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Jig Head Weights Incorrect

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12K views 55 replies 32 participants last post by  flounder daddy  
#1 ·
I needed to clean up some jig heads that had gotten jumbled up in the tackle box. I used a kitchen scale to weigh and sort them, and tested a couple from unopened packages as a check. I found the weights to be all over the place, but the worst were some 1/16 oz jigheads I just bought that actually weighed .21 oz, almost 1/4!

Given the time, attention, and dollars that many of us put into the small details of fishing, that just seems unacceptable.

You can see the picture here - box is marked as 1/16 oz jigs and the actual weight is almost 1/4. The other box of 1/16s that I bought were the same - .21 oz. Pretty big difference relative to how most of us think about appropriate jig weights for different conditions.
 

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#4 ·
I understand the concern but I don't think the fish know the difference between 1/16 and 1/5. Probably only matters to you. Size of the plastic will make a big difference

Write on the pack with a marker so you know
 
#17 ·
does matter to the fish



There is a big big difference between fishing a 1/16 oz, 1/8 oz and a 1/4 oz jig head. Depending on the depth of the water (take 5 to 7 foot as an example) a 1/4 oz will almost for sure be on the bottom most of the time unless your fishing it fast fast, maybe even too fast, whereas an 1/8 oz head can be fished much slower and because it sinks slower, this allows the bait to stay in the strike zone longer, vs staying on the bottom all the time. Some times an 1/8 oz head will out fish a 1/4 oz, sometimes they want it on the bottom, and sometimes it doesn't matter. But depending on the time of year and what I'm trying to do I always match my jig head. So for me it's very very important and I pay particular attention to this. Example when shrimp are jumping and fish are supercharged I never use a heavy head because I do not want my bait on the bottom, I want it in what I call the strike column. The so called strike column varies day to day, but once the fish are located the key is to keep the bait in that so called strike column as long as possible.
 
#6 ·
Weigh other heads as well. You will see most all are off.

Take into account the hook also weighs something.

I have weighed several different brands and the Norton shad heads with the screw lock are the closest I have found.
 
#15 ·
The majority of the jig heads out there that say (enter specific weight) are measuring just the weight of the lead. So for example, you buy a package of 1/16 oz heads, you'll end up with 1/16 oz of lead, plus the weight of the hook.

There's two brands that I've personally found that aren't like this. Bass Assassin makes an "elite series" jig head that I generally use. The weight of the jig head plus hook is spot on. Also, the FTU jig heads are similar and seem to be just as good.


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#16 · (Edited)
Maybe silly of me, but I feel that since the lead is cast around the hook and is now one piece, it should include the hook weight. They have no control of what size soft plastic you put on it. True, the scale may not be certified, but when using a scale such as Goags above did, my money says the scale is closer to the truth than what the package is labeled. If his jigs had been labeled 1/8 ounce I would consider it acceptable.

Edit: I have an Ohaus scale with 400 gram maximum. I just put a 200 gram calibration weight on it and it indicated 7.050 ounces. And 7.050 ounces is 199.8641 grams, so I feel good about my scale.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Yes and many other factors effect they way your lure falls like line size, line type, current, wind, position of your rod....should I continue?

Forget what the pack says and use your eyes and figure out which size jig head gets your bait where you want it to be.

I never put the jig heads back in the pack after using them anyway. So I end up a bunch of different size jigs rattling around the console or in a ziploc bag.
 
#21 ·
Someone weigh some Norton's... they visually look a bit closer but I have not weighed them.

Hook is dead on... depending on how shallow you fish and the structure, that much weight will definitely make a difference. Mac has a good point too, size of plastic can counter act that if you are paying attention keeping rod tip up and fishing it. If you just let it drop on slack without paying attention to it and keeping rod tip up then all of them are going to hit the bottom pretty quick, some faster than others.
 
#22 ·
I have wondered for years, just visually there is no way many of the brands could be what the are labeled.

There needs to be some accuracy, If you want a lighter jig you need and you think you are using 1/16th oz and you are actually using a 1/4 oz it is bad deal.

I want to know I have consistent sizes, I carry 16th 8th and 3/8 th .

If one manufacturer would get it right and then call out the competition it would get right in a hurry.

Are these guys dumb or are we Dumb? the answer is YES LOL.
 
#27 ·
The H20 jigs are a joke. Almost anything H20 brand is a joke.
Another factor that folks dont really know about and I have been researching this for the past week, is the MATERIAL that the company uses in their molds. You have pure soft lead, antimony, Tin, and zinc all being used by people to make jigs. Depending on who made the mold and what material they spec'ed for their mold cavity size, it will make a difference.
 
#29 ·
Does it really matter what they weigh? If YOUR jig head has been working for you & you have been happy with whichever brand/size , then don't stop using it. I use 1/4 most of the time where I fish , deeper water , I see no reason to change yet. Weights may not be exact or some even close , but by now most of us know what we like
 
#31 ·
but by now most of us know what we like
Yes, but a lot of brands have changed in and out.. so for a lot of people that don't go as often it can be frustrating for them and in shallower waters... less than 7' like Capt Hook was talking about, it can really make a difference if you think you're throwing an 1/8th and it's really a quarter that person is going to be dredging and hooking bottom more than fishing.

I think the real OP is ... buyer beware and be smart about it... no they don't have to be perfect, you're right on there. But there are some...where it would be nice if they were a little closer.