Home page article: Hook size

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I read the article on the home page a few moments ago - it was talking about the jigs Lindy tackle has - w/ what they call the "max gap hook". Basicly - the article talks about a upsized jig hook (on the X-change head). But they also offer the same hooks on traditional heads.

I know many of us in this forum pour their own jigs, myself included. Some of you are fans of the sickle hook, which has a larger gap. I've not used these, sticking to the traditional style jig hooks, usually in #6, and to a lessor extent, #4.

The article talked about the fact that crappie are often spitting the hook by the time we sense the strike, and as a result, we hook them in the lips instead of the mouth.

One of the crappie guru's (who uses plastics) in my area pours 1/32 oz w/ hooks up to #2. Oddly, he sticks to #4 & 6 for his 1/16 heads....

Eye-balling Lindy's site, they are using 1/0 hooks in the 1/16 & 1/8 head sizes (barbed heads).

It's got me thinking - should I be upsizing my hooks? Alternatively - should I be trying some sickles?

A bigger hook would certainly allow more space for tying.

Your thoughts/observations/comments????

UG

All I can tell you is I like the sickle hooks a lot and have been using them for 3
years. Do they have some quality issues? Yes they do, but the sharpness and big gap make up for a lot of things.

I have #4 as small as 1/64 and as big as 1/4, but also have (less numbers) 1/16 through 1/4 with #1 and #2 Sickles. I also for some have #6 regular bend in 1/8 oz. That is a guide here on Toledo Bend and fishes brush all the time and says he loses a lot less jigs from customers fishing that same brush.

So it's all to what one likes. I don't think anyone needs a bigger hook than a #4 Sickle, but that is my opinion and if a customer wants a bigger hook, say a #2 gold regular bend hook then that is what is right for him and I am sure his opinion has something to do with that hook and how he uses it.

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