Jigheads weight range

[kruzenvax]

Hi all,

I'm trying to organise my tackle box so I can do some more regular fishing and I wonder if you can tell me what range of jighead weights do you usually carry with you. I mean for what I call (maybe improperly) an "estuary fishing" - bream, flathead and alike. Not these monsters from the deep ocean...

Something like "I carry 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, ... this gets me covered".

I've also studied this forum re. the hook size... what I wonder if, a hook size, say, #1 is always the same - or similar - size, no matter what is the vendor. I'm looking, for example, at TT jigheads and Nitro... do they have the same hook size? Like #1, #1HW, #01, etc?

Got a feeling that some brands have #1 hook much bigger than #1 from other brands...

Thanks

[Piscineidiot]

Uh...well, in terms of jighead weight, I carry a ready supply of 1/16 for bigger plastics or faster currents/windy conditions.

I also carry some of the 'lighter' ones, and used to have a few 1/36 or so. This was for 'finesse' fishing in amongst structure.

HOWEVER, The best advice I can offer you is that you won't find one particular jighead/weight or whatever will suit every plastic. Some plastics such as snapbacks are more buoyant than most etc. Just a matter of getting it down in the situations you fish in.

Use 1/16 as a benchmark for one of the heavier ones you'll need for light estuary work and work down from there.

As for the hook size...a lot of hooks seem bigger than they really are, and occassionally, there's a little discrepancy. For example, No. 14 Owner ST36 trebles look to have a much larger gape than any other hooks of that gauge. However, it's often the hook's proportions playing games on your eyes. The 'HW' marking on a Nitro jighead packet indicates the hook's a heavier duty wire, not much to do with the size itself.

Whichever way, don't trust the labelling on a packet alone. Get a good idea of how big or thick your plastic is and find a jighead to match it. For example, I found that 1/16 Oz Nitros fit the 4" snapback stickbaits almost perfectly.

As unhelpful as this is, I hope you find something useful in it...

Owen

[Zac 87]

i find 1/4's and 1/8ths a bit heavy

i normally fish 1/32, 1/24, 1/22 and 1/16.

1/16 i use when there is a bit of current and wind about.

[Shortlite]

You'll find that conditions, water depth, current and lure size dictates jighead and hook size.

Outside of custom or DIY heads, you'll find you may need 1/32, 1/16, 1/12 and 1/8 oz most of the time. That's 0.875g, 1.75g, 2.3 g, and 3.5 g inmetric figures. Lighter for less wind, current, shallow water, fishing very slowly on the drop.

The heavier heads are for deeper water, getting down to bottom fast in deep/fast flowing water. The fact that they carry bigger hooks makes them better suited to larger lures. You'll find that 1/32, 1/16 and 1/12 usually carry size 6,4 or 2 hooks. The larger heads carry size 2 and upwards. I'm talking Aberdeen hooks here, like the Mustads on squidgy heads. Owner jig hooks may also be slightly different in size.

Hook size varies a hell of a lot b/w manufacturers. Number designation differs. Owen's example of Owner trebles and yours of Gamakatsu will tell you that. Yes, H after the number means heavier wire and heavier duty hook. Sometimes there may be an L designation for light wire, sometimes not. Hooks sizes vary. Gama's smallest is their #2, which is slightly bigger than a #4 Aberdeen (Squidgy, etc.) Everyone else usually casts their smallest head on #4 or #6 Aberdeen style jig hooks.

[kruzenvax]

Thanks to all. Just one more question:

Hooks size, say, #1 and #1/0 - are they different?

Thanks

[Zac 87]

yep 1/0 is larger that 1

[kruzenvax]

Thanks guys, it is helpful. Apart from the actual range information (which was exactly what I needed) I've learned an unexpected (well for the matter of this topic) thing - it looks like I'm going too heavy, e.g. my jigs are too heavy! That is great, may explain (apart from other 99 possible reasons) my low success rate.

This info triggers a question in my mind re line/casting. Would you mind if I ask yet another question here... not related to jig ... heads or you think I'm pushing it too far?

Thanks

Alex

[craig scott]

Not pushing it too far at all Kruzenvax, it's one of the main reasons the site exists.
Fire away.
Cheers,Craig.

Have you considered doing a search?

[kruzenvax]

Thanks Craig, yes, always doing a search before asking questions... :)

Now the question. Reading answers here I've realised that I need to use lighter jigs... means my gear has to be optimised for better casts. Went out and checked my rods and reels... discovered something suspicious.

I use Berkley fireline 4lb. It looks like that on all my reels line seems to be "stuck" on itself... e.g. when a coil goes away from the spool (in the cast mode) there's a lot of friction between it and neighbour coils... like they "glued" to each other.. or stuck bettwen each other... slightly resisting my line to go freely; so my line goes from the spool with a certain amount of resistance (hope I've explained it right).

