swing hook bucktails...

[Tman1]

I second the Blue Frogs I use them in the 1/2 oz -1 oz sizes and they work great. The hook on the larger sizes seems kind of small as I prefer a7/0 or 8/0 hook.

[eastendlu]

Blue frogs!!!

[Raider Ronnie]

Not swing hook,
But Skip Cornell (Hotjigs) makes some of the best jigs around (Lots of the commercial fleet in Green Harbor, Plymouth, Cape, ect... us them)
He uses high quality stainless hooks.

[Mike P]

IMO, the words "swing hook bucktails" and "best" don't belong in the same sentence. There is no such thing as the "best" of something that inherently sucks.

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Mike P

IMO, the words "swing hook bucktails" and "best" don't belong in the same sentence. There is no such thing as the "best" of something that inherently sucks.

I agree.
I hate swing hooks !

[Chris in Mass]

Any insight into why they suck? Don't use them myself, but is there a technical reason, or is it personal preference?

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Chris in Mass

Any insight into why they suck? Don't use them myself, but is there a technical reason, or is it personal preference?

Personal preference, and contrary to what common sense should tell me, I find that I actually hang up MORE with a swinging hook

There's a certain stretch of bottom along the Canal where I hardly ever hang up with a fixed-hook jig, but I can guarantee a starfish every cast if I don't work a Crippled Herring aggressively. I don't lose the tin, but bass don't seem to show an interest in a Crip with a starfish dangling off the back hook, for some odd reason

My theory on this is that a Canal-style ball jig falls head-heavy and the upwards riding hook is usually clear of the bottom, whereas a swinging hook will eventaully ride under the jig/tin and snag on something.

I don't worry too much about leverage and "accidental fulcrums" as one writer calls them

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by Chris in Mass

Any insight into why they suck? Don't use them myself, but is there a technical reason, or is it personal preference?

Same here!
Jigging from a boat with wire bouncing bottom, I find far more hang ups with swinging hooks.
Also,
(From a boat again) Hook up rate from a hit is much lower (for me) with the swinging hook.
Most every swinging hook jig I've seen use steel hooks, not stainless = rusty hooks.