Best Jig Hook Size for Pitching Plastics?

Now that the fall plastics pitching season is here, I’d like to hear your opinions on the best jig hook size to use for various plastics. For example, 5″ grubs, 4″ Moxies or ringworms, small or large Pulsars or paddle tails. Lately I’ve been pitching 3/16 oz jigs that have a 3/0 hook and my hook-up percentage has been decent with either the 5″ grubs or the 4″ Moxies. I know that in the H2O Precision jig series the hook size gets smaller as the jig weight gets smaller. But shouldn’t the size of the plastic determine the optimal hook size and not the weight of the jig? For example, if one is pitching 5″ grubs, wouldn’t the optimal hook size be the same regardless if the grub is on a 3/8 oz. jig or a 1/16 oz jig? Or maybe it just doesn’t matter much. I wonder if one can get a better hook-up percentage on larger hooks or if just the opposite is true. What’s been your experiene? I talking specifically about pitching or dragging plastics, not any live bait. And if it make any difference, I’m targeting walleye. Would the same be true for bass?

Thanks,

Boone

Don’t know the size of the hook but the standard 1/8oz jig is my favorite. With the bigger grubs you usually need the additional weight that comes with larger jig head to make up for the size to get it down where you want.
Typically with plastics for me they are either going to inhale that thing or not touch it at all so where the hook comes out of the bait doesn’t matter.

Commercially made jigs have a “standard” hook size per size[weight] of the jig. The standard for a 1/8 head is a number 2 or a number 1 hook. If you cast your own jigs you can usually deviate from the standard hook size by one, maybe even two, sizes upward. A lot will depend on the mold itself. Some molds can be modified to use much larger hooks with lighter weight. I have a mold that I can cast a 1/32 head on a number two hook. The hook’s weight is almost more than the weight of the lead in the head.

Its generally not an issue of how a hook’s length increases with weight size but rather the hook’s gap. I suggest looking for makers who use wide-gap hooks in their lighter heads. I do not use the wide gaps but I know there are places where you can order them.

I find that at times light head weights on larger or more resistant plastics become self-defeating. The bulkier plastics just seem to demand a larger weight to get them down into the strike zone and keep them down there, but this is where line diameter comes into play as well.

If all you are concerned about is having more hook showing on the larger baits with smaller heads, simply hook the plastic shallower.

Good post Tom…
H20 Precision jigs have larger/longer than std hooks…that’s the way they were designed…especially for threading in plastics…understanding that std #4 hooks on an 1/8 oz jig would be seriously impeded with a fat 5″ K Grub covering much of the hook gap.
Fall low water/ low current scenarios may call for a 3/32 jig on a K Grub when those bigger shad are running…As Tom mentioned I hook those fatter plastics in the upper part of the plastic body.

Old Bass jig trick…The most restrictive component to hook penetration on larger hooks is the larger barb…I file down my barbs some on jigs 1/4 and over…improves penetration quite a lot.

Not sure if you are going to find a better Plastics jig than the H20 jigs and Dragging jigs. Most other jigs the hook size gets very small with smaller weights. That smaller size hook might be ideal for pan fish and others with smaller mouths. Not for walleyes or bass.

Should the hooks be bigger or larger gap? Dont know. Have never found a light jig with larger hooks on it. Well now after thinking about it a second the old super do jigs had a very long shank hook on them. Same hook gap. I might have to look at them again. Got a pile in a old box thats been sitting on the shelf in the garage.

I have been on plastics bites where you miss one fish after another. Different plastics, snipping them off, ect. Does not seem to matter. you still miss them. Even switching over to cranks and they still miss. Tells me the fish are just not committing to the boat. Might be more just coming up and smacking it with the side of their heads.

lead jigs from Deans.
Work great!!

You are right, you should match the hook to the size of the bait you are using. The problem is, some jig are hard to cast with smaller or bigger hooks. Some molds can be modded, some can’t.

I have a specific mold where I can pour a 1/32 head on a 2/0 hook. I use it for creek fishing smallies, the little bit of weight is all I need/want. I can also pour 1/16 on a #1 for walleye, which is what I use most of the time when fishing live bait in areas with no current.

My standard plastics are 3″ grubs, 3″ gulp minnows, and 4″ ringworms. For these I like a #1/0 hook. so I pour my 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 with a #1/0 for fishing plastics.

I have some 3.25″ pulse-r’s on order so we’ll see what size hook they need.

The exceptions of course are when you get heavy, 3/8-5/8. They NEED a bigger hook or you will have no shank, it will look like a live bait jig. For 3/8+ I like a #3/0 hook. Its big for what I use, but I need the shank. I am going to experiment with the 2x long shank jig hooks this winter, see if I can drop down to a 1/0 or 2/0 with 3/8 and 1/2 jigs.

Boone, I pour all my jigs…. I do try to size up if I can by one size. 1/16-1/8 I use 1/0. 3/16-1/4 I use 2/0…. I used to use 3/0 with my 1/4 but there seemed to be no need to unless you are using a larger swim bait like salt shakers or something. Anything BFN and a 2/0 works just fine for me

Thanks to all for the input. I think for the vast majority of bites, the hook size doesn’t really matter. If they get it into their mouth, chances are you can hook them. I do think a good quality hook, no matter the size, helps the hook-up percentage. I like the Mustad Ultrapoint black nickel hooks and that’s what I use when I make jigs. Well worth the extra dime over the standard bronze hooks.

Thanks,

Boone