Walleye hook size for jigs????

[JayC37jigs]

My question is…..

   If you pour your own jig heads to put 3-3.5” curl tail or paddle tail on for sauger and Walleye. What hook size would you go with???????

    When I was younger I’d just buy whatever I could find jighead wise and go during the fall and winter months. But now I’d like to make a couple of my own jig heads with better hooks. I’d like to know some of your opinions.

[Outlaw4]

ive been using 2/0 & 3/0 owners and gami. i like the heavier hooks for plastics, more lite wire for live bait

[Jig Man]

I like bigger hooks so I use 4/0 in my swimbait heads.

Edited December 9, 2022 by Jig Man

[JayC37jigs]

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

I like bigger hooks so I use 4/0 in my swimbait heads.

I really like that jighead. Is that the do-it mold swimbait mold?

[Jig Man]

Yes.

[mjs]

I like the 2/0 size.  I found 4/0 could hook little guys up through the eye. Still good gap with 3" plastics. 

[JayC37jigs]

That’s what I’m trying to figure out. We have small sauger and some walleye. The walleye are mainly smaller but the occasional larger one. I don’t like the store bought jigheads nor the hooks in them. I just started pouring my own bass jigs this last year because of that. I was looking for a good happy medium hook as far as size. I was leaning 2/0 or 3/0 and use small 3-4” twirl tail grubs and paddle tail minnows. I’ve also considered trying to use the 2/0 or 3/0 in one of my other molds to see if it would work. Still up for suggestions.

[JayC37jigs]

21 hours ago, mjs said:

I like the 2/0 size.  I found 4/0 could hook little guys up through the eye. Still good gap with 3" plastics. 

Thank you for the reply.

[Ogajiga]

Walleye are my fave target species in season and 2/0 Gami 114 pinning 3" baits has stuck and held everything from dinks to bumping state record size.  This year tho am switching to heavier wire Gami 604 2/0 due to the occasional intrusion of wipers up to 20# and catfish up to 30+#.

[Bdnoble84]

I’ve used the VMC 7249 because of the extra long shank for 3.8” and longer paddletails.. But its extremely light and flexible because of the thin wite and extra long shank. Im going to try something different next time i order. For smaller 3” paddlwtails and hair jigs i go with a bp500 lil nasty sickle hook

Edited April 23, 2023 by Bdnoble84

[Ogajiga]

While not an anywhere anytime tactic, sometimes at shoreline accessible high pressure small water spots which are bombarded with all manner of 3-5" softies, cranks, and live baits, a downsize can work for me.  Current faves are 2" Berkley Powerbait Ripple Shads and Bobby Garland Baby Shads pinned on #2 hook jig heads.  Due to continual harvest pressure walleye at these spots tend to be on the smaller side up to 20" tho larger are occasionally caught.  Once I surprised both myself and the minner dunkers with a 27" on an aforementioned 2" Ripple Shad.