Z-Man Weedless Jig Head Review (Top Pros & Cons)
- By: Luke Simonds
- on
Do you hate getting snagged on structure?
You have to wrestle with whatever’s got you snagged, then take the time to retie, not to mention all the noise you’re making that’s probably scaring off the fish and the couple bucks wasted from the lost lure.
One solution to get snagged less is to use a weedless jig head.
In this video, I’m breaking down the pros and cons to this Z-Man weedless jig head, plus sharing when I like to use the weedless version vs. a regular jig head.
Let’s dive in!
Z-Man Weedless Jig Head Review [VIDEO]
Click here to join the Salt Strong Insider Club
Click here to get these weedless jig heads from our shop
Predator fish love hanging around structure because baitfish and crustaceans hang around there, and it provides shelter for them to hide from predators like dolphin or bigger fish.
So if you want to catch more fish, it’s best to fish around structure.
However, branches, pilings, docks, rocks and other bottom debris make it easy for you to get snagged.
A good way to combat this is to use a weedless jig head.
Below are some of the pros and cons I’ve found when using this Z-Man weedless jig heads.
Pros Of Weedless Jig Heads
Obviously the big pro for using weedless jig heads is that you get snagged less.
You can fish closer to structure, which can help you catch more fish.
It also helps you save time from retying and money from not having to replace as many lures, lost leaders or jig heads.
Plus, since it just has a small weed guard, you’re able to use it just like any other jig head.
Cons Of Weedless Jig Heads
The big con with weedless jig heads is that it can decrease your hookup ratio.
I have noticed that I get more hits that don’t turn into hookups with these jig heads.
However, I’ve also caught lots of big fish with them, and I think that decreased hookup ratio is worth the time, money, and frustration saved from getting snagged too often.
Another con is that these Z-Man weedless jig heads are hard to find.
Since they’re my favorite weedless jig heads, we’ve ordered them in bulk and now have them available on our shop page for you to get here.
Conclusion
If you’re fishing in areas of heavy structure, like docks, I’d definitely recommend using a weedless jig head.
Yes, your hookup ratio may decrease, but I think it’s worth it given that you’ll get snagged less.
Plus, I’ve caught lots of big fish with these jig heads, so they’re proven to work.
On the other hand, if you’re fishing in grass flats, open water, or muddy areas where there’s nothing to get snagged on, I’d recommend a regular jig head.
If you want to get these weedless jig heads you can get them from our store by clicking here.
And if you’re an Insider member you’ll get 20% off.
Have any questions about weedless jig heads?
Have you experienced the same things I have with them?
Let me know in the comments below!
And if you know someone who is sick of getting snagged under docks, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
P.S. If you want 20% off these jig heads, plus want access to the best fishing tips, strategies, and spots, click here to join us in the Insider Club!
Stop Wasting Time On The Water!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Click here to join today.
Related articles:
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Thanks for all the great info! What size do you reccomend? (This may have been mentioned in the video I just hadn’t gotten to watch it yet.) Shop has 1/4 3/8 and 3/16 I believe.
That depends on the depth you’re targeting, the current flow, and the diameter of the line you’re using. I like 3/16th oz for covering 2.5 ft to 4 ft of water, and 1/4th oz for covering 3.5 ft to 6 ft of water (while using 10 lb braid and a 2 ft leader of 20 to 30 lbs).
Awesome, thanks!
Which size do you reccomend? (You may have mentioned it in the video. I just hadn’t got the chance to watch it yet.)
That depends on the depth you’re targeting, the current flow, and the diameter of the line you’re using. I like 3/16th oz for covering 2.5 ft to 4 ft of water, and 1/4th oz for covering 3.5 ft to 6 ft of water (while using 10 lb braid and a 2 ft leader of 20 to 30 lbs).
I bought these and there is no ring to tie the line to. i see the ones you show are the same. i don’t see where to tie them. very hard to rig with a zman minnow oddly enough, help?
You tie the line to the eye of the jig head right where the metal weedless wires go into to top of the jig head. For rigging zman baits, you’ll need to be forceful as shown in the 3rd video down on this page showing how to rig the original Zman slam shady lures: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-use-rig-retrieve-slam-shady-paddletails/
never mind, i’m apparently blind. i just couldn’t get my mono in the area around the guard wire.
Seems like Amazon may have sent you the wrong jig heads.
I had the wife look and she could see that my eye was open just around the weed guard. I’m very sorry for the comment It’s all good, except i need to learn how to tie knots, before i lose another lure.
