My Evolution Jig review

[Trevor in Burke]

My initial response is eh, because on my first flip I brought back a nice stick I had to dig the hook out of, don't get me wrong the positives out way the negatives but for my type of fishing the negative is HUGE, and I didn't even get to examine the presentation before my first snag.

I really only use jigs in HEAVY cover whether it's lots of timber, grass or lillys and I had a lot of trouble in cover, I was snagging more stems and branches than ever when I was creeping and crawling the bait over and through different structures.

I believe this is due to the fluorcarbon weed guard(-). I really don't fish jigs in open water unless it's colder and this jig to me is an open water jig, better on rocks, shelves and drop offs not in the THICK.

To me the fluorcarbon weed guard is a let down, it does dissapear, which is nice, but it doesn't protect very well in comparrison to some other jigs I use in THICK stuff, especially at 5 dollars a jig, but I do really like the skid plate and it works GREAT, the skirt flare is AWESOME(+++), it's like a cobra hood that flares out, as well and the trailer positioning caused from the skid plate is not duplicated by any other jig I'VE seen, it looks like a crawfish in defensive mode(+++).

I'd like to say it's an all around awesome jig for open water fishing but not for MY type of jig fishing, which again is in THICK cover and because of that I give it a 3 out of 5 mainly because I was expecting better protection from the weed guard, and that's a BIG deal to me, especially at 5 dollars a jig . I am also disappointed it doesn't have a rattle.

Again, My advise... use it in open water and near cover and structure but not in the middle of thick cover or structure, if you do, it won't last long as the fluorcarbon weed guard is easily really takes a beating when you snag something and it doesn't recover well, It gets bent and messed up after your first snag.

[Trevor in Burke]

anyone have any input?

[Brian_Reeves]

I've seen some similiar reviews in the past. I posted the same thing that you did. Around heavy, nasty cover, there are better jigs. Head design and fiber density on some other jigs are just better for the nasty stuff. I do like the heavier evo jigs for deeper water structure fishing though. They work out pretty good on gin clear lakes. I have a few tucked away in a specialty box for tournaments.

The Evolution jig is a great jig with an outstanding design.  It just needs to be used for its strengths, like any other jig.

[BadKarma42]

So if I understand your review, the "heavy cover" jigs are not appropriate for heavy cover?

[BadKarma42]

What jig would you recommend for heavy cover?

[roadwarrior]

The Evolution jig is a great jig with an outstanding design. It just needs to be used for its strengths, like any other jig.

For me the stand-up design is a winner, especially right now when the bottom of my ponds are covered with gunk. In a rocky environment, the jig head design makes the jig stand up and the trailer takes a defensive stance. I really like the jig, but it fits my style for the structure I fish. In heavy cover, I lose jigs...period.  So, I guess I have not noticed any big difference, but I understand the point being made.

8-)

[dave]

I think I remember Bobby mentioning that the weed guard was being upgraded to a heavier flouro.  Maybe you have the older versions?  Maybe not.

[Trevor in Burke]

I don't really have a particuler reccomendation, I've just never had that problem with the other typical jigs with WIRE weed guards, but those typical jigs don't display nearly as well as the evo imo, the flare on the skirt is awesome as well as the trailer display, I just wish I could get that display in the thick, it's one of a kind.  I don't really find it neccessary to have a transparent weed guard in the water i fish, i wish it was offered eitherway, wire or flouro... but i understand why they chose that, the flare of the skirt leaves it very displayed

i'd love a reccommendation for a heavy cover jig myself...

[Tokyo Tony]

i'd love a reccommendation for a heavy cover jig myself...

