Weedless Bass Jig - In Mouth Position

[Bartableman7]

It seems that a jig guard would have to be compressed AND the jig NOT flat in the mouth for a bass to be hooked without sliding out of the mouth.  I fish deep open water with football jigs but I cut off the weed guards.  I don't think I ever miss a fish.  Am I wasting my time cutting off the guards?  Do the bass compress the guard to the hook point anyway?  I'd love to see inside the mouth of the bass and see the hooking process.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Simple answer,  which is an opinionated one, yes. You are wasting your time cutting off the hook guards. 

 

Why not buy jigs without the hook guard? Save the ones with for cover. 

[MN Fisher]

You're gonna want those hook-guards if you toss the jig into the slop...which is where a lot of bass hide out in the summer.

 

NGB got it right - get another set of jigs without hook-guards for tossing in the clear.

[A-Jay]

On 1/8/2020 at 12:27 PM, Bartableman7 said:

It seems that a jig guard would have to be compressed AND the jig NOT flat in the mouth for a bass to be hooked without sliding out of the mouth.  I fish deep open water with football jigs but I cut off the weed guards.  I don't think I ever miss a fish.  Am I wasting my time cutting off the guards?  Do the bass compress the guard to the hook point anyway?  I'd love to see inside the mouth of the bass and see the hooking process.

When presenting a jig in any situation that has sufficient cover (weeds) to hang up or foul the bait enough to prevent presenting it properly, I prefer a weed guard.

Can't say that they reduce hook ups but they definitely improves my presentation where needed.

 In areas where there is a hard or mostly open bottom, void of the type of cover mentioned above, I may not use a jig head that has a weed guard. Simply slide a skirt & trailer on a football jig.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-MUSTADTT.html?from=basres

 Seems a more cost effective option rather than cutting them off. 

A-Jay

[J Francho]

Weed guard is a misnomer.  It only serves as hang up prevention.  It does nothing for weeds, but in your case, this is n't an issue.  If I were you, I'd just buy jigs with no weed guard, since it doesn't present a problem.  That said, I would have no clue what position the jig is in their mouth, but if I set the hook when I think I detect a bite (and it's actually a bite) I don't miss too many fish, so  it must not be an issue for me.

[WRB]

I only use jigs with a weedgaurd in heavy cover, otherwise no fiber weedgauard.

What I do use is a hitchhiker spring attached to the hook eye with a 2" piece of finesse worm to protect the hook point, works good for me.

Tom

PS, GYCB has football jigs with Gamakatsu or Owner hooks with a wire weed gaurd that works good.

[Harold Scoggins]

[Fishin Dad]

On 1/8/2020 at 3:22 PM, WRB said:

I only use jigs with a weedgaurd in heavy cover, otherwise no fiber weedgauard.

What I do use is a hitchhiker spring attached to the hook eye with a 2" piece of finesse worm to protect the hook point, works good for me.

Tom

PS, GYCB has football jigs with Gamakatsu or Owner hooks with a wire weed gaurd that works good.

Tom, this idea has interested me.  I assume you put your trailer on (craw, chunk, etc.) then use a thin piece of worm after.  Do you need to find a wider gap hook on those jigs to make room with two pieces of plastic on the hook, or does the small worm not affect hook ups.   I am going to give this a try.