Have you tried to Z-man Texas Eye jig heads?
Yes, I started using them back in October (first time using them was a success that was captured on film: https://www.saltstrong.com/articles/mirrolure-mirrodine-vs-rapala-subwalk-lure-experiment/).
Similar to these weedless jig heads, I like the Texas Eye jig heads for targeting areas with a lot of structure while preferring normal jig heads for areas with less structure… but Texas Eye heads are not as good for non-Zman plastics in my opinion.
I just ordered a few packs of the Texas eye, in my opinion the weight is placed in a better location then the standard weighted weed less hooks, and it doesn’t have the metal guard that can cause you to loose strikes.
What’s your opinion on that and what is it that makes you say they don’t work as well with non z-man plastics?
I’m just losing my love for the owner twist lock, they are to light to get the lure to dive down in a lot cases for me (huge current push in my area). And super hard to get z-man plastics to lock into the twist lock
I’ve used them quite a bit including a week in the Louisiana Delta fishing for reds where there were a lot of fish around to test them on. I think that you may miss some small fish, but the bigger ones – the ones you want — have no trouble getting hooked. Missing some of the small trout may be an advantage.
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Robert!
I live in Pa.Iam intrested in joining your club will it help me on the upper Chesapeake and the side Rivers. I fish for stripper up here.Will the club help me do better?
We don’t have much content on stiped bass right now, but we’ve had a lot of members join from the VA to NJ region of the Atlantic so we’re planning to add some striper fishing tips in the near future. But if you also enjoy catching redfish and flounder too, then you’ll really enjoy the club right now too.
Aren’t these the same jig heads as eyestrike fishing. I love the weedless jig head have caught reds to 50lb+ tarpon on them but you do miss some hookups and zman plastics can be a little tough to rig on them too. But I have been using the Texas eye jigs which are perfect for zman plastics, can be rigged weedless and great hookup ratio.
I believe that Zman is working with Eyestrike jigs, so they very well may be the same thing. I have been testing out the Texas Eye jigs lately too… review coming soon.
yes. Eyestrike makes them for Z ManJoin the discussion…
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Robert!
Hi Luke, thanks much for another great report.
I use a lot of weedless hooks up here in Ohio, bass fishing in very weedy ponds. The hooks and jig heads I use have a dual parallel spring wire guard, similar to that Z-man version you were demonstrating.
After missing several solid largemouth hits one day, I looked closely at that weed guard, as it seemed like it was simply locked in place when I missed those very solid hits, in a way that was unusual. I discovered that that style of weed guard can bind and jam on the hook point, when the parallel wires are too closely spaced. When the two wires are too tight to each other, a diagonal bite pressure can bind one of those thin wires on top of the hook point, and that effectively locks the guard on the hook point.
I solved the problem by separating the wires to be at least 1/8″ apart, and this stopped the the binding. An easy way to do this separation is to use your needle nose pliers to gently push into the crotch of the v-shaped cradle bend in the wire guard, right where the hook point engages it. Pushing this cradle bend open spaces out the wires from each other, and keeps them farther away from the hook point, preventing that binding action. That solved that problem for good.
So give that a try and see if it helps.
Thanks again for all your great tips!
Scott
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Scott! I’ll be sure to give that a try next time I’m using the weedless jig heads.
I have been using the zman weedless since you brought them on board at SS the first time around and almost use them exclusively. The key is to inspect them often for alignment and proper placement of the wire on the hook. Can’t say I really feel that I have lost many fish to miss hits , but I have not lost a single weedless to snagging except to a fish, with Tarpon being the biggest sore mouth thief.
Thanks for making time to leave the nice comment Elton! Glad to see that you’re enjoying these weedless jig heads.
Yea Luke I have been using this jighead since zman first made them last year I have both the quarter ounce and eighth ounce sizes I have not really noticed my catch ratio going down though with them but I can tell you they are not 100 percent weedless oysters do catch them from time to time but of coarse not as much as a non weedless one as far as cons the only one thing I don’t like is I use a lot of spinnerbaits for reds and flounder in the spring and summer but because the eyelet of these jigs are horizontal instead of verticle like all others are they can’t be used with a safety pin style spinner that I like to use and yes the only place I have found them locally available here in Jacksonville fl is strike zone fishing otherwise maybe west marine might now have them when I first bought some I bought about 2 dozen so I have not shopped in a while for them anyways thanks for the video and of coarse all you do????
Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment Steven!