Thread: Deep-hooking issues

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Well here is one for all to ponder and give opinions as to the why...or maybe why. Since I started using the Daiwa Gekkabijin jig heads I've been gut hooking too many bluegill using my twitch retrieve method. A member on the forum...who is a crappie fisherman of note.....has been watching my videos for a while now. He made the comment a while back about how surprised he was that I was hooking those fish so deep with a jig. Since he told me that......and some PETA trolls on youtube made some snide remarks about it.....I of course blocked them...I now try to edit the gut hooking part out. It was the same on a few in my latest shellcracker video. There are a few on here that use those jig heads and know just how sharp they are....and believe me when I tell you they are needle sharp. My theory is that using the ultra sharp jig heads....the no stretch polyester line...and many times the JDM rods I use have extremely fast action....that when all that comes into play I am seeing the results of just how far a bluegill/shellcracker suck that lure in. Keep in mind I am not working this jig like most work a jig. I keep it fluttering and am always reeling it back towards me. All I know is before I started using these jig heads exclusively this did not happen. I don't gut hook crappie.....KY bass......Smallies with these jig heads. I do gut hook white bass using the twitch method but I have been gut hooking them forever......no matter the lure or jig head. I have the disgorger that Disco recommend....and yesterday I don't think any fish were hurt from being so deeply hooked. So what say ye?.....LOL.

Interesting ...

What size hook do those jig heads have? Can you post a pic?

It seems like it would have to be related to hook size/jig head shape. I'm still using the 1/64 Trout Magnet heads, and nothing swallows them. I regularly hook trout and catfish on the TM heads ... and no gut-hooking.

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

... using the ultra sharp jig heads....the no stretch polyester line...and many times the JDM rods I use have extremely fast action....

IMO, this is a recipe for not gut-hooking fish. Your outfit is so sensitive, it seems like you would be pulling the jig out of the fish's mouth, rather than them taking it deep.

Hmmm ...

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

... I started using the Daiwa Gekkabijin jig heads ....and believe me when I tell you they are needle sharp.

Are the hooks barbless? A barbless hook won't stop the gut-hooking, but it will make extraction easier.

I mash the barbs down on my jigs.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Interesting ...

What size hook do those jig heads have? Can you post a pic?

It seems like it would have to be related to hook size/jig head shape. I'm still using the 1/64 Trout Magnet heads, and nothing swallows them. I regularly hook trout and catfish on the TM heads ... and no gut-hooking.

I have them with size....10.....8.....6. I do not gut hook trout either. Here is another bit of info. The lighter the jig head the more often the gut hooking occurs. In the photo from left to right 1.5 gram with #8 hook.....1 gram with #8 hook......1/2 gram with #8 hook...and the bottom is a 1 gram with a #6 hook. I use mostly the #8 but at times will use the #6 hook for bluegill.

Regards

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

The lighter the jig head the more often the gut hooking occurs.

With a lighter head, you should have less feel, so that seems reasonable. However, a 1/2 gm head is close in size to the 1/64 oz TM head -- and you never had gut-hooking problems with the TM head.

Hmmm ...

I remember watching a video from 13 Fishing about their jig head design that hooked the bluegills as they inhailed the lure and spit it back out in mind numbing speed. Perhaps using the power wiggler bit fools them into taking it deeper than they would with just a non-tipped jig.

Sent from my KFSUWI using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Originally Posted by slowhand

I remember watching a video from 13 Fishing about their jig head design that hooked the bluegills as they inhailed the lure and spit it back out in mind numbing speed. Perhaps using the power wiggler bit fools them into taking it deeper than they would with just a non-tipped jig.

Sent from my KFSUWI using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Been using the Power Wiggler tip for a lot of years now. Never had this issue until now. I also have the 13 Fishing Upper Cut jig head....not many micro jig heads I have not tried. Didn't gut hook any with the 13 Fishing jig heads either. I have a jig head to try that has the design of the 13 Fishing Upper Cut jig head. It is out of Japan also...made by Tict.....but the hook is far sharper than the 13 Fishing hook. With the Daiwa Gekkabijin jig head I have found my jig head. I don't even want to say how many I have purchased.....LOL. I can't stress enough just how sharp these things are. If not careful just getting one out of the package can put it in your finger. They do have barbs...but they are micro barbs...which I like and make it somewhat easier to disgorge. Sorry jawjatek..didn't mean to hijack your post. Got carried away on the gut hooking thing.


Regards

No problem, Randy. This stuff is very informative. I am real interested in using a jig head with wigglers if it will cut down on deep-hooked fish. It is hard on the fish, even though I do not try to get the hook out, and just cut the line. It is also a pain having to take time to re-tie when the action is hot. I only use the palomar knot with the fine 2 lb lines, and have to keep some cheap reading glasses handy in the tackle box.

Seems a jig+worm would also be good for getting under those overhanging trees by "shooting the jig" under there - but not with a JDM rod, no. The 6'3" Cadence with xtra-fast tip is a great dock shooting rod, and $75 is cheaper than $325 - you don't need to be an engineer to do THAT math!