Jig head
What is a jig head?
A weighted hook with the lead or tungsten molded at the eye, used bare with a soft plastic body threaded onto it.
Unlike a skirted bass jig, a plain jig head is a component. You choose a head weight and a hook size, thread on a grub, a swimbait or a fluke, and you have a lure. It is the cheapest and most adaptable way to fish soft plastics.
Head shape changes behavior. A round ball head falls straight and is the default. A darter or bullet head cuts through cover and swims better on a steady retrieve. A stand-up head keeps the bait's nose off the bottom when it rests.
Weight is what sets the fall rate and how much bottom you feel. A 1/16 ounce head for panfish and shallow water, 1/8 to 1/4 for most bass work, heavier as depth and wind increase.
Use the lightest head that still lets you feel the bottom. Extra weight kills the natural fall that gets most of the bites.
Where this comes up
The guides that use jig head and show it on real gear.
Last reviewed . Jig head is one of 222 terms in the fishing glossary.