Question About 60 Degree Jig Hooks

[MFBAB]

Does anyone know a good way to open the eye up on a 60 degree Jig Hook without breaking it?

 

I've been trying on the Mustad 32786BLN hooks, but not having any luck. 

I assume they are tempered, but I know I've done this before on other Jig hooks that didn't break, I'm just not sure what make they were because they were on store bought jigs.

 

I'm basically doing this to attach to Shaker Blades (Chatterbait).

 

Any advice on opening up the Mustads I have, or recommendations for a more bendable hook are appreciated!  It just can't be too light of a wire strength because they are for bass fishing, but I'm looking for something in a 3-5/0 size and 60 degree bend. 

 

Thx,

Rob

 

[gulfcaptain]

use two split rings instead of compromising the strenght in the hook by opening it then closing it.  Or just find a horizontal eye'd hook to use only one.  

[cadman]

Does anyone know a good way to open the eye up on a 60 degree Jig Hook without breaking it?

 

I've been trying on the Mustad 32786BLN hooks, but not having any luck. 

I assume they are tempered, but I know I've done this before on other Jig hooks that didn't break, I'm just not sure what make they were because they were on store bought jigs.

 

I'm basically doing this to attach to Shaker Blades (Chatterbait).

 

Any advice on opening up the Mustads I have, or recommendations for a more bendable hook are appreciated!  It just can't be too light of a wire strength because they are for bass fishing, but I'm looking for something in a 3-5/0 size and 60 degree bend. 

 

Thx,

Rob

I agree with gulf captain. Over the years, I have tried to open the hook eyes on many hooks. Some  eyes opened up and some broke. The ones that opened up easily made me nervous, because I didn't know for sure if I compromised the steel wire. I work in sheet metal, and I know for  a fact that if you heat steel hot enough so you can then open the eye without damage to the steel wire. However when you do that, you lose all tempering and or hardening. So unless you know how to re-harden the hook and at what temper, that is not something that can be done by the average person. Just some thoughts.

[MFBAB]

use two split rings instead of compromising the strenght in the hook by opening it then closing it.  Or just find a horizontal eye'd hook to use only one.  

 

Thanks for the replies!

This is the work-around I've been using (the split rings), but I personally like the action A LOT better with a direct connection to the blade. 

 

It doesn't seem to perform the same way at slower retrieve speeds, at least for me.  When I look at it in the water, the whole hook/trailer assembly has a lot more play in it with the swivels, most of that tight wiggle action you get with the direct connection is lost, and then when you really slow down, it just tries to sort of roll instead of wiggling.  

 

Cadman - Points taken about the metal fatigue issues also, I haven't had one bend out on me yet (on the factory jigs I've used) but it's probably just a matter of time

Those Mustads are a really thick hook, and tempered, they tend to just break off rather than bend for me.  I haven't tried heating them up, I'm thinking I'll just keep looking for a little lighter guage hook or just stick to the factory baits. 

[gulfcaptain]

I'd look at using a different head design then.  Siebert uses a football head and that thing has tons of action compaired to Zman's Chatterbait.  And putting a bait with the same head design as a chatterbait but with split rings depending on blade design which might be the difference has more action at slower speeds as well.  What blades are you using for you baits?

[MFBAB]

I'd look at using a different head design then.  Siebert uses a football head and that thing has tons of action compaired to Zman's Chatterbait.  And putting a bait with the same head design as a chatterbait but with split rings depending on blade design which might be the difference has more action at slower speeds as well.  What blades are you using for you baits?

 

The ones Janns sells, I think they call them Shaker blades.  I don't know of any others, are there better?

I have definitely tried FB jigs and other styles behind these blades, with the bent-eye method.  I usually cup the blades a little at the top too. 

 

This current rig is not a standard jighead though. 

I'm more putting the shaker blade in front of a keel-weighted swimbait hook, just a homemade version with the Mustad 60 degree hooks   It falls different than a jig does, and is also totally weedless - this thing comes through anything except thick grass I guess! 

I just need to find the right hook and I'll be set. 

 

I think even a flat-eye hook and one split ring would be an improvement.  With 2 split rings, I can just watch the whole trailer rig rotating about 1/4 turns, rather than wiggling-and totally unsustainable at slow speeds.  It's like a bad electrical connection, it's just losing a lot of energy right at the split ring connection. 

I mean, the trailer is moving A LOT, it's just not the action you want, if that makes sense  

 

I've found a couple of other hook options to try, I just don't know of anywhere to actually look at them here, I was just trying to avoid mail ordering stuff that might not work out. 

[gulfcaptain]

Totally understand, I'd PM Sibert or Bluebasser and ask them some advice and they may be able to direct you the right way to get what you need and the disired action you're looking for without costing you the R & D part.  Another thought, you may be able to use some heavier single strand wire and make a harness and use a worm weight on the front of the hook all attached to the wire then attached to your blade.  Wouldn't matter which way your hook eye was as long as your haywire twist was the right direction with the blade.....just an outside the box idea. 

[MFBAB]

Yep, I thought about wire too.  I haven't tried it yet but it's an option. 

 

Worst case, I go to a flat-eye and 1 split ring, which should still be a noticeable improvement.

Best case, I find a hook that will bend and get the direct connection, although the trade-off is a potentially weaker hook eye....

 

I think This is worth the trouble, I've got a few hours in it bank fishing so far and I can't get the thing hung-up no matter what I try-wood, rock, fish it like a worm, etc...