How to Choose the Size of Jig Head to Throw

How do you choose the size of jig head to use on your Monster 3X or any soft plastic? Is it based on knowledge or do you just pick the one that your buddy is throwing or the one that there is the least amount of left in stock, because if there's not very many left that must be the best one, right?  Not necessarily.

We throw 1/8 oz jigs most of the time and that decision is based on the depth of the water and the wind. If the water is over 4 feet deep or if it's windy then we throw 1/4 oz jigs  Sometimes you may even need 3/8 oz; the times I would choose 3/8 oz would be in 10 feet of water or more. Jig head size is a lot of personal preference but keep in mind what you are trying to accomplish, if you are swimming a soft plastic through the dock lights you are not trying to get the lure on the bottom so even if the water is 10 feet deep we stick to 1/8 oz jig heads for this application no matter the depth. We try to use the lightest jig head possible to begin with, and work up in weight.

Bullhead Jig

Bullhead Jig

Poison Tail Jig

Uppity Jig

These are the general guidelines we use to determine what size of jig head to start with. This has been a very common question we recieve and while the answer is not very complex, hopefully it helps you determine what size of jig head to use on your next  trip!

David Jouppi
Treasure Coast Tackle