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!

[John McKean]

The absolute best jigheads I've found, as a long time jigging specialist, are those offered by www.leadfreejigheads.com . The owner, Keith, offers a 1/24 oz roundhead with a no 8 sickle hook which is perfect for bluegill, plus he'll gladly custom make any size head with "panfish-perfect" size hooks ! His quality is top notch, prices &quantities very reasonable, free shipping, and very fast service!

[Johnny wilkins]

I just discovered this company that offers a lot of panfish and trout gems - Gapen Fishing. They aren't in any of the big box stores not in national stores except in Minnesota and upper Midwest. They have always been a small tackle store company and still are. Kind of a secret up until now - in some outdoors magazines and in business for 75 years!

Most every lure listed is produced in Minnesota, Michigan and some from the East Coast. Quality on these ties is standard and monitored by tying master and Hall of Fame angler Dan Gapen - a 3rd generation fly angler.

Here are some awesome panfish products:

Beaded Maggot: You could call them bearded maggots - those things have a cool tipping-rocking action that works on the drop- the falling action on this is potent.

Crappie Vixen: Arctic Fox hair jigs that knock out crappie, gills & trout. This jig's tail swims in the water column.

Freshwater Shrimp: Dancing little fly jig with tinsel and flash.

Spin Bee: Flash, Fly and fish - fish hone in on these elements. 

Check them out - there are more cool plastic jigs, ice jigs and also really cool jigging spoons that would make great components for your panfish tackle box. Good luck and report back with your successes!

Pictures pictures!!

Great Fish'n - Friends.

[Allen Morgan]

Johnny, THANK YOU!!!!  I just got a chartreuse-dyed fox tail a few weeks ago, and have yet to do anything with it.  With the pic you posted as a starting point, I can begin playing with tying things.

I may need to get a few more fox tails.......

[Eric Pierce]

A place I get a lot of my stuff when I can is ARKIE lures. they have a lot of pan fish sized items . you can find them on the web. Hope this helps...