In addition to that, when I made a test cast in my yard and then winded the line back but this time winding it between my fingers I've discovered some kind of yellow (my line is yellow) powder - or dust - on my fingers.

I did all my spooling as per recommendations, and it looks nice and even... but - perhaps - only looks?

Is that normal?

Thanks

Originally posted by craig scott
Not pushing it too far at all Kruzenvax, it's one of the main reasons the site exists.
Fire away.
Cheers,Craig.

Have you considered doing a search?

[CHUNQX]

The "sticky" part of the fireline, I find happens to me as well but only if I haven't used the reel for a while and did not really clean the reel properly after using it in suspect quality water (like the yarra). Usually after the first cast and sometimes you need to manually peel off line and then wind it back in, it'll be ok.

As for the yellow powder, I don't think I've ever had yellow powder, I know that the colour comes off in your hand or if you're using a cloth, it comes off but I've not noticed if its powder of not. The colour coming off is quite normal. Its worse if you're using the fluorescent pink fireline. It looks really cool when its new, being bright fluoro pink. But then it fades away into a pastel, girly pink and looks a bit out of place in the hands of a typical bloke with tattoos and a beer can in one hand....

[kruzenvax]

Originally posted by CHUNQX
The "sticky" part of the fireline, I find happens to me as well but only if I haven't used the reel for a while and did not really clean the reel properly after using it in suspect quality water (like the yarra). Usually after the first cast and sometimes you need to manually peel off line and then wind it back in, it'll be ok. As for the yellow powder, I don't think I've ever had yellow powder, I know that the colour comes off in your hand or if you're using a cloth, it comes off but I've not noticed if its powder of not. The colour coming off is quite normal. Its worse if you're using the fluorescent pink fireline. It looks really cool when its new, being bright fluoro pink. But then it fades away into a pastel, girly pink and looks a bit out of place in the hands of a typical bloke with tattoos and a beer can in one hand....


Thanks , but doesn't seem to be a case for me as I've ised the lne 2 days ago... how do you clean the rell, if you don't mind sharing the info... Will rewind it anyway.

Well it looked and felt like powder... and residue.... not just a colouring on my hands. I felt it on my fingers even before I had a look...

Thanks

[Dave Press]

The line sticking together is pretty normal, especially if the spool wasnt rinsed in fresh water after its last use.
Cleaning reels can be done in many ways.
One way is to simply rinse it in fresh water (not under pressure, just kind of dribble it all over) and then give the whole reel a wipe over using a rag and a very light coat of a water repellant.
Some people like to keep the reels wrapped in an clean oily rag when not in use. This also helps corrosion.

I also give my spools a quick rinse in fresh water before use when i remember as it makes the line soft and supple from the first cast.

As for the jigs, a rangfe from 1/32 or 1/48 upwards to 1/8th is pretty good. Should cover most conditions your likely to encounter.

Cheers

Dave

[CHUNQX]

I've struggled with the question of how to clean reels and have asked for suggestions and the responses were varied and even a little contradictory. Some have said to use a damp cloth and NOT washing it under running water, and others have said they hose it down together with hosing down the boat. They way I've decided to do it is to use a wet cloth (thoroughly soaked cloth) to wipe the externals and then dry it with a dry cloth. I then remove the spool and only run the line section of the spool (the spool being held horizontally) under a very slow running (a little more than a trickle) water for about a minute. I try not to get water overflowing into the drag washer section of the spool or the underside which has the ratchet. This is only to clean the saltwater from the line. I also run the roller bearing under that trickle as that is the most likely part to get saltwater entering it. You can do the "lick" test for the spool. Lick the line on the spool and if it taste salty, there's still salt on the line. With the colour coming off fireline, I wouldn't necessarily recommend licking the line too often.

[kruzenvax]

Well, that makes a lot of sense to me. Will go now and re-spoll all the line, rinse reels in fresh water, etc.

Thanks guys.

[Dave Press]

I then remove the spool and only run the line section of the spool (the spool being held horizontally) under a very slow running (a little more than a trickle) water for about a minute. I try not to get water overflowing into the drag washer section of the spool or the underside which has the ratchet. This is only to clean the saltwater from the line.

Thats pretty much exactly what I do. I tend not to rinse the reel body itself. Like I said though...this is all done when i remember to do it...lol


Dave

[lure_muncher]

Personally, I carry #4 &2 Worm hooks, in both EWG and G-Lock. Resin heads, 1/40th HWS & 1/32, 1/22, 1/16 Gama Round 211 in #2 hook size.

I also carry 1/16 Owner weedless and bullet weights.

This is everythign I'll need...for now :D