I don't trust weed guards 2024

billmac reply :

This is going to sound crazy because obviously people catch fish on jigs with weedguards all the time, but I just don't like the idea of them. I can't believe they don't prevent some hooksets. I'm not an expert jig fisherman so take that for what it's worth. I have on occasion rigged a curly tail grub kind of texas rig style if I have problems with weeds.

Am I the only crazy one?

J Francho reply :

On 2/14/2019 at 4:28 AM, billmac said:

Am I the only crazy one?

Maybe, but you're wrong about weedless rigs and jigs with a brush guard. If you don't want to use them, you will be severely limited to where you can fish.

A-Jay reply :

On 2/14/2019 at 4:28 AM, billmac said:

This is going to sound crazy because obviously people catch fish on jigs with weedguards all the time, but I just don't like the idea of them. I can't believe they don't prevent some hooksets. I'm not an expert jig fisherman so take that for what it's worth. I have on occasion rigged a curly tail grub kind of texas rig style if I have problems with weeds.

Am I the only crazy one?

I suppose your perception is your reality ~

But it's certainly not mine.

A-Jay

Choporoz reply :

If concerned, you can thin out your weedguards. Cut a few strands out completely, though. Don't trim the whole bunch shorter....that will just make it stiffer.

scaleface reply :

If you are going to fish in cover then they are a must . If snags are not a problem then dont use them .

thinkingredneck reply :

Where I fish you got to go weedless.

kenmitch reply :

Not really a jig fisherman yet.

I've seen and read that it really depends on the weed guard on the jig. Lot's of pros modify or cut the guards.

https://www.bassmaster.com/tips/weedguards-getting-point

Quote

Regardless of the situation, Biffle gets his scissors out each time he ties a new jig onto his line. "I cut every one of the brushguards after taking them out of the package," Biffle admits. "If you find that you're getting hung up quite a bit, all you have to do is press the guard forward a little bit, and it will protect the hook enough to keep from getting hung up quite so much." While fanning the weedguard will certainly limit most snags, he urges anglers to avoid doing so unless it's absolutely needed.

Hawkeye21 reply :

Make sure to fan out the bristles of the weed guard.

Dens228 reply :

I think without the weed guard you'll catch even less bass by the fact that you'll be dragging a clump of weeds along.

WRB reply :

I will be the exception and agree that weed guards reduce strike to hook set ratios to the point I only use fiber weed gaurds when necessary.

I use a hitchhiker spring screwed onto a 2 1/2" long piece of finesse worm attracted to the jig hook eye and weedless rigged onto the hook point. I split the 2 1/2" piece of worm to have 1" split tail and insert the hook point into the crouch of the tail split.

I have caught all my giant bass using the added piece of worm for a weed gaurd.

Tom

billmac reply :

WRB: I can't visualize it. Do you have a photo? Thanks.

Never mind, I see it now. Didn't know what a hitchiker spring was. I've kind of done the same thing by putting a grub on, texas rig style.

Log Catcher reply :

If you are going to thin out the weed guard it is better to cut them off at the head instead of cutting them shorter at the top.

Russ E reply :

I used to feel the same way.

I would shorten them and thin them out.

Lost a lot of them over time.

Now I just fan the weed guard out and fish.

Don't miss many fish. My hookup ratio on jigs is just as good, if not better, than texas rigs

OkobojiEagle reply :

On 2/14/2019 at 8:15 AM, WRB said:

I will be the exception and agree that weed guards reduce strike to hook set ratios to the point I only use fiber weed gaurds when necessary.

I use a hitchhiker spring screwed onto a 2 1/2" long piece of finesse worm attracted to the jig hook eye and weedless rigged onto the hook point. I split the 2 1/2" piece of worm to have 1" split tail and insert the hook point into the crouch of the tail split.

I have caught all my giant bass using the added piece of worm for a weed gaurd.

