Jig heads appropriate for bluegill

[Dave Wahl]

Hello all, first post here.

Recently decided to devote more focus to fishing and building a tackle box with purpose behind each item. I have acquired a bunch of crappie sliders, Mister Twisters, and tubes in the smallest sizes available. While shopping at Cabela's and Bass Pro I found jig heads for these items. The thing about them is that my rod is a St Croix light rod rated for 1/16-5/16 oz lures but the 1/16 jig heads have a size 4 hook. I picked up some 1/32 heads with size 6 hooks. How come they don't make 1/16 jig heads in the standard panfish hook sizes of 6 8 and 10?

I tapped out my budget for now so I will make do with what I have. I will post up the whole list of what I've gotten later. Essentially I gt a variety of sliding and fixed bobbers, jig heads in 1/32 and 1/16 oz sizes, Berkley powerbait power grubs, mister twisters, crappie tubes, crappie sliders, some Countdown Rapalas in the CD-1 size, Blakemore Roadrunners both the kind with marabou and the plain kind in 1/16 oz, and northland Firefly jigs in 1/16 and 1/64 oz. Also got a split shot assortment and 6/8/10 Aberdeen hooks and bait holder hooks. Due to budget I didn't get all of the lures in the 4 colors I wanted of white black chartreuse and pumpkinseed for most of them I have a chartreuse and a black variety.

Will the 1/16 jigs that come with size 4 hooks be OK or I am going to have to fish the 1/32 and 1/64s under bobbers to cast them out with my rod?

Thanks!

[james bluto gillette]

those jigs will work fine do u tip some of the jigs with live bait?

[Dave Wahl]

Never done it yet I have the same question for you. Are marabou etc all supposed to have live bait and/or plastic put on them or are they ever fished alone just the jig/hook/marabou hair?

[Dave Wahl]

I've only ever thrown crank baits or sat a worm under a red and white bobber. Never jigged, slip-bobbered, etc.

[Ronald A Wilson]

i pour my own small jigs with #8 and #10 hooks ,so i dont know if you can by them or not .try grizzly jig company out of missouri to see if they make small jigs as you request .i use these small jigs tipped with berkley gulp alive vertically without a float with great sucess. also tip with live bait also

[Dave Wahl]

Grizzly Jig looks like they have a ton of great stuff. Next time I have a few bucks to spend I'll go crazy on their website.

Just spooled up my two light rods with 4 lb mono. Can't wait to get fishing.

[carl hendrix]

hey dave-- before you go and spend all your money for the year-- wait a little while.  its going to warm up soon;; guys will be fishing;; and posting their catches;; and what they got them on!!  you just might want something different!!

[Vince Fusco]

Dave, they do make smaller jigs designed for panfish. I regularly use 1/64th to 1/80th oz. jigs for gills. Try checking Janns Netcraft online, as well as other tackle stores. These can be tipped and fished under a float or merely cast out and bottom hopped. Both methods have their place depending on the conditions of the day. 

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Check out my discussion about "fishing jigs under a float" Dave...lots of good information.....it'll be under the "discussions" tab on my page......hope it helps!

[Allen Morgan]

David, I can think of three different things off the top of my head that will help you right off the bat.

1)  You already have split shot.  Just use a smaller, lighter, jig, and crimp a split-shot (or two, three, however many, etc.) onto the line a few inches above the jig.  You want enough weight to be able to cast it well.  That will take some experimentation.

2)  I have a BUNCH of 1/80th ball-head jigs.  Size 10 and size 12 hooks.  I usually only use those jigs with my UL crappie rod, and even then, I have to do a tandem-jig rig.  I tie a jig to the end of my leader, then I'll tie another jig onto the leader about 12" above the first one.  Two jigs, 1/40th oz of weight, easier to cast.

3)  I'm assuming you're using spinning reels?  You mentioned 4 lbs test mono.  I have that spooled onto my UL crappie rig.  What size reel are you using?  Remember, a wider spool will give you a little better distance.  It might look unwieldly, but it will help.  Have you thought about going to a really lightweight braid?  I'm contemplating switching over to 2 lbs test Suffix 832, if I can find some.....  That stuff is like spider's silk.

I will also echo Carl's suggestion of "don't break the bank on fishing gear now".  And here's why:  I, along with several other people on this forum, tie jigs and flies intended for Bluegill.  One of our own, Jeff Abney, will be testing old and new baits from many different people this year, and he will be posting his results on the forum.  I would suggest that you pay close attention to these results, and if anything strikes your fancy, contact the person that makes those baits.

Have you thought about trying tungsten jigs?  I know there are ice-fishing bait companies that make tungsten jigheads.  They aren't cheap, but tiny, and twice as heavy as lead.  I personally tie some heavy-head jig-flies by slipping a tungsten bead onto a wet-fly hook, then tying a classic soft-hackle fly pattern onto the resulting "jighead".

[Tony Livingston]

I also recommend shopping in the ice fishing tackle dept. for micro offerings. i use em' year round. Also, I purchase round ball jigheads in 1/80, 1/100, and 1/120 oz sizes in bulk off Ebay.

[Dave Wahl]

Thanks for all the info I've gotten here guys. I look forward to those custom jigs from forum members you just mentioned!

[Joe Angelucci]

Dave

Allen's suggestion of a simple split shot crimped to a hook works great and allows you to customize the weight. European shot tends to be smaller than US split shot. You can pick up the euro shot at most fly fishing equipment providers.