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I have been using TM's for most of my 67 years for trout. I recently started using them for Brim and sure do get a lot of miss strikes. Im starting to wonder if there is a better hook out there to use with them. By the way I started using the Bison color based on recommendations here on the forum. The pan fish sure do like them especially when spiked with a maggot.
Try a Daiwa Gekkabijin jig head with a #8 hook. Available in Japan only, but you can order on-line. They are ridiculously sharp. I use 1 and 1.5 gram mostly. They are the best, but a little expensive - about a buck apiece.
Which TM jig head are you using? If you are using the plated gold or nickel hooks they will be dull. Take one of those...if you have them.....and run it across your thumb nail. It will in all likelihood slide across your nail instead of digging in. The black ones are sharper as they are not plated...but they do have a coating. I’ve caught thousands of bluegill on a TM jig head.....a black TM jig head. That hook is designed for trout but of course will catch any fish. They make a 1/64 jig head called the Panfish. It has a longer shank and many people prefer it for bluegill. You ask if there is a better hook....yes there is....as has already been mentioned the Daiwa Gekkabijin jig head has the sharpest hook you will find on a micro jig anywhere. But they come at a cost of about 95 cents each. It is no exaggeration when I say they are as sharp as a needle. That is all I use anymore. It is very rare I miss bluegill with that hook. I fish all UL.....never set the hook...yet the hook will penetrate instantly even the bony part of a jaw on a bass. The TM hooks are made in USA hooks....good hooks.....but that plating process dulls them....but a lot of trout are caught with them. Here is video of the Daiwa jig head in action.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker12
Regards
YouTube
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I am hooked on the Daiwa jigheads as well... I mostly use .5g, 1g, and 1.5g... if I were to only use them for trout I would use .5g and 1g...
I don’t allow myself to ever get low on them. I don’t expect Daiwa to quit making them but you never know. I keep about 400 in stock.....place an order just about every month.
Regards
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
What supplier are you getting the jigs from?
finesse-fishing.com
Finesse Fishing has the .5 gram in stock. https://www.finesse-fishing.com/ajing-jigs-shop.html Plat also carries them PLAT/Fishing Tackle Store-Fishing Equipment/Catalog-Hook-S.W. Light Game Jig Head-GEKKABIJIN SW LIGHT JIGHEAD SS-enQuote:
Originally Posted by Tracker12
Regards
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All correct! Those daiwa jigs in .5 grams with size 8 hook works great on trout and panfish in shallow waters for me.
Do be very careful, when unhooking fish. Needle sharp is not an exaggeration [emoji3]
When I first used if for rainbow trout fishing, I poked myself good.
I will admit I do still use the trout magnet 1/64 oz jigs in black only, I find they are sharper and a lot cheaper when crappie fishing and get stuck on brush or structure and lose em.
Enjoy!
-Jaime
Yeah one can bury that micro barb in a finger real quick just taking them out of the package.
Regards
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Thanks for the info! 2 questions. 1) about how long does it take for you to recieve from Plat? The first link said they're shutdown due to coronavirus.
2) Would you be willing to sell me some directly? [emoji28]Sent from my SM-N950U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile appQuote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
I would like to try the Japanese ones. That said, I have had good fishing with the TMs. I stream fish and I haven’t felt like I missed many takes. Maybe Stillwater would be different. I just started trying the black TMs so I can see the difference when I get on the water. You can’t go wrong with the Japanese ones though, but a break off does hurt a little more!
I don't really want to sell any. Usual shipping time from Plat is 5 business days. With the virus going on over there I don't know how much things are slowed. I just put in an order at Digitaka Thursday night and it has shipped and in the system. So we will see how that shipment progresses.Quote:
Originally Posted by snatchncatch
Regards
Thanks. for the info on the lack TMs. I have all colors and checked mine and the back do appear sharper. Also never really realized they had a brim size hook. I ordered the Brim value pack from Amazon wit free sipping it was a better deal than ordering just the hooks from TM. Will get an order of the Diawa hooks day to try out.
What size for crappie in the 12 to 15" range and what size for bream and shell cracker? Don't the JDM sizes differ from our US sizes? Presently i use a number 2 for crappie and a 4 or 6 for bream, Eagle Claw light wire hooks.
The JDM jig head hook sizes are a little larger than US market hooks. I catch a ton of crappie on JDM Daiwa Gekkabijin #6...#8...and even #10. The #8 is my most used size. I don't miss any crappie with them. I know most will tell you hooks that small are not good for crappie fishing but I have no issues at all...as a matter of fact I prefer them to the larger hooks. When all I used were the TM jig heads I caught a lot of crappie on their #8 also but I missed some fish as they were not as sharp as the Daiwa jig heads. I can't stress enough how good these hook are. As full on bluegill season is almost here I will more than likely switch to the #10 while specifically targeting them. Come July and August when I am fishing for the crappie and KY bass I will go back up to a #8...maybe a #6.Quote:
Originally Posted by Quailtail
Regards
One thing to keep in mind when using these JDM jig heads is that they are made of very thin wire. A lighter touch and the right rod is needed to prevent tear outs (unless you hook them way down in the harder parts of the mouth.) Also, these jigs have tiny barbs compared to the TMs. But if I can catch crappie with them, anyone can!
