I havn't used jigs very much (aside from crappie jigs and a simple jig head and grub) but I bought a couple different colors of bass jigs recently.

They're just the head and a skirt and I added plastic trailers. Anyways, they all came with pretty stiff brush gaurds, and to me this seems like it would make hook ups harder, and I've though about cutting it off. Do you guys leave them or cut them off?

There are several things many of us do to modify store bought jigs. One big thing I always do is cut the guard so it's flush with the point of the hook, maybe just a bit above the point. I cut about 15-20% of the weed guard off, and with the rest, I fan them out so they spread out covering almost an inch side to side.

If you google it, or I think it may be on this site, there's a step by step visual of how it's done.  

Goodluck, fishing jigs are by far the most fun I've had fishing. They catch some NICE bass.

I usually trim the weed guard, unless I'm fishing really thick grass/weeds. I do find you get a better hook up this way. I use a fingernail clipper to trim the guard. Works great!

By the way, the jig in the pic is a Lucky Craft Glass Killer, awesome jig!! 8-)

Thanks guys, that last pic is what I was thinking of doing but wasn't sure.

I think I'm going to cut mine next time I use them. I'm going out tomorrow so I'll try to get at least one fish on a jig.

Well, it depends a lot on where you are fishing a jig.

A lot of VERY SUCCESSFUL jig guys do NOT trim the guard.

I dont cut mine just kind of fan them out. Never had probs with hookup when jigging.

I trim mine to about the hook point, maybe a dot above that, like brokejew said. I also cut a few strands from the main root of the weed guard, like 4 strands, just so its less stiff and the hook penetrates it easier. And I also use a nail clipper to trim the jig.

1/2 or smaller:   shorten mine to just enough to cover the hook point and at an angle with the short side on top.

heavier than that and it's usually going in the nasty so I don't trim anything.

swing away

There are several things many of us do to modify store bought jigs. One big thing I always do is cut the guard so it's flush with the point of the hook, maybe just a bit above the point. I cut about 15-20% of the weed guard off, and with the rest, I fan them out so they spread out covering almost an inch side to side.

If you google it, or I think it may be on this site, there's a step by step visual of how it's done.

Goodluck, fishing jigs are by far the most fun I've had fishing. They catch some NICE bass.

+1.  I only use jigs with brush guards if I need them, otherwise i'll take them off or get some without them

I am very new to the jig game, but I have decided to just use plain jig heads without the skirts and guards. I like to put Aluuring Brushhogs and finesse worms on them, I have had more sucess and a whole lot less problems fishing in the weeds.

Well, it depends a lot on where you are fishing a jig.

A lot of VERY SUCCESSFUL jig guys do NOT trim the guard.

I agree.

I know guys that fish Jigs 99 percent of the time.

Oldham's jigs are my choice for a number of reasons.

First, the Gamakatzu hook is super sharp out of the package and retains its sharpness better than any jig hook I've used.

Second, every Oldham jig is equipped with the Screwlock attachment on the hook shank. This feature conserves soft plastic trailers and positions them securely, preventing the trailers from interfering with the hook point.

Third, the upturned head and line tie eye are designed to slice through vegetation

Fourth, the fiber weed guards are the right mixture of flexibility and stiffness

Fifth, the durable paint job and optional eyes combined with an incredible color selection of the finest quality skirts available set these jigs apart from the rest.

I never trim my weed guards.  :-?  If I did, I would be hung up 90% of the time from some of the thick brush I fish in.  :-/  I still get hung even without trimming.  I very rarely have problems sticking fish with a full weed guard.  Some guys that fish lakes with no brush and little weeds may get by with trimming quite a bit off the guard.

I never trim my weed guards. :-? If I did, I would be hung up 90% of the time from some of the thick brush I fish in. :-/ I still get hung even without trimming. I very rarely have problems sticking fish with a full weed guard. Some guys that fish lakes with no brush and little weeds may get by with trimming quite a bit off the guard.

I agree with you. The lake I fish hardly has any weeds and if, only in a few isolated spots. I mostly fish rocky bottom or rip rap, that's why I cut the weed guard. When fishing grass etc. it doesnt make any sense.

The help on these forums from older more experienced anglers is invaluable.That being said there comes a time of experimentation and putting together your own style, that will bring you sucess. The thing to rember is to keep on fishing and putting it together and then learning how to use it in various situations.

 Part of the fun of this jig fishing for me was to listen carefully what the experienced guys were saying. OF UTMOST IMPORTANT IS GO TO LBH'S PROFILE,CLICK ONTO HIS FILMS AND GO TO THE JIG PRIMER!!!!!!!!!!! Then get what you can and start fishing and do not be afraid to do something different or combine approaches, NOTHING IS WRITTEN IN STONE

 For me my sucess started to come when I went to bare naked jig heads, no skirts no guards and coupled them with plastics.I got through Hydrillia and Coon Tail weeds Cleaner and now I intend to spend the next few seasons getting proficient with this IT TAKES TIME TO GET PROFICIENT through EXPERIMENTATION AND USING THE TECHINIQUE, that is where I get the most fun on the learning curve anyway

 I lkearned the importance of learning ways that I am comfortable fishing when I got to the Fork. A lot of very experienced and generous fishemen tried to get me onto the Bed fishing and jig fishing thing: I DIDNT KNOW EITHER WAY IF FISHING AND WAS NOT GONNA LEARN IT IN 3 days. So I went back to *** Tirck Sticks and Zoom Trick worms and I caught fish the way I knew I could.

 So I choose to go away from conventiuon here and just go with unpainted, no skirt and no weedguard jigs and plastics, it is the begining of the presentation that seems to work for me, and it is a very old and sucessful presentation from what I am reading now

I consider jig fishing to be the most challenging skill any basser can try to master.

This deceptively simple bait has won countless tournaments and is the go to bait for more experienced anglers than anything else.

That includes the Senko and the plastic worm.

The beauty of the jig, is that with skill, practice, and knowledge in the selection, they can be successfully fished anywhere, at any time.

Few if any other baits can make that claim.

when you think you know all there is to know about jig fishing.  Wait a day, something new will come up.

Be careful trimming