bam424 Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 what strength weedguard at fishingskirts.com would you recommend for 3/8 and 1/2 oz arky flipping jigs? mostly pitching wood and laydowns. would heavy be too stiff? would heavy prevent a lot of hangups? prevent hook ups on fish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 To me this is a personal preference. I do not like heavy or medium weedguards. My philosophy whether right or wrong is this. If the fish can't compress the weedguards, or a weedguard is too stiff to expose the hook point then there are a lot of missed hook sets. Again this is my opinion. I either user a really light weedguard or no weedguard on my jigs. Even if I fished your conditions I would do the same. I would rather lose some jigs than to lose some fish. I am probably not the norm in this thinking. Curious what others will say. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadkill Posted October 20, 2014 Report Share Posted October 20, 2014 2nd that. I make weedless in line spinners and most of my customers want a light weedguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bam424 Posted October 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Thanks for the input!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBehr Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I use medium on my 3/8 and 1/2 Arkies...or no weedguard at. Where I fish there is a lot of brush and branches on the bottom so I have to use a "brush guard". When I'm fishing clean sand or gravel (or at least I think so!) I use no weedguards at all. If most of my hits are on the fall...no weedguard. If the fish arerunning small I also try not to use a weedguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I go with mediums as well, I find that even with heavy guards you will still get hung up every now and again, it is just how it is. With a medium guard you still walk an Arky head jig through nasty cover, you just need to take your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallmouthaholic Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 It all depends on the angle of the weed guard,the type of hook and distance from the hook. Bullet style jigs are best for brush and trees. Simple test: 1-Extend the palm of your hand 2-Hold the jig against the palm of your hand 3- Carefully slide the jig downward towards the ground depressing the weed guard 4- if the hook point does not stick in your palm you will have serious hooking problems I do not "use/ like" jig hooks w/ the hook angle pointed downward. Carefully change the angle until the palm test works and you feel the hook point. I find it best to fan out the fiber guards-splitting/spreading them in the middle and sliding your finger between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBull Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 I must be the odd ball of the group ! I fish a lot of wood, like dead falls and beaver feed beds on the river. I use the stiffest one they sell.(BARLOW'S ..451052) Then if I want to lighten it up I take a finger nail clippers and nipp off a few strands until I get the right feel of tention to the weed guard. Lenght and number of strands very important to do this. The one test that you should use to find a good wood fishing jig is this. You don't want that jig to fall on its side when it comes up against a branch. Take a pencil our just your finger and then grab your line that has a jig tied to it and pull it over the pencil and see if it turns so the hook goes away from the pencil our your finget. In real clean water you can try this while fishing by just watching your jig in action. I WOULDN'T have our use a jig that doesn't do this. Good luck... STEVE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bam424 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 I must be the odd ball of the group ! I fish a lot of wood, like dead falls and beaver feed beds on the river. I use the stiffest one they sell.(BARLOW'S ..451052) Then if I want to lighten it up I take a finger nail clippers and nipp off a few strands until I get the right feel of tention to the weed guard. Lenght and number of strands very important to do this. The one test that you should use to find a good wood fishing jig is this. You don't want that jig to fall on its side when it comes up against a branch. Take a pencil our just your finger and then grab your line that has a jig tied to it and pull it over the pencil and see if it turns so the hook goes away from the pencil our your finget. In real clean water you can try this while fishing by just watching your jig in action. I WOULDN'T have our use a jig that doesn't do this. Good luck... STEVE See that's what I was thinking too. If I need a softer weed guard I'd use a razor blade and slice a few strands at a time. As for jigs that don't fall over flat eye arkies work well for me. Pretty much all I use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Scrogg Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 What hooks you use for the Flat eye Arkys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bam424 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 What hooks you use for the Flat eye Arkys? Well I don't make them yet... I am just looking into it right now. But the guy I buy the jig heads from he uses mustad. Not sure of the style. The only info I got sorry. My plan as of right now is buying the unpainted jig heads and weedguards from fishingskirts.com. save some money in the long run. Already have powdercoat. Then put the jig heads together. When I have the space to pour lead I'll get molds and hooks. Probly mustads too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Scrogg Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamabass78 Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) I believe the hook I use in my flat eye arky is the mustad 32798 Edited November 1, 2014 by bamabass78 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jighead61 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 I always use a HEAVY weedguard and thin it out (if or when necessary) based on the cover/structure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
