Jig heads are pieces of fishing tackle that consist of a weight attach to a hook. Jig heads are used to control the speed and the depth to which a fishing lure move through the water. The weight of the jig head must be selected correct to ensure that the lure sink at the apropriate rate.
If the jig head are too heavy, it will sink too quick and frighten the fish. Alternatively, if the jig head is too light, it will not sink fast enough to reach the fish that live in deep waters or against a current. The weight of the jig head can vary significantly depending on the type of water and the type of fish that must be targeted.
How to Choose the Right Jig Head
Small jig head, such as those that weigh 1/64 ounce, are used in waters that is shallow and calm. Such small jig heads allow for the soft plastic lure to move slow through the water. In contrast, large jig heads, such as those that weigh 2 ounce, are required in deep saltwater waters or areas with strong currents.
The large jig heads can maintain contact with the bottom of the water. A medium sized jig head, which weighs 1/4 ounce, is commonly used in situations where fish are to be targeted at depths of 10 to 20 feet, such as bass. A jig head has several part.
Many jig heads have a 90-degree line tie that prevent the jig head from spiraling as it moves through the water. Another part of the jig head is the collar that hold the soft plastic trailer attached to the jig head. The keeper barb on the shank of the hook prevent the soft plastic trailer from sliding down the jig head.
Additionally, jig heads come in various shapes. Round jig heads allow the lure to maintain a neutral position in the water. Football-shaped jig heads will roll over gravel at the bottom of the water body.
Swimbait jig heads have flat chins that allow the soft plastic tail lures to move in a straight line through the water. Stand up jig heads are shaped in such a way that they stand upright on the bottom of the water to immitate the motion of a crab. To make sure the proportion of the bait remain natural to the fish, the size of the soft plastic trailer must be matched to the jig heads weight.
For instance, if the person is using a 1/8-ounce jig head, they should use a small 2-to-3-inch worm that will flutter when bait is being cast. If the person is using a 1/4 ounce jig head, they should use a larger 3-to-4 inch craw. If the person is using a large 5-to-7-inch swimbait, they must use a jig head that weigh at least 1/2 ounce because the large size of the bait require a heavy jig head to maintain its horizontal movement.
Depending on the type of fish that are being targeted, the jig heads will have different weight and shapes. For instance, largemouth bass will target a 1/4-ounce to 1/2-ounce football jig head but smallmouth bass will target lighter jig heads that are used with tube lures. Walleye will target 1/8-ounce to 1/4-ounce jig heads that are used with shad lures.
Striped bass and other saltwater fish will use 2 ounce jig heads. The depth of the water and the current will play a big role in the type of jig heads that are used. For shallow waters without currents, a light jig head will work.
For deep waters or strong currents, a heavy jig head will be necesary to overcome the resistance of the water. The color of the bait will play a big role in how the fish will react to the bait. For example, if the water is particularly clear, using natural color such as green and brown will entice the fish the most.
In stained waters, bright colors such as chartreuse will entice the fish. In murky waters, using dark colors such as black and blue will work the most best for the fish. In deep waters, using white colors will work because the white color will reflect the faint light in deep waters.
Finally, you should always check the sharpness of the hook on the jig head because the hook must be sharp enough to catch the fish.