Why ? Hook size relation to head weight.

I could have posted this in the jig makers forum but thought it would get read more and possibly help more if posted here:

It seems to me, generally speaking, that most mass produced jig heads increase/decrease hook size according to the weight of jig head and I'm curious as to why ? I generally choose my jig head weight dependant on the conditions I am fishing. How deep I am fishing and how windy it is usually having the greatest impact on my decision.

With that being said, I don't often change bait size, I'm still fishing the same lure or jig body, I only want to manipulate how fast/slow the bait falls. So I'm curious why jig head makers and manufactures, especially in the mass produced markets, feel it necessary to also change hook size.

Am I alone in wanting a product offered from 1/32 up to 1/8 with the same hook size on all 3 heads ?

Can someone help me understand what I'm missing and why this is the common/normal practice in jig head production ?

I'm with you. I special order my jigs with no 2 hooks on 1/16,1/32 and 1/24. I find the littler hooks loose more fish in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by BAMA S

I'm with you. I special order my jigs with no 2 hooks on 1/16,1/32 and 1/24. I find the littler hooks loose more fish in my opinion.

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That's one issue. Another is the aesthetic appearance of the offering... Can you picture a Southern Pro crappie stinger on "most" 1/8oz heads... It'd look horrendous with a monster #1 hook (or larger) running out it's rear. Especially if you weren't tipped up with a minner !

I use 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 oz jigheads with a 1/0 sickle hook...of course, I don't use small plastics either!

I use mainly 6, 4 and 2's in my jigs. I also have bigger hooks for 1/8th and 1/4th but those have been poured for a long time. That's the main reason I pour my own as I can use whatever I want on my jigs.

I pour my 1/16 with a 1 and my 1/8 with a 1/0 or 2/0. Fish big plastics and generally tip with big minnow.

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Originally Posted by Minners N Jigs

I could have posted this in the jig makers forum but thought it would get read more and possibly help more if posted here:

It seems to me, generally speaking, that most mass produced jig heads increase/decrease hook size according to the weight of jig head and I'm curious as to why ? I generally choose my jig head weight dependant on the conditions I am fishing. How deep I am fishing and how windy it is usually having the greatest impact on my decision.

With that being said, I don't often change bait size, I'm still fishing the same lure or jig body, I only want to manipulate how fast/slow the bait falls. So I'm curious why jig head makers and manufactures, especially in the mass produced markets, feel it necessary to also change hook size.

Am I alone in wanting a product offered from 1/32 up to 1/8 with the same hook size on all 3 heads ?

Can someone help me understand what I'm missing and why this is the common/normal practice in jig head production ?

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You're not "missing" anything !! You correctly stated that it's the "mass production" markets that do this most often. Why ?? To appeal to the "masses" with the least amount of production cost. Can you imagine how many more molds would be needed to accommodate 3 or 4 different hook sizes for every different head weight ?? How much more packaging would be needed ??

Your best bet is to contact some of the many members that custom make jigs !! Then you dictate what size hook is used with what weight jighead, whether it's a painted head or not, the color of the hook, the style of the jighead, and the style of hook. That goes for plain jigheads, as well as tied jigs !!

I use Grousefly for my weedless jigheads ... and have him put a #2 Aberdeen hook in the 1/32oz & 1/16oz heads, which are the sizes I mostly use. And while I do have some that he made for me, that have #4 hooks in them (and work just fine) ... since I've started using larger/thicker plastics, I wanted a larger hook so as to keep a decent gap between the hook point & top of the plastic body.

... cp :kewl

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

You're not "missing" anything !! You correctly stated that it's the "mass production" markets that do this most often. Why ?? To appeal to the "masses" with the least amount of production cost. Can you imagine how many more molds would be needed to accommodate 3 or 4 different hook sizes for every different head weight ?? How much more packaging would be needed ??

Your best bet is to contact some of the many members that custom make jigs !! Then you dictate what size hook is used with what weight jighead, whether it's a painted head or not, the color of the hook, the style of the jighead, and the style of hook. That goes for plain jigheads, as well as tied jigs !!

I use Grousefly for my weedless jigheads ... and have him put a #2 Aberdeen hook in the 1/32oz & 1/16oz heads, which are the sizes I mostly use. And while I do have some that he made for me, that have #4 hooks in them (and work just fine) ... since I've started using larger/thicker plastics, I wanted a larger hook so as to keep a decent gap between the hook point & top of the plastic body.

... cp :kewl

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I think you're exactly right as to the why it's done this way. I would think as picky as fishermen are, that the mass production companies would recognize the demand and could justify the additional and increased production. My guess is that they would find what is currently their "best sellers" is a result of limited offering and would not remain their best selling products. I'll have to do some checking and shopping with the custom guys. I've got a local guy that makes the 1/16 head that I use most often and love, but he, like the mass production companies alters the hook size when he changes weights and I can't understand why. Thanks Pappy !

I have jig heads in all different sizes and sometimes I need a small head with a decent size hook. When fishing in the spring I throw alot of 1/32 heads with a size 4 hook. The water I am fishing is not very deep and I need a very slow fall rate. I also fish a creek for white bass during the spring and sometimes those fish will only hit a small bait. The majority of the time I use a 1/16 head sometimes you need a custom made jig head to get the results you want.

Reggie

I used to buy off the shelf myself but they don't always carry what I like . so I buy in bulk online the jig weights and hooks I like best . i love number 6 hooks for crappie in most cases . all my 1/16 and 1/32 are running number 6 hooks and when i buy hand ties i order the same .

Time of year and what lake i'm on dictates what size head and hook i use. Spring on KY lake, i use 1/8 with #2 with a 2 to 2 1/2" body. Summer on Lake Erie, i use a one ounce weight with #4 tru turn hooks. Right now, here in PA, i'm using 1/32 oz heads with #6 hooks as the fish wont take the bigger baits i normally use this time of year. I also like a #4 hook on 1/16 ounce jigheads.

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Originally Posted by chaunc

Time of year and what lake i'm on dictates what size head and hook i use. Spring on KY lake, i use 1/8 with #2 with a 2 to 2 1/2" body. Summer on Lake Erie, i use a one ounce weight with #4 tru turn hooks. Right now, here in PA, i'm using 1/32 oz heads with #6 hooks as the fish wont take the bigger baits i normally use this time of year. I also like a #4 hook on 1/16 ounce jigheads.

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Thanks for the input and I'm with ya Chaunc, I like to mix and match my head weights and hook sizes to the presentation I'm after. More often than not, it is difficult to find the hook and head weight match up that I would like use due to limited offerings. If you don't have a custom jig maker, what the large mass production companies have to offer usually won't give ya what you're after. That was my more specific and direct question: Why don't the mass production companies recognize and capitalize on the demand for more and different offerings ?