Browns

[thmyorke1]

Experimented today with a jig modification: heavy monofilament as a weed guard

Good news; I kept the same jig on all day, didn't lose it in any underwater roots, stones, or branches and could virtually toss it anywhere.
Bad news; witnessed a few trout not hook up, and felt a lot of "nibbles" and hits that didn't result in hook ups.

At the last hole (always save the best for last) was creek chub gardens. I hook into one chub but very shortly a sharp jerk happens and im off. I then figure out a big brown is sitting on the bottom of the hole, T-boning the creek chub. It holds it in its mouth for quite a long time. I change to a larger jig (no weed guard), and before I cast I dont see the silvery chub anymore, nor the trout. Immediately after dropping the jig in, the brown comes out of nowhere and slams it. Unfortunately it comes off shortly.

The trout and chubs I landed today were hooked right in the lip, the last bit of cartilage possible. With that, and with many missed hookups, probably a sign to make the guard looser.

Any advice with weed guards welcomed

https://i.postimg.cc/50wBFxzP/temp.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/PrDtWBcG/IMG-20190312-134111459.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/zD6zRJxS/IMG-20190312-135554617.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/7ZyqmK85/IMG-20190312-135558847.jpg

[hooks40]

Maybe make the guards a little shorter. The will deflect snags but not block the hook point. Good Idea.

[FASTEDDIE29]

Great job on the jigs man. They catch fish. That’s the most important part! Beautiful Browns all around!!! Gotta love em’!:D

[Hookmanski]

Nice jigs man! I still have a couple of the marabou jigs you hand tied and gave to me, I love them! Can't wait til smallie season.

And nice browns man!

[akoop]

Maybe try adding the mono like this https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bc/29/aa/bc29aae555bf9f36460c42cc88a141f4.jpg

I have many flies tied like this and the work!

[Drossi]

Nice browns.

Question though, shouldn't the jig ride hook up given the weight of the head towards the bottom of the hook eye? In that case why need a weed guard? I'd think that if you set the hook on a branch or got it wedged in a rock the mono guard wouldn't do much for you anyway. I'd just lose the guard and go from there.

[Chrisper4694]

my advice, forget about them. you lose jigs, who cares. they're not worth the trouble or the fish lost.

[thmyorke1]

Nice browns.

Question though, shouldn't the jig ride hook up given the weight of the head towards the bottom of the hook eye? In that case why need a weed guard? I'd think that if you set the hook on a branch or got it wedged in a rock the mono guard wouldn't do much for you anyway. I'd just lose the guard and go from there.

Youd think but often i snag em in wood etc. That day i was tossing it in branches and didn't hang up once. So it definitely helped.
I got the idea from crappie anglers.

@chrisper
Agree, but would find it useful to have em in case i see a snaggy hole where a normal jig would get hung up every cast

[Drossi]

my advice, forget about them. you lose jigs, who cares. they're not worth the trouble or the fish lost.

I'm with you. Sacrifice a few to the wood gods instead of losing fish. Especially if you tie them up yourself. I go through boxes of streamers in the same manner. Got to get them into the tight spots that others are afraid to cast into. :)

[JDTuna]

Very interesting. Should certainly help preventing some snags. However, I think I'd be too worried about missing fish to use them.

Nice browns!

[slider]

Old time trick we used when fishing weed guarded hooks, if missed strikes a problem, remove weed guard as expressed B4, or try bending the hook curve slightly exposing just a little more of the hook point..Old time trick..It works.