Hook size

I have a friend I make and sell lead head jig hooks to. He fishes Florida rivers and his go to is a 1/16oz. no.4 sickle hook with a fiber weed guard. The river is plumb full of fallin trees and other vegetation. Weed guard is cut down as much as possible to keep from snagging but, still get a good hook set. Most of the time have no issues catching crappie. Lately, seems to get one on and it will get off. So, he wants to try a no.2 sickle hook. Maybe the little bit of difference will keep them on? Thoughts?

Just a curious question has he changed rods or made any other changes. I made a change in rods and was loosing fish left and right until I figured out the rod tip was way softer and I needed to make a harder hook set.

The gentleman that makes my jigs uses a No 6 sickle hook.

Make him some weedless jigheads with a #2 Aberdeen in 1/16oz ... it's what I use for all my casting around brush & downed trees, and I don't usually lose any fish and rarely miss sticking a fish.

Sometimes fish getting off a weedless jig has to do with where the hook has penetrated. If it's in the roof of the mouth, or even just "inside" the mouth, you're usually likely to get that fish in. If they're shy biting, nipping, or just not really taking the jig "into" the mouth and you're hooking them in the lip membrane ... the hole you tear in that membrane gives the hook plenty of chances to get thrown. A weedless jig has a better chance of staying than an open hook jig, but it's still possible for it to come off. :twocents

I've had a bad batch of hooks before. Pour the jigs with a #4 eagle claw. That hook won't fall out...as a matter of fact it's almost impossible to get it out with a tow truck

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I usually fish #2 or #4 sickle hooks depending on the size of the bait. 1/32 with the collar trimmed off for both

Fiber weed guard will compression easier on a #2 than on a #4. Therefore hookups should be better in my humble opinion. I use a mono loop weed guard like this one a lot. Attachment 414530

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go with a 6 and cover the exposed hook area with nibbles as a weed guard and go with a super easy hand , i would

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Originally Posted by z520tom

Fiber weed guard will compression easier on a #2 than on a #4. Therefore hookups should be better in my humble opinion. I use a mono loop weed guard like this one a lot. Attachment 414530

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that sir is one dandy looking jig ......KABOOM meds for sure

Very nice looking weed guard on that jig