Rubber and Jig Heads

[Tattoo]

With all the different kinds of rubber out there what kind of jig heads are people using?

I'll admit I have not been a big fan of rubber until last year when Two guys from NY came down and told a few tales of fishing with rubber. Something that stay in my head was something Alberto said "Keep your mind open to new ideas about fishing".

So on that note I fished quite a bit of plastics last year, enjoyed it but found one major problem.

THE JIG HEADS SUCK! I've tried just about everyone I have seen. Owners are big bucks and the hooks are brittle. I bought a pack of three just to see how they would fit on a Ledgerunner jerkbait. Fits nice. First cast fish on, drop the fish and reel in only to find the jig head still attached, but the hook broke at the head - son of a....

Re rig - next cast fish on. Land nasty bluefish only to watch him bite through the hook. What the fu^&%@!

OK - now I'm on a roll. Re - rig. Stuck on rock - pull and see that the hook broke at the bend and I now have no point or barb. Friging japanese hooks, son of a, mother &*^%@# etc etc etc.

So the search begins to find a jig head in the right size with a deisel hook. I have since come up empty. The hook is either to small for the bait or the head is to damn heavy for the hook I am looking for.

What are guys using for the ledgerunner 5 inch shads and 9 inch jerkbaits?

Pictures please.

[Rappin Mikey]

As many of you know, my secret weapon is the BassAssassin. Snip the tip so it runs flush up against the 3/4 ounce triangle jig head (Kalins) and super glue. if I have eyes laying @ I glue those on to. I've gone through many packs of these jig heads and only ran into a problem once. The lead was loose on the hook ??? This happened to me this week. Other then that, I've landed some good heavy fish in monstour current without a hitch. I have to go frisk the hoodlums (I have door duty). I'll shoot out to my car and snap a photo. Post it @ 9:45. Later-Bomba

[chipwood]

You have to customize. Get the do-it mold catalog and pick the jighead that's right for you with the appropriate size hook. Check out the Andrus jighead not the bucktail. The commercially made jigheads are fine for the smaller fish but for the bigfish you need to make your own heads.

[tlapinski]

Mike, time to start pourring jigs. mustad short shank hooks are very strong. try the ball head jigs. they seem to get snagged a bit less than other styles. you may have to do some customization with a dremel to the mold if you want to use smaller weights with the bigger hooks. i modified some 1/2 ounce jig head mlds last year to accept 8/0 hooks.

[Rappin Mikey]

Nice job Mr. Fancy Pants Just went out to my car, no USB cable for the camera. Sorry, no pictures today. I have tried all sorts of jig heads those are just the ones that have been most productive for me. Thanks for the tip though

[jeffsod]

I have the best luck with and highly recommend the KALIN jigheads. Natural no paint sharp quailty hooks and more reasonably priced. Goose Hummock in Orleans buys them in big bulk bags and sells them individually which is cheaper than the three packs. I use the bullet heads mostly with sluggos but the triangles work better with the shad syle rubba.

The style I use are the Kalin Ultimate Jig Heads-

http://www.kalinlures.com/ultimate.htm

Sorry no photos just a sketch.

Mike has some at his shop I believe if you want to check them out.

[Notaro]

Tattoo, ledgerunner has those kalin models. Have you tried wrapping a solder on a hook with a small screw on a 9 inches jerk stick?

[Fisherwoman]

Definatley get the Kalins, hooks never bend or break. they have 2 little prongs that come down the shank of the hook to hold the plastic on and in place. If you want to color the heads, just buy a little can of powder paint at cabela's or some of the local shops may actually have it. heat the jig, dip in powder, heat again!!! All set. I do it right on the stove burner. Its very quick, just don't heat too much or the head will melt!!!

[Mr. Sandman]

I have not used the owner jig heads yet (have a hand full though) but I am surprised to hear of them breaking. I have switched 100% this year to owner circle hooks for eels and live bait because of the *excellent* results with them last season. Not one problem. These were not jig hooks though. It could be the heat from the lead caused the problem. That is depressing to hear because I think owner is one of the better hook compaines out there now.
A lot of guys here have switch to them and I see huge bulk boxes stacked for special orders for many of the charter and comm guys.

Mustad jig hooks are very heavy. You have to sharpen them a lot and the wire is pretty thick but they are strong.

Kalin...have not tried.

Frankly as good as plasitics are, I am getting concerned about the pollution factor and what happens when they eat this stuff. I read that over 1 billion plastics go into the water each year. It is one of the fastest growing part in the fishing business...why..you need to replace them and you need a large bag of spares.

Hell I had 10 big shads on a 9'ers umbrella rig one day and cruised thur some choppers...most were either gone or cut in half and consumed. How many storm bodies each year do you use....is this healthy for fish?

I tend to use more hard plastics and wood. But I like rubba now and then but don't use it that often.

[Got Stripers]

I've not had a problem with either the Owner or Kalin jigs and ironically both use Owner forged hooks. The Owner saltwater bullets use a cutting edge hook, which I find a better hooker, plus I like the way my 8" grub swims on their 1OZ, but they are more money then the Kalins. The Kalins I believe use the Owner conicle point, still a good hook and less money. If I'm fishing snaggy water I'm throwing the Kalins, on the Boat or sandy bottoms I use the Owners.

Tin Man was at the show, but I've yet to hook up with him on the triangular shad heads, but the 6" shads you have will definately swim better on a shad head with an 7/0 to 8/0 hook in it, weight based on wear you are. Give me a call, I'll come on down and show you a few tricks.

Tight lines.

[Crafty Angler]

Mike - Ya gotta get crafty and pour your own using HD saltwater hooks - remember the big fish-head jigs in the tackle bunker I showed ya? 2-3 oz with the gorilla hooks, powder painted 'em black and put the big Stamina black grubs on them - I also have similar Smilin' Bills and the HD hooks as well if you want to pour some from my Do-Its.

Give me a call - we'll set up a lead party in the yard when I get outta the weeds here - aw, hell, gimme a call and we'll do it anyway.

Uncle Zeke's other trick is a modified Bait Tail - short shank HD hook in a Smilin' Bill - with a REAL bait tail (which means the back half of a deceased eel) -

[Good N You]

I have good luck with the Kalin heads. Caught a few 40 lb bluefin on them last year. I didn't know Owner made heads. I would be surprised to see them fail as their other hooks are reguarded as some of the best. Commercial tuna guys spare no expense and most use them. Where can you buy the owner heads, Id like to give them a try.

[Bob Senior]

Kalins w/ cocahoes

Smilin' Bill bucktails