I have been using jig heads by Madbite/Kastking because they are cheaper than anyone else. They have a bait keeper though that will not consistently hold my Zman plastics. Yesterday was the last straw. Constantly pushing my Ned plastic back up the hook shaft. What brand jig heads work best for you?

Thanks

Bob

Ya, more expensive - but Owner Block Heads are core to my Ned fishing.

I like the Zman Nedlockz jig heads or the VMC jig heads.  The reason is they are stronger than the original light-wire ones.  I bent a couple of the original jig heads out on big fish years ago.  Partly because my drag was probably set too high but also because the jig heads were junk too.

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I like the Zman Nedlockz jig heads or the VMC jig heads.  The reason is they are stronger than the original light-wire ones.  I bent a couple of the original jig heads out on big fish years ago.  Partly because my drag was probably set too high but also because the jig heads were junk too.

Drifting down rivers cause me to hang up often. I do like the thin wire hooks that allow me to straighten them out but I see your point about the big fish. I always keep a very light drag.

The ones I use are Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Finesse EWG Jig heads. You can text-pose the hook to prevent snags and they work well dragging and popping across rocky bottoms.

Eagle Claw EWG Ned Jigs

9 minutes ago, ScottW said:

The ones I use are Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Finesse EWG Jig heads.

I still use Owners for that too

Flatlands Tackle Swinghead

Swagger Tackle 

I just bought a bunch of different good brands to try. The gamakatsus I got seem the sharpest.. real sticky.

 

I got a 48 pack of madbites for like $8 late in the season and in hindsight they are barely worth $8… the hooks are loose in the weight and like OP said the keepers are awful. If you want to use them rather than waste them cut the keepers off and super glue your plastic on. I’ve been doing that with even the best heads. 

Great idea! I will glue the baits. I have lots to use up before I buy a better brand. Also the Mad Bites dull easily and are hard to get sharp.

Second the superglue notion.....even with a trailer if you'll glue that bait right up sung about the jighead, it makes all the difference in the world.    

 

I can catch 40-50 fish on a Armor Shad if I superglue it on a flashback mini, and it's not even elastech or whatever the stronger 10x plastics are called like the Zman stuff you are using.    

 

Just make sure you get that good quick setting super glue.    Cheap stuff sometimes works the best.

10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Just make sure you get that good quick setting super glue.    Cheap stuff sometimes works the best.

This is what I use - a lot of places put their own label on it (my local hobby shop for one), but this is the 'original'.

I use the Siebert Outdoors Morel heads and Button heads, as well as the Z-Man football ned heads. Never had much of a problem with Z-Man plastics using these ned heads. 

Where's @Team9nine?  He's the freaking world record holder on this subject.  I'd be interested in his opinion.

I’ve tried most of the styles out there.  I have bought my own mold and use the Victory hooks for an ewg weedless Ned rig.  No glue is needed and it comes through stuff that other styles just can’t.

 

BRB check your pm.

Another vote for the Owner Block Head and for Superglue.

43 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Where's @Team9nine?  He's the freaking world record holder on this subject.  I'd be interested in his opinion.

I’m pretty boring - lol. Original ShroomZ get the most work. Also original Gophers poured on Gamakatsu hooks, as well as the newer Zman OG heads (both double barbed). I have a few custom pours that are clean shafts and require Super Glue Gel, along with some Venom Ven-Rig Ned heads. I did buy some Mad Bites to try over Black Friday because they were dirt cheap. Haven’t thrown them yet, so can’t comment on them. Oh, and every once in a blue moon I’ll throw a VMC Rugby Head.

Outkast Tackle is another one I like.

Dollar for dollar the Berkley half head is probably the best I have found, and nothing else is close.  Keeper is effective with plastisol and elaztech and they use #1 fusion hooks which are super sticky.  The hooks are small, but the wire is surprisingly stout.  I wish they had a little more flex so they wouldnt weaken when bent, bit I haven't seen one break yet, which I cant say for most ned heads.  I do wish the half heads had a rounder shape, more like the OG gopher heads.  If youre using elaztech or any other floating baits the shape isnt really an issue.  They used to be 4$ for 8, recently they are now closer to 5$ but you get 8 heads which is double or more what you would get for that money from another brand.  

siebert for open hook, outcast for weedless owner blockhead ewg for texas style.

I have used the Berkley half heads almost exclusively the past few years. The keeper is good but I also use super glue.

Siebert Outdoors Morel heads are the best standard style I've thrown.

I always wanted to do the superglue idea. I was just worried with the elaztech plastic it would ruin it.

We have a few types.

 

Morels in the standard and XL that use Owner hooks

Morel Widegap that uses a Victory hook

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/search?keywords=morel&sortOption=descend_by_match

 

Button Head-  These are tungsten in widegap, weedless, standard.

https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/search?keywords=button&sortOption=descend_by_match

I like the Zman Shroomz in 1/20 for most of my Ned rig fishing.  My only complaint (besides the price) is that the very effective keeper occasionally cuts a fingertip when unhooking fish.