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rusteegmc
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Over the last year I've started to use the the clam tungsten jigs. They are a little more costly, but its a game changer to have the same weight jig be considerably smaller. Having the same amount of weight in a smaller jig reduces the drag helping keep your line more vertical when drift jigging or jigging in current. Plus I've usually tried to fish the smallest jig that i can still effectivly get down to depth, and feel bottom with. For leeches, I really like using swivel head jigs. I dont know if it actually makes a difference but when you drop it in the water on the side of the boat and watch it, it does have pretty cool action that I like to believe helps.
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nofish
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Painted eyelets are common among many jig brands. When I buy new jigs I take a few minutes and clear the eyelets of paint before they go into my tackle box. That way any jig I grab will be ready to go right away.
As for the hooks bending that can at times be advantageous. It will allow you to get yourself free of snags a bit easier. Just make sure to bend the hook back before the next cast. You do want to make sure the hook doesn't have too much bend so that its bending even under the strain of a fish but some bend is desirable to me.
The one thing I look for in jigs is the durability of the paint. The cheapo jigs will usually chip relatively quickly where as the better brands tend to hold up better. Generally I've had good luck with Northland. The only time I go with the cheap jigs is for river fishing where I know that I'm going to be losing a lot of jigs. In that case they usually get lost to a snag before the paint chips off. Although I do have a couple now that have dodged the snap bullet and the bait is pretty much worn off at this point. I keep them in the box as sort of a trophy to all the fish they've caught even though I'm not lively to use them again.
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oth
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A few red 'jack roll' shorts left in supply, fireballs, or some short shank 'aspirin-head' jigs that I pour and heat paint.
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PowerLizard
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Wables: "Make you own and use powder paints. You will quickly learn to clean the eyes before baking them, and then it’s a non issue when you go to use them. It’s a little expensive to get into, but a relaxing hobby. I made 1,400 jigs last year, and repaid my investment several times over. BTW, that was for 3 of us and I bet we lost 500 of them over the summer. "
You need to be careful of lead poisoning through the excessive handling of lead. At a minimum, I recommend wearing some sort of gloves. Leather gloves when melting lead and latex gloves when handling the cooled lead jig heads. Above all, wash your hands thoroughly when you are done working.
I don’t go through enough jig heads to justify making my own. I do use a jig eye buster when I open a new package of painted jig heads. I clean the jig heads, put them into a tackle box and then wash my hands.
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Wables
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Make you own and use powder paints. You will quickly learn to clean the eyes before baking them, and then it’s a non issue when you go to use them. It’s a little expensive to get into, but a relaxing hobby. I made 1,400 jigs last year, and repaid my investment several times over. BTW, that was for 3 of us and I bet we lost 500 of them over the summer.
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Outdoorsfan69
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Some of the best lead jig heads I have found are Eagle Claw. Super stiff and sharp. A lot fewer straightened hooks since I started using them. Found them at a local Sportsmans Warehouse, in a variety of weights.
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Lannie
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Northland RZ jigs are the best in my honest opinion. The eyes are already cleaned out straight out of the package. Paint is the best out there. Lots of color options. Not that cheap but have 1/8 oz, 3/8th oz and 1/4 oz. I have bought the BPS/Cabelas and busted out the paint with with an eye buster only to have 1/3 of the paint come off the entire jig. The hook strength on the RZ jigs is strong as any I have seen and used. Hooks are extremely sharp and can be sharpened. If you use them, you will not be disappointed.
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thegildedgopher
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For something different, check out the h20 and draggin jigs by B-Fish-n tackle. They’re designed for river use but I’ve caught plenty of lake fish with them as well. Same company makes killer plastics under the Authentx name. Out of the red wing area I believe. Or maybe from Iowa? As for the paint in the eye, I’ve yet to find a jig where this is never an issue, but these seem to give me fewer issues than others. The Nortland bulk ones always seem sloppily globbed over with more paint than is necessary.
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ManAndDog
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Last year I bought a bulk pack of like 30 jig heads in a couple different sizes. I think they were BPS brand, but I'm not completely sure. I did not like them because they had paint clogging the hole so I had to poke each one out in order to fit my line through, and the hooks got bent every time i was snagged on a rock and sometimes even just from fighting a fish.
If anyone is kind enough to share, what is your go-to brand for jig heads?
I usually go with 1/4 oz in white, if anyone wants to also chime in on weight and color.
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buzz17
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VMC Mooneye and short shank purple/chartreuse first, then whatever color I have on hand.
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lundojam
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I actually like that bendy hook for getting snags out. You can find jigs designed for saltwater that won't bend on the interwebs. Unpainted jigs are an economical choice with no paint in the eye and usually work just fine; if you'd like some color add a little hunk of a plastic worm or grub.
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Savage Voyageur
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I use Northland fireball jigs. If you find that paint is in the eye just get the tool for removing the paint, it really works slick.
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IcePaddler
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Lindy makes jigs with paint free eyes.
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arnesr
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AmarilloJim: "I make my own but what you describe is pretty common. Just punch your jigs when u buy them and bend your hooks back when unsnagged."
I'll second this. I make my own as well and prefer a red sickle hook. I try to clean out the eyes before the trip so I'm not wasting time on the water that I could be fishing. I have tried the eye busters and they work ok, but they wear out eventually. What I found works fairly well is I bought a box of heavy large saltwater hooks, probably 9-10/0 and I toss one of them in my box. The larger hook is easier to handle and I do not dull the hooks on the jigs I intend to use.
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bobbernumber3
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I think you will find all brands have the hook eyes painted over.
eyebuster
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walllee
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Northland jigs .
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AmarilloJim
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I make my own but what you describe is pretty common. Just punch your jigs when u buy them and bend your hooks back when unsnagged.
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Cretbo
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In the BWCA ... love this color jig head and durability:
lost Creek .... Black with yellow dot:
THIS JIG
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Wally13
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Like Walllee I am partial to Northland Jigs. I mainly use Fire-Ball, Whistler and Weed Weasel jigs.
Northland Tackle Jigs
I also use VMC Mooneye jigs for walleye fishing. Chartreuse, Chartreuse/Orange, and Glow and Blue Fire UV and Pink Fire UV (for stained water). Moon Eye jigs are aspirin shaped and have premium high-carbon steel hooks. I like the
VMC Moon Eye Jigs
There are many jig eye cleaning tools available that will remove paint from jig eyes. Here's one from Northland that has a lanyard and another from Cabelas that doesn't have a lanyard.
Northland Jig Eye Cleaner Cabelas Jig Fishermans Eyebuster
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