Terminal Tackle-Weights and Jig heads? How many sizes?

[5/0]

Hoping for some help on how many different styles and weights I can get by with? I now have a 3600 box that contains:

 

Bullet weights in 3/16, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. Do I need all these? Can I get rid of the 3/16 and get by with the 1/4?

 

Football and Arkie heads in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4. Can get rid of the 3/8?

 

P (Round), Dart, and Shaky heads in 3/16 and 1/4. Can I get by with 1/4, eliminate the 3/16 and add a weight in it's place?

 

D/S in 1/4 and 3/8. Would I need anything heavier?

 

I also carry hooks, beads, sinker stops, and some swivels in this box.

 

Any help/advise would be appreciated!

 

Thanks....Joe

 

[The Bassman]

Depends entirely on where you're fishing and what you're fishing with.

[CroakHunter]

I believe your thinking is correct. I keep 1/4, 3/8, amd 3/4 weights, 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 jigs, and 1/4 shakey heads, and 1/4 and 3/8 drop shot weights. If you are dialed in on a bite that is focused on fall rare you can usually change lures or trailers to achieve appropriate weight. For example, I got on a magnum rage bug bite that the only way they would bite is if it was with a 3/8  ounce weight pegged. 

[MassYak85]

I generally keep it simple with weights, because like @CroakHunter said you can change other things to control sink rates if need be. The one thing I do keep a good assortment of is hook sizes because matching the hook to the bait is pretty important for hook-up as well as getting the most action out of your bait. 

[jbsoonerfan]

I have 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 oz in bullet weights. Sometimes I have found a big difference between a 3/16 and 1/4 on the same day on the same rod and reel with the same bait.

[5/0]

Wow Kicker, that's a 1/16 difference between 1/8 and 3/16, and between 3/16 and 1/4. I see your logic though. But at this point my main concern is feeling the bottom. Hits on the fall i'll have to learn by experience.

[Dens228]

All my jigs are 3/8 oz..........although I did just buy a couple 1 1/4 oz punching jigs to try that technique this coming season.   

Bullet weights are all under 1/2 oz

[Paul Roberts]

For me... over the years, I've fished all depths and speeds, water densities, current, for different species. And I'm a bit of a jig-head nut. So I have weights and jigs that run the gamut.

 

Nowadays, my bass waters are pretty shallow, and the majority of my fishing is in less than 12ft. But I fish year round here, even between ice-ups, and can have heavy vegetation in summer. So, I may use weights and jig heads from 1/32 to as much as 3/4.

 

I tend to choose outfits, and the line diameter, based on conditions. I may bring extra spools along, but normally adjust depth and speed by lure weight.

 

During summer I may use a 1/16oz weight or head for bass in a couple feet of water, and then "punch" into dense milfoil with a 1/2oz or more (different outfits). I often have 1/32's with me, for super-shallow places. It can be surprising how shallow bass can be, and heavier heads just skedaddle too quickly. In my clearer waters, I go as light as possible for DS, and find a 1/16 will do out to 8fow or so -in summer when water is less "syrupy".

 

One pond I fish in mid-winter, I've found a 3/32oz jighead is just right for a slow swim and kill. A 1/16 a tad light (takes longer and less detection), and a 1/8 a bit much (a bit fast, and crashes a bit much).

 

I use a scale to weight my heads, (and sinking lures), bc its surprising how far off they can be.

[J.Vincent]

Everyone fishes differently but this is what I keep on hand to feel confident in 99% of Bass scenarios :

 

With bullet weights including Punch rigs: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1oz 

 

With Skirted Casting or Flipping Jigs: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 1oz

 

With Drop Shot: 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8

 

With Football Heads: 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4

 

With Shaky Head Jigs: 1/8 and 1/4

 

With Tube Jig Heads: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4

 

Swim Jigs: 3/8 and 3/4

 

Weedless Chomper Jig Heads: usually 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 (but my box is now depleted and I haven’t found a vendor with reasonable prices for these)

[Bluebasser86]

Bullet weights I carry 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, and 1oz with a majority being in the 1/4-1/2oz range. 

 

I carry a huge range of jigs, but they're my favorite bait to fish so that probably influences it a lot. I've got 1/8oz micro finesse jigs, up to 1oz football and flipping jigs and every size in between, 3 3700 boxes packed full worth of jigs and I consider that about as simplified as I can get with my jigs. 

 

Shakyheads I use mostly 1/8oz, but I also carry quite a few 1/16 and 1/4, with a few 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, and 1oz. 

 

Darter/swimbait/ball heads I've got in all shapes and sizes because not only does head size vary, but so does hook size and length depending on what I want to do with them. 

 

I suck at dropshotting, I've got 1/8 and 1/4oz and a couple heavier in sizes I don't know what they are and that's way more than I really need. 

[Bankbeater]

I carry bullet weights in 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, and 1/2 ounce.  The size weight I use depends on wind, water depth, cover I'm fishing in, and the size of the plastic I am using.

 

I use to carry a bunch of different size jigs with me, but over the years I have gotten to where I carry 1/8, 3/8, and 1/2 ounce jigs.  If I'm fishing in water that is 20 or so feet or deeper, or punching, then I will bring along the 3/4, and 1 ounce jigs. 

 

 

[Catt]

Rate Of Fall is most important factor when fishing Texas Rigs or a Jig-n-Craw!

 

Until y'all understand this you will never see the full fish catching potential of these two techniques.

 

The vast majority of your strike will occur on the initial fall.

 

I don't care whose name is on that sack of worms or how deep the water is or how hard the wind is blowing, if the rate of fall is off ya aint getting bit!

 

I've caught bass on weightless Wacky Worms in 12-14' of water & I've had em stop a 1 oz jig before it hit bottom in 10' of water.

 

Bullet Weights 1/64 through 1 1/2 oz

 

Jig-n-Craw 1/8 through 1 1/2 oz

 

[5/0]

thanks all!

[Fishin Dad]

Catt,

 

i completely agree and have had some ah-ha moments with rate of fall.   Do you determine rate of fall through trial and error or do you have a “system” of sorts?

 

Thanks