Jewel Eakin's jig. That's all I use in the thick stuff. You might not like it because the skirt is pretty thin, but pair it up with a Gary Y Flappin' Hawg and there's no need to make the profile bigger  

[Trevor in Burke]

Thanks Tony! I'll look into it, another one i was told about by the store i buy most my stuff online from was the boogerman rattlin jig

[Chad.]

i agree i was using the new one in shallow cover the flouro weed gaurd doesnt cut it.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Hmmm I dont get it. I havent had any issues with the weedguard.Is the point of the hook embedding into the cover or is the jig just getting hung up

[Trevor in Burke]

my experience was that anything remotely firm easily pushes the weed guard exposing the hook and it snags anything it rubs against, even lily stems and small branches.  Everytime I pulled it oversomething in or out of water it easily snagged instead of glazing over, like other wire weed guards do.  I love EVERYTHING ELSE about the jig though, just not the weed guard.  Again, the display of the jig underwater is unmistakeable and not duplicated by another. (to my knowledge)

[Chad.]

Hmmm I dont get it. I havent had any issues with the weedguard.Is the point of the hook embedding into the cover or is the jig just getting hung up

You need a really stiff flourocarbon weedgaurd

[Trevor in Burke]

Hmmm I dont get it. I havent had any issues with the weedguard.Is the point of the hook embedding into the cover or is the jig just getting hung up

You need a really stiff flourocarbon weedgaurd

it also has a lot of memory, once you dislodge said obstruction from the hook your weed guard remains bent and out of place and is very difficult to reset

[Bobby Uhrig]

We actually used a light gauge fluoro for the finesse jigs and 10 lb heavier on the 3/8  1/2  and 3/4   .. Now I have to go fishing and go check it out. On the new EVO2's I never get hung up.

[The_Natural]

I haven't had a problem with the weedguard, however, the jig snags branches a little more in heavy cover versus a tradition design due to the counterbalance weight.  I do think this is an ingenious design though, and I use mine for sparse cover and rocky points/ledges.  I have several jigs I use and all have their time and place.  The Evolution Jig is just one of my 'irons' in my jig bag.

[Chad.]

We actually used a light gauge fluoro for the finesse jigs and 10 lb heavier on the 3/8  1/2  and 3/4   .. Now I have to go fishing and go check it out. On the new EVO2's I never get hung up.

We'll it wouldn't hurt to put a stiffer weedgaurd on there imho.

[Trevor in Burke]

Thanks for you input Bobby, I'll await your words.... 8-)

[earthworm77]

I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder here. I've never used an Evolution jig as I make my own jigs but I know a little about the Eakins and I can tell you it is more at home, well, it was designed for skipping under docks rather than being worked through heavy snags. It is a modified ball head and really that is not the best choice for weedless-ness. You've got to consider that the hook is not the only place that you can pick up snags. The line tie area and where the head and line tie come together are notorious for catching on things.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Here is a picture of the New EVO 2 JIG. It is the next generation of Evolution Jigs. Smaller profile-stiffer weedguard-made of lead-powdercoated- The Best jig ever -It will be debuted at ICAST Next week. They are available now-call 732-780-7383

[Bobby Uhrig]

It also has a killer Gamakatsu 4/O Flippin Hook- DOT THAT BASSTIDS EYE

[tyrius.]

We'll it wouldn't hurt to put a stiffer weedgaurd on there imho.

Sure it would.  A stiffer weedguard makes hooksets more difficult so you miss more fish.  

[tyrius.]

I really only use jigs in HEAVY cover whether it's lots of timber, grass or lillys and I had a lot of trouble in cover, I was snagging more stems and branches than ever when I was creeping and crawling the bait over and through different structures.

I believe this is due to the fluorcarbon weed guard(-). I really don't fish jigs in open water unless it's colder and this jig to me is an open water jig, better on rocks, shelves and drop offs not in the THICK.

I would attribute it more to the the type of jig head on the Evo.  It isn't going to come through sticks, lily pads, grass, weeds, etc nearly as well as something like a poison head or arkie style jig head.  In the type of cover you listed I'd fish a GMAN's wide gap jig.

http://www.custombassfishinglures.com/index.php/jigs-widgap

[Bobby Uhrig]

I am not a big fan of stiff weedguards. I have set hooks on fish  with stiff weedguards and never got a stick in them. ESPECIALLY on hooksets that are far away.Longer casts ect. Every yard of line thats out there  takes more power to set the hook. By the time the strike is detected-bend in the rod-linestretch-  stiff weedguard = deferred power to the hookpoint- Ya have to find a happy medium-