What jig heads/hooks does everyone use on their A Rig?

[Luke Barnes]

I have a bunch of SK Squadron swimbait heads but tuehe soft plastic keeper on them are just so darn big and blow out the nose of narrower swimbaits. I picked up some belly weighted EWG hooks and have screw lock belly weighted hooks as well but i know an open hook jig head will have the best hookup ratio. So I'm trying to decide which ones to go with that have a small keeper. Will buy some in 1/8 and 1/16oz. 

 

So what do you all use?

[rangerjockey]

I use a 1/8 oz. ball head. Personally, I like a light wire so I bend it out if the thing gets hung up.

 

[Jig Man]

I make my own and use a version of the flash mob so I pour 1/16 ball head on a 4/0 light wire hook to hold down the weight and drag.

[CountryboyinDC]

I use the Picasso Smartmouth swimbait jig heads.  I looked at a picture of the SK one, and I believe you'll find the Picasso keeper considerably smaller.  That said, I don't use particularly slender soft plastics on mine.  Usually a 4.3 Keitech fat or a 3.5 or 5 inch Yum Money minnow.  I rarely use over 1/8 oz on Alabama rigs, but I will run the bottom wire with a heavier jig than the others.

[Luke Barnes]

I want to use 1/16oz on top and 1/8oz on bottom. I'm using a Flash Mob Jr if that makes any difference. 

 

Zoom Swimmin Flukes have a super narrow nose and the squadron heads blew the nose out of two. I'll still use it but it looks weird. My goal is to have a ton of heads rigged up so I can just swap them out depending on water clarity and forage and not have to take the plastics off the hooks and thread different ones on. 

 

For weight savings I even thought about 1/16oz on bottom and unweighted straight shank on top. I'm totally new to this so trying to learn and see what works best. 

[Fishes in trees]

I don't throw the A-rig all that much, however I've found that pretty much all jig head keepers will mess up a soft plastic bait if you let it.  My answer to the issue is super glue.   I try to rig the baits real straight and I put a dab of super blue at the nose and on the back where the hook exits the bait.  Seems to help some.  Next year I'm going to try some of those paddle tail or curly tail  swim baits where the hook/weight  comes molded into the baits.   I think Storm makes some.  That might help some, I'll find out the first fishing trip or two this spring.

[Luke Barnes]

2 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

I don't throw the A-rig all that much, however I've found that pretty much all jig head keepers will mess up a soft plastic bait if you let it.  My answer to the issue is super glue.   I try to rig the baits real straight and I put a dab of super blue at the nose and on the back where the hook exits the bait.  Seems to help some.  Next year I'm going to try some of those paddle tail or curly tail  swim baits where the hook/weight  comes molded into the baits.   I think Storm makes some.  That might help some, I'll find out the first fishing trip or two this spring.

I never thought about using the pre rigged swimbaits!!!! Berkley makes a big selection of Powerbait ones and Storm makes alot of different models. As long as they aren't too heavy that's genius!

[Fishes in trees]

It is only genius if it works.  I acquired this notion after a few IPA's, sorting through tackle in the fishing shed with the stereo blasting.  I forget if I was listening to the old Who's Next CD, or The Flying Burrito Brothers or Jr Walker & the All Stars.  The one fishing buddy I've mentioned this to thinks it is a dumb idea, because he thinks the pre- rigged swim baits aren't good baits.  My fishing buddy doesn't think much of my CD choices either.  He likes 2 kinds of music - Country and Western.   He doesn't know what to think when I put on Bib Wills (or the Bob Wills cover band - Asleep at the Wheel)  Time will tell.  If you try it before I do, evaluate and post your results.

[Luke Barnes]

12 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

It is only genius if it works.  I acquired this notion after a few IPA's, sorting through tackle in the fishing shed with the stereo blasting.  I forget if I was listening to the old Who's Next CD, or The Flying Burrito Brothers or Jr Walker & the All Stars.  The one fishing buddy I've mentioned this to thinks it is a dumb idea, because he thinks the pre- rigged swim baits aren't good baits.  My fishing buddy doesn't think much of my CD choices either.  He likes 2 kinds of music - Country and Western.   He doesn't know what to think when I put on Bib Wills (or the Bob Wills cover band - Asleep at the Wheel)  Time will tell.  If you try it before I do, evaluate and post your results.

Will do. I'll probably pick up a pack out of curiosity. The Berkley ones come in Powerbait so have that pleasant funk smell to them and Walmart carries them so some random grocery trip I may come home with a pack.