Top Secret Jig features a Nitinol trailer keeper that holds plastic or pork trailers in place. Strike King’s Pro Model Jigs, Dave’s Tournament Tackle Bubba Jig, Hart’s Rattling Pro-ducer Jig, and Lunker Lure’s Rattleback Jig use a tooth on the fixed rattle system to secure a plastic trailer.

Two new jigs, Bullet Weights’ Ultra Jigging Rig and Cyclone’s Slip-N-Jig, combine a skirted bullet weight and an offset worm hook to make a weedless rig, like Gopher Tackle’s Worm Dancer. Slide on the skirted weight, tie on a worm hook, and Texas-rig a favorite plastic bait. A similar rig, the Owner Sled Head, has a grooved head to secure a jig skirt and a “screw-lock” spiral wire running along the hook shank that acts as a trailer-keeper.

The variety of jig designs reflects the effectiveness of this lure in a variety of waters and situations. Also, the varied designs also reflect the diverse opinions among experienced jig fishermen regarding design and function. The angler is best served by first taking an inventory of the water conditions, assessing likely structure and cover, then selecting a tool that fits the job.

*Paul Cañada is an outdoor writer from Irving, Texas.