Tom

Tom... I'm assuming your jig of choice doesn't have a "cross eye" or an eye buried into the lead as many of today's skirted jigs do. Also I would think an eye closer to 90 degrees would work best. What is your jig of choice to use when modifing a jig in this way. Is there one jig that has a prettier hook eye than the others that make it easier to have the piece of finesse worm become attracted to it?

WRB reply :

On 2/14/2019 at 9:39 PM, OkobojiEagle said:

Tom... I'm assuming your jig of choice doesn't have a "cross eye" or an eye buried into the lead as many of today's skirted jigs do. Also I would think an eye closer to 90 degrees would work best. What is your jig of choice to use when modifing a jig in this way. Is there one jig that has a prettier hook eye than the others that make it easier to have the piece of finesse worm become attracted to it?

oe

You are correct. Look at Finesse Jig Tips you will see my photos of jigs with 90 degree standard eye hook the accommodates the hitchhiker spring perfectly. A flat eye or nose hook jig wouldn't work well.

Tom

TOXIC reply :

I don't like the term "weed guard" because none of them really prevent you from picking up weeds or if they do, it's not been noticeable to me. Now possibly they work as a "brush guard" keeping hangups to a minimum in solid cover like wood and reeds. I have used some on my Ned rigs and it was the single strand wire. I saw no benefit in the grass I was fishing and after 2 or 3 smallies, the guard was gone most of the time or I had to bend it back into position enough that it broke. If I want a bait weedless, I will Texas rig it.

J Francho reply :

Brush guard is a better description. Up here, that single wire guard helps prevent hangups on zebra mussel encrusted rock shoals. I agree, after a few fish, especially smallies for some reason, they break as Toxic described.

the reel ess reply :

I think they prevent some hooksets, but if you use a jig the way I do, you'll need them to not be hung up on every cast. Set that hook like you think that fish defiled your little sister. You really can't set it too hard if your line is good.

Mobasser reply :

On 2/14/2019 at 4:31 AM, J Francho said:

Maybe, but you're wrong about weedless rigs and jigs with a brush guard. If you don't want to use them, you will be severely limited to where you can fish.

Nice fish J Francho

On 2/14/2019 at 4:31 AM, A-Jay said:

I suppose your perception is your reality ~

But it's certainly not mine.

A-Jay

A Jay, very nice fish! We all have to learn to fish with weedgaurds eh?

MassYak85 reply :

Sounds like you need a beefier rod if you are concerned you cannot set the hook adequately on a jig with a weedgaurd.

Catch Co. (Ross G.) reply :

If you are looking to improve hookups with a weedgaurd, check out the GaneChanger Lures Brush Band. It’s a weed-guard splitter that helps improve hookups while reducing snags.

If if you are looking for a new weedless jig without a brush guard, check out the GameChange Lures Trashmaster Jig.

Steve Parks spends a lot of time with a jig, so he’s thought a lot about how to improve them.

you can see both products here: https://shopkarls.com/brand/gamechanger-lures

scaleface reply :

Way back when i used a 5'6" mh rod for jigs with weed guards . I crossed their eyes . If you cant get a good hook set with todays equipment then you are doing it wrong .

FCPhil reply :

Jigs work for people all the time all over the country. I understand it seems like you will miss fish, I felt that way too, but they have been proven to work very well.

moguy1973 reply :

I was going to say to look up a particular jig but it looks like calling out specific brands that aren't in line with Bass Resource is a no-no. Sorry, can't help you out then.

Brad Reid reply :

On 2/21/2019 at 1:13 PM, moguy1973 said:

I was going to say to look up a particular jig but it looks like calling out specific brands that aren't in line with Bass Resource is a no-no. Sorry, can't help you out then.

Well, I think my first post ever here mentioned an "unmentionable" and, being new, it confused me for a minute or two. But, I actually think that the posting policy is quite liberal here as regards all of us sharing equipment and gear ideas.

