HD jig hooks...what do you like

[Mr. Sandman]

Many of the hooks that come with these do-it and hilts molts are (IMO) a little in the light side. I don't like the feel of a bendy wire hook.
I have a few jigs that look like they have a HD Mustad *forged* hook in them for smiling bill and other jigs (but I don't know the number). There are a gazillion jig hooks to choose from, what do you like for a heavy duty jig hook?

[beamie]

Without the numbers readily at hand....maybe 34007....I just use allot of the standard mustard tinned jig hooks from 5 to 8 sometimes 9/0. Sometimes I do the stainless with the brass eye if a don't want to have a rusty hook bleed on the bucktail after allot of use.

I agree sometimes the bendy feeling is sceptical but sometimes harder hooks just break. I think if your drag is reasonably set it isn't an issue.

[NEXT2NUN]

34007 is stainless. I think you are better off with the brass eyes, they hold the hook in place and it gives you a choice of any hook.

[Diamond Tackle]

34184, and 34185 are pretty much the only jig hooks you will ever need. the 85 is shorter chank than the 84.
the 941715 is nice too as it comes up to a 9/0 whereas the 84 & 85 only go up to 8/0..
but as stated before if you want even BIGGER, then use a brass eye(dremel out the mold) where the hook eye used to be, and then clamp the mold together and drill out where the shank of the hook fits into the mold, to ANY size hook you can fit in there.

[Saltheart]

Mustad 34184 in 8/0.

If you ever need anything bigger than an 8/0 34184 , you should buy a harpoon!

[Canalratt1]

What salty said. I have been pouring bullets with those hooks for the last few years. There is no way any fish will bend them.

[Mr. Sandman]

wow...somg good advice in there guys...thanks!

[Mr. Sandman]

The 8/0's are what I need but Just for my own info, if you wanted to use a brass eye and normal instead of a jig hook, Will the straight hook hold in the lead alone like that or do you have to secure it somehow?

[NIB]

On my smilin bills 2 oz i use a 9/0 hook i dremeled out the mold.on 1.5 I use a 8/0 hook 34185.I like the shorter shank for most applications.I also use some gami siwash an O'Shawnessy hooks with the some molds.I use sinker eyelets.or make eyelets out of stainless wire as its stronger.Also Ledgerunner has the owner 7/0 jig hooks thats a fine hook very sharp. good hook in any jig 1.5 oz.80% of my fish evry yr.come on a jig.Most the time in some pretty stiff current.I guess i need a gaff hook to help me as i don't know what I'm doin.But after some dissasters I melted down all my old jigs an started a new....I WILL NEVER LOOSE A GOOD FISH TO A HOOK AGAIN.If ur gonna make ur own why mess around.As kalin makes a good jig head for under a buck a piece.As a matter of fact i use thier 5 oz bullet in the canal.at 95 cents its a good jig it don't make much sense.I even do some lite 3/8-1/2 oz ball heads with a 6/0 gami siwash.I try to stay away from the new mustads with Duratin plateing process the are much weeker than the older ones an stay away from eagle claw.they are just too "bendy".

[NEXT2NUN]

Mr Sandman. The brass eyes clip on to the eye of the hook and keep everything lined up. I've never seen one pull out. Order the smaller size eyes because they run big, I would order #1 and #2 to see which one fits your mold. I use copper wire on some small old molds I have. On those I connect the wire thru the eye on the hook.

[Saltheart]

Use Jig hooks if at all possible. we use the brass clips with a plain hook on some of the eel skin jigs cause its a home made mold but they are a PITA to work with.

[ragfly]

I just bought some of those Barbarian jig hooks and the new shad jig head molds from do-it. I like the wide gap. They look pretty rugged. My friend and i where going to do some bend test between diferent style jig hooks. I will post the results of our testing when we complete it.

[Mr. Sandman]

I would like to see those results Are those barbarian hooks the one with the hard bend in the hook instead of the smooth J? Also I think I have see some that have the barbs on the outside of the hook.