weed guards on Jigs

[gbassman519]

Gerald swindle uses heat shrinks on his  so it  won't get hung up as much makeing them stiffer BUT even tho he trims the bristels won't it make it harder for the  fish to bite down and reach the hook ?

[Jig Man]

I’d like to see that.  Do you have a link?

[gbassman519]

google Gerald swindle, he's got video of it  on there

 

[Bird]

I actually trim the guards, spread them and mash them closer to the hook and seldom hang.

But I'm not gonna be the one to tell Greg he's doing it wrong ?

[Team9nine]

Sort of - but there are two forces involved; the fish biting down and the hookset moving the jig in the fishes mouth. I’m guessing the latter plays as big a role in weedguard compression as the former. It’s a balance that you just have to play with and decide where your comfort level lies. Lots of variables involved.

[garroyo130]

im guessing he does this for flipping and pitching and as mentioned, the slight increase in pressure needed to bend the weedguard is more than offset by the heavy rod/line.

[WRB]

Weed guard is only needed to prevent snagging the hook point otherwise it isn’t needed.

The punch rig doesn’t use a weed guard for example the soft plastic protects the hook point, same can be done using a jig.

Tom

[Smells like fish]

How about this nearly vertical brush guard compared to the angle of the one below it? It’s the only one they sent in this condition. Wrong angle and wasn’t trimmed. Perhaps a new worker. 

Here’s a 2nd Punisher with a guard extending to the point. 

[Smells like fish]

After a little training it laid over

 

Punisher also had the 2 wire variety. What is you guys thoughts comparing the wire type to bristles?

[softwateronly]

50 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

After a little training it laid over

 

Punisher also had the 2 wire variety. What is you guys thoughts comparing the wire type to bristles?

 

I've only fished the 2 wire punisher, and it stands up to weeds better than I expected, but in my lake the effectiveness of the jig goes down post memorial day when the weeds have fully come in.  The 2 wire punisher has a tremendous hook up percentage for me.  Feels like if I react properly, I miss nothing.  In the summer, I usually move to DJ Canterbuy compact flippin jig.  Looking to get a DHT order going soon to try out bristle guard and refill the original punisher.

 

scott

 

[Boomstick]

4 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

im guessing he does this for flipping and pitching and as mentioned, the slight increase in pressure needed to bend the weedguard is more than offset by the heavy rod/line.

This is my thoughts exactly. If you are fishing with heavy braid on a heavy rod, a stiffer weed guard  becomes less problematic.

[PressuredFishing]

I am very new to jig fishing, but I've found rubber skirted jig fishing with weed guards takes heavier gear and less stretchy line than worming. I lost a lot of fish just coming off because I was using too light and stretchy of equipment. I got Japanese jigs and it solved the problem.

[LrgmouthShad]

27 minutes ago, PressuredFishing said:

I am very new to jig fishing, but I've found rubber skirted jig fishing with weed guards takes heavier gear and less stretchy line than worming. I lost a lot of fish just coming off because I was using too light and stretchy of equipment. I got Japanese jigs and it solved the problem.

What do you consider stretchy line? 
 

I agree with heavier gear if it is required… and for the jigs I like to use it often seems to be required. 
 

iRod 704C, 15lb big game, tighter drag than usual around 6lbs is what I like for jig fishing. 
 

Everybody’s got their groove though and if it works for you, so be it

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

iRod 704C, 15lb big game, tighter drag than usual around 6lbs is what I like for jig fishing. 

Fishing jigs for me...

Last year it was a Fury 704C, 15# Tatsu with drag set to about 5#

Next year it'll be a Victory 7'3" H/MF with the 15# Tatsu and 5# drag

[LrgmouthShad]

13 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Fishing jigs for me...

Last year it was a Fury 704C, 15# Tatsu with drag set to about 5#

Next year it'll be a Victory 7'3" H/MF with the 15# Tatsu and 5# drag

Sounds like we are close

[PressuredFishing]

19 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

15lb big game, tighter drag than usual around 6lbs is what I like for jig fishing. 

I used 15lb big-game and a heavy action slx, worked much much better as you said! I was using 10lb omniflex on a medium heavy moderateish fast, just didn't have enough power to drive the huge bass jigs in!

[Catt]

Everyone has their own personal repertoire of confusion that works for them.

 

Ya gotta leave the weedgaurd alone, ya gotta trim the weedgaurd, ya gotta thin the weedgaurd out, ya gotta flex-n-fan the weedgaurd out.

 

Personally I buy quality jigs & seldom have to touch anything. That's a Hack Attack Fluorocarbon Jig, no adjustment required.

 

[rangerjockey]

17 hours ago, Smells like fish said:

After a little training it laid over

 

Punisher also had the 2 wire variety. What is you guys thoughts comparing the wire type to bristles?

They make the weed guards too long so you can trim them to your liking. I would cut that one about even with the hook point.

[Munkin]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

Everyone has their own personal repertoire of confusion that works for them.

 

Ya gotta leave the weedgaurd alone, ya gotta trim the weedgaurd, ya gotta thin the weedgaurd out, ya gotta flex-n-fan the weedgaurd out.

 

Personally I buy quality jigs & seldom have to touch anything. That's a Hack Attack Fluorocarbon Jig, no adjustment required.

 

 

Thought you only used Oldham jigs?

 

Allen 

[Catt]

3 hours ago, Munkin said:

 

Thought you only used Oldham jigs?

 

Allen 

 

I throw Oldham's, Hack Attack, or Siebert Outdoors. 

 

Hack Attack is the only ones I can find locally the other 2 I have to order online. So when I need em in a hurry I buy Hack Attack.

[Mike L]

Admittedly I don’t throw jigs much at all. Right or wrong I always feel a well chosen t-rigged plastic with or without an added punch skirt if needed, is the better choice in where and how I fish. 
 

Anyway, I tied a Nu-Tech double weed guard jig that a friend used and must admit that double guard had me rethinking it a little bit. 
 

We’ll see

 

 

 

Mike

[Str8BraidPowa]

On 12/17/2022 at 9:45 AM, gbassman519 said:

Gerald swindle uses heat shrinks on his  so it  won't get hung up as much makeing them stiffer BUT even tho he trims the bristels won't it make it harder for the  fish to bite down and reach the hook ?

I tend to fish similarly to him... well at least as far as my methods not success. He cracks his hook sets really hard and also fishes in the brush and cover a lot. If you do this I think its a recipe for success. If you have a softer sweeping hook set it may not be for you. I am heavy handed and a big guy I don't have an issue driving the hook with this setup. I also have had better success with a lighter power rod, my land ratio went up when I put down the heavy for medium heavy. Just my .02