If you ever read an Internet article, then go down to the "Reader's Comments" section, it is rare you won't see posts that have nothing to do with the article . . . but someone claiming "Make $1000 a week from home sitting on your $$$" and then drop a URL to direct you to some shady website. So, I surmise what could happen here, if this is not checked, is some small manufacturers of lures, etc. could use someone else's private platform to bombard viewers with sales promos.

It is like someone rushing a lectern and commandeering the microphone. They have to use someone else's platform because they don't have one themselves that people will pay attention to.

Anyway, no shortage of good ideas and good products shared here.

Brad

billmac reply :

Of course there's no way to know if and how many fish are lost because of the weed guards, but I acknowledge that this is my perception. And I think there are always better ways to do this if we look hard enough. I took a look at the trashmaster and that looked really good.

fin reply :

I agree there is probably a better way, but consider spinnerbaits, and how a bass manages to get themselves hooked on that. They can be so finicky, yet so stupid.

Fishingmickey reply :

Here is a picture of a M-Pac jig head. they also make a full line of jigs. Might be a solution to fiber brush guard possible missed hook sets. I have not used them much.

roadwarrior reply :

On 2/14/2019 at 4:28 AM, billmac said:

This is going to sound crazy because obviously people catch fish on jigs with weedguards all the time, but I just don't like the idea of them. I can't believe they don't prevent some hooksets. I'm not an expert jig fisherman so take that for what it's worth. I have on occasion rigged a curly tail grub kind of texas rig style if I have problems with weeds.

Am I the only crazy one?

Yes, you are the only crazy one.

WRB reply :

Every one of my giant bass was caught on a jig without a weed or brush guard.

Anyone who thinks a fiber weed guard enhances hook sets over a jig with exposed hook without a guard is crazy. The guard helps to retrieve the jig through cover to reduce snags and protects the hook point from contacting snags and the basses mouth tissue. The weedgaurd must be pushed down to make contact during the hook set by the bass. Weed guards are a added necessary component when fishing cover.

Tom

billmac reply :

Well, to be fair, I don't think anyone is saying that fiber weed guards enhance hook sets. At best, they are saying it doesn't hinder hook sets, at least if you hit them hard enough. I fully accept that when using a fiber weed guard, you have to set the hook very hard. What I don't accept is that hard hook sets fully ameliorate the fact that the guard is "guarding" the hook. I think it must prevent some good hook sets. That's why I'm interested in some of the alternative setups that make the jig weedless without needing the fiber guard.

ratherbfishin1 reply :

I don't know if anybody has said this because I just skimmed through real fast but heres my thoughts. Maybe you do loose a few fish due to the weed guard, but there are often times when you must have a weed guard to get into an area. Say you loose 1 in 5 fish due to what could be the weed guard but often those 4 fish you did catch are fish you might not have been able to catch any other way. I personally don't think with todays equipment you can blame the weed guard for much though.

billmac reply :

I think that's fair. Obviously fish like weeds and dense cover. So just as obvious is if you want to fish that cover, you need to use a weedless lure. I should have made clearer that I'm interested in alternative ways to make a jig weedless other than a fiber guard, as opposed to using a non-weedless jig or simply not fishing weedy cover.

BassNJake reply :

I fished as a co-angler in a BFL tourney.

My boater that day would trim all but 3 or 4 strands from the weedguard.

He'd then bend the weedguard pieces one by one so they had a little "hook/bend" to them

Then he would use a small piece of a finesse worm, push it down onto the weedguard and rig the other end on the hook.

Similar to WRB using a hitchhiker instead of the weedguard.

billmac reply :

That's a good idea.

Choporoz reply :

I toss my jigs into the nastiest brush and trees that I can find. I need a brush guard. If I am specifically fishing weeds any 'grassier' than reeds, then I'm using different jigs... or different lure, altogether.

Lots of apples and oranges mixed together above, I think.

7424

I don't trust weed guards 2024

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