Yes, the Daiwa Gekkabijin .5 are weak and bend out of shape easy , but I have no problems with the 1.5g.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishfishwish
That's good to know. Do they bend back into shape easily as well? May be good for dealing with hang upsSent from my SM-N950U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile appQuote:
Originally Posted by Techno2000
The .5g will definitely bend out on hang ups, and can be bent back, check the hook point also, as that may have to be re-sharpen too.Quote:
Originally Posted by snatchncatch
Have u ever used the 1g? Is it the same?Sent from my SM-N950U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile appQuote:
Originally Posted by Techno2000
I haven't had any trouble with them bending. Since the wire size is so small, it tends to cut through the lips of the crappie more than thicker wire hooks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Techno2000
Fished the TM panfish hooks today. Worked pretty well. Much better that the TM size.
I have been using the Daiwa Gekkabijin jig heads for a long time. I have all weights and hook sizes.....#10......#8......#6.......#4. I don’t know what pound test line folks use with these but with the lines I use.....3# test max so far......I can’t pull any of these hooks out of a snag before my line breaks. I have bent a few hooks when they have been hooked in the boney part of the jaw of a bass....drum....trout.....trying to work it out. Most of the time I can straighten it back out. I’ve never had any issues of these hooks pulling out of crappie.....or any other specie. These hooks are chemically sharpened. Most of the time chemically sharpened hooks are very brittle.....but these are much softer than any chemically sharpened hook I have used. Of course the design behind these hooks was never intended to be fighting in 20 inch smallmouth.....but they work fine doing it. I am constantly looking for better that will give me an advantage. I have quite an assortment of light game JDM jig heads that are just sitting in a bag. I have some other brands I have yet to try and as soon as I can find the brands in stock I’ll be trying them too.
Regards
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No,I only have the .5 and the 1.5gQuote:
Originally Posted by snatchncatch
Alphahawk,Quote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
Did your order make it out of Japan? Mine has been in "posting/collection" since Friday. The US do not seem to be affected by the JPS service interruptions, according to the notice on PLAT, but it is not clear if delays should be expected. I wonder if it is time to order what you wanted while you can...
The rod shipped yesterday. I hit the buy button on some line at Digitaka Thursday night....it was delivered today.Quote:
Originally Posted by s_v
Regards
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Thanks for the reply. I do not understand how these packages reach you so quickly...Quote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
I’m sure Randy gets expedited deliveries due to his frequent customer status! Ha ha ha!Quote:
Originally Posted by s_v
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Since late 2012 I’ve had fast delivery’s. The only issue I have had is the one going on right now with the eBay seller that I bought the Presso Limited AGS rod from. But I also bought 6 Ballistic FW reels from him and those arrived very quickly also. So even though I have a tracking number on the rod it is still sitting somewhere in Japan.Quote:
Originally Posted by s_v
Regards
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That's my case with the Digitaka order right now. I have a tracking number on the rod and it seems to have been sitting at the origin office since Friday. Wanted to wait for the rod before I ordered a reel from them, to make sure the weight would balance the rod correctly. Now worried that the wait may be too long and that I should order the reel right away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alphahawk
I have sent Digitaka an email but to no avail so far.
I too, have 2 rods from 2 different Digitaka orders that have been sitting in Osaka. Perhaps if we all order more stuff, they will charter a plane just for us. It is what it is..as the wise man said - "These are the times that try men's souls". Keep safe.Quote:
Originally Posted by s_v
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I'd appreciate if you could update when your rods move past acceptance in Osaka. About a week later, mine is still at that stage. I received a response from Digitaka yesterday that they would look into that. I will see if they follow up.
Just checked, both rods appear to be moving. This was from Japan Post -Quote:
Originally Posted by s_v
Dispatch from outward office of exchangeApr 2 22:00
Handling office
OSAKA INT ?OSAKA?
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Thanks. I am glad to hear things are moving along. May I ask when did you order the rods?Quote:
Originally Posted by slowhand
I ordered my Tict Rockin’ Power on 3/25 and they tried to deliver it to my home on 3/31 but I was working... picked it up on 4/1... how long ago did you all order? I put in an order for some jigheads, line, and a reel yesterday and hope it gets to me pretty quickly :/
3/24 and 3/26Quote:
Originally Posted by s_v
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I placed my order with Digitaka on 3/26, and the rod has been sitting in Osaka in posting/ collection status since 3/28. No change so far, but I understand the delays are possible. The frustrating part is I need to order a reel for the rod and a whole bunch of line and jig heads, which I am running low on. But I need to put the rod in the hand first to see what reel weight will balance it best.
On an unrelated note, I am now using my Ajing setup for its intended purposes – mackerel. So much fun fishing them from the rocks. Cultiva jig heads with Ring Kick Tails on 1.5 lbs ester work very well. Last time I landed about 20 fish in 2 hours of early morning fishing, the biggest being about 12 inches. Those little beasts are real fighters!
Order update...the rod ordered 3/24 -
April 3, 2020 at 10:44 am
Processed Through Facility
ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS
It was either flown overnight or Japan Post is behind on their tracking. Keep checking yours.
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Diawa jig hooks are due to arrive tomorrow and plan to go and give them a go this weekend. Looking forward to see how they stack up.