Jigs with O'Shaughnessy hooks?

[Fishingintheweeds]

I bought some jigs way back when, before I'd ever gotten anything in them or had any idea exactly what to do with them and so didn't payattention to any of the details. A few of the football heads have O'Shaughnessy hooks on them. I haven't tied these on in...hmmm, years now, based on my experiences with good jigs with good round bend hooks and what I've heard others say about getting good hook sets.

 

I look at them and just don't feel right or confident about the hook. To me, bites are something you have to work to get and so, I'm all for trying a lure out to see if it works but the idea of trying out a lure that I know works but has a hook that might lose the fish isn't as appealing to me. 

 

Am I being dramatic or are these hooks fine? What is the purpose for this hook on a jig?

[Choporoz]

I'd be totally shocked if I ever looked at a jig and said "that's got an O'shaughnessy bend"

 

I can barely tell the difference from round when two are side by side.  I mean, I get that they're 'different'...but, not so much that I'd ever think to care...I don't think.  I have enough to worry about with wide gaps, offsets, line-tie angle, etc. 

   

   Besides, even if I were to get 'guidance' on best bend shape for particular jig, I would probably ignore it.  With jigs, especially, I need to throw out most of what I read about it until I actually throw the jig.  The way I fish different cover is subtly different than how anyone else does.  Seems trite, but it is true....I need a jig that comes through the cover I fish without hanging and then sticks fish.  Everything else is secondary, and I won't know until I try one.   I just can't make any generalizations except about the way I fish. 

[Team9nine]

32 minutes ago, Fishingintheweeds said:

I bought some jigs way back when, before I'd ever gotten anything in them or had any idea exactly what to do with them and so didn't payattention to any of the details. A few of the football heads have O'Shaughnessy hooks on them. I haven't tied these on in...hmmm, years now, based on my experiences with good jigs with good round bend hooks and what I've heard others say about getting good hook sets.

 

I look at them and just don't feel right or confident about the hook. To me, bites are something you have to work to get and so, I'm all for trying a lure out to see if it works but the idea of trying out a lure that I know works but has a hook that might lose the fish isn't as appealing to me. 

 

Am I being dramatic or are these hooks fine? What is the purpose for this hook on a jig?

You're being overly dramatic  An O'Shaughnessy is stronger and will hold a fish better than a round bend in most instances, and on a football head dragging on the cast, probably hook better than a round bend due to design.

[WRB]

O'Shuagnessey were very popular jig hooks, Eagle Claw #530 commonly used for football jigs. Gamakatsu #111 for example is a modern O'Shuangnessy bend 90 degree jig hook that I used for 2 decades until #114 forged round bend jig hook because it is availble in black nickle finish and very strong lighter wire hook.

Round bends were called Aberdeen style hook years ago and considered weaker then O' Shuagnessey of equal wire dia until today's high strength tempered wire being used.

If you have Eagle Claw or Mustad older bronze color hooks you need to sharpen them and check them for sharpness during use.

Tom

[Deleted account]

Nope, they haven't worked since the early 90s, send them to me for proper disposal.

Seriously, They will work as well as any other, the size and sharpness is what's important. Most salt water jigs (some of which I catch bass with every year) are Irish. 

[NHBull]

I am replacing all but the biggest trebles with O'Shaugnessey's.  Far better landing rates on poppers, Jerks and some CB

[Fishingintheweeds]

6 hours ago, NHBull said:

I am replacing all but the biggest trebles with O'Shaugnessey's.  Far better landing rates on poppers, Jerks and some CB

I switched out trebles for some of the Owner replacement hooks. But haven't gotten a chance to try them out yet. Are they similar? If so, do they hook up as well? 

6 hours ago, reason said:

Nope, they haven't worked since the early 90s, send them to me for proper disposal.

 

Dah! I KNEW IT!!!