Weed guard
Also called fiber guard, brush guard
The fan of stiff fibers over a jig's hook point that lets it slip through wood and grass without snagging.
The fibers stand between the hook point and whatever the jig is crawling over. Push the jig against a branch and the guard takes the contact, keeping the point clean. A bass bites down and the guard collapses instantly, so it does nothing to stop the hookset.
Getting that balance right is what separates a good jig from a cheap one. Too soft and it snags anyway. Too stiff and you miss fish.
It is also adjustable. Fan the fibers out with your thumb to make it more snag-resistant, or trim a few strands and shorten the rest for open water where you want the point fully exposed.
Wire guards are the other design, a single loop of light wire rather than a fan of fibers. They collapse more easily, which helps hookups, and they protect the point less well in heavy wood.
Fan the fibers wide for heavy wood and grass. Trim and shorten them for open water and hard bottom.
Related terms
Where this comes up
The guides that use weed guard and show it on real gear.
Weed guard is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
Browse the full fishing glossary