Jig Heads 101: Eye Placement & Jig Head Shapes
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Lure Rigging, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: 8-30-20
If you step into a Bass Pro you’ll find an entire wall of different jig heads.
How do you know which pack to choose?
It can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for, so I made this video to give you a better knowledge of the different types of jig heads and when you should use each them.
In particular, I covered jig head shape and eye placement, which are two of the most popular things we get asked about when it comes to choosing a jig head.
You’ll learn:
- Which type of jig head you should use if you’re swimming your lure through the water column
- Which type of jig head is best for vertical jigging
- Which type of jig head I would choose if I had to pick just one
- And much more
Check out the video below.
Jig Types & Styles [VIDEO]
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First, let’s talk about the style of jig head.
Two of the most popular styles are the wide football or boxing glove-shaped jig heads and thinner jig heads.
The wider football jig heads are good for a really slow retrieve because they’ll let your bait or lure sit upright on the bottom.
Thinner jig heads are better for swimming your baits through the water because they’re more streamlined.
Now, let’s talk about eye placement on jig heads.
The eyes on jig heads are usually either at a 60° angle from the hook shank (this is when the eye is toward the front of the jig head) or at a 90° angle (this is when the eye sits on top of the jig head).
The 60° placement is better for swimming your jig or bouncing it along the bottom, and also may be better at preventing snags.
The 90° placement is better for vertical jigging.
If I had to pick one combo, I’d pick a jig head like the Saltwater Assassin Pro Elite jig head that has a 60° eye placement and is narrow, but also has a flat bottom.
Conclusion
There are loads of options for jig heads, but these tips will help you pick the right one for the type of fishing you’re doing.
If you’re slowly dragging your lure across the bottom, use a football-shaped jig head with the hook shank toward the front of the jig head.
If you’re swimming your lure through the water, use a thinner jig head with the hook shank toward the front of the jig head.
And if you’re vertical jigging, choose a jig head with the eye on top of the jig head.
Have any questions about choosing the right jig head?
Let me know down in the comments.
And if you know someone who’s confused at all of the different types of jig heads, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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I’m so confused. I fish from the bank and target fluke in the NY area. I was told use a Spro bucktail jig. However, the line tie is a 90 degree angle. Perfect for vertical jigging and boat anglers. Did I buy the wrong jig’s for bank fishing?
Great article Tony – What is the brand name and item name of that “football” jig head. I can’t seem to find them online.
Thanks John!
They are made by Mission Fishing. You can get those on our shop page here:
https://fishstrong.com/products/mission-fishin-double-barbed-jig-heads?variant=32687290089557
Thanks Tony – Your analysis and suggestions make a lot of sense. I ordered the 1/8 and 1/4 oz. in white and red.
You’re welcome John!
I am headed to Venice, LA in 2 weeks and most of the fishing we will be doing is with popping corks. I plan on using the larger 5″ swim baits but wanted to know if there is a larger size jig head hook I should be using as the baits are a bit thicker and also what weight and style jig head would you recommend when using a cork?
Hey Scott! These jig heads would work perfectly for that. 1/8 oz would be the best bet under a cork,
https://fishstrong.com/collections/saltwater-hooks/products/mission-fishin-double-barbed-jig-heads?variant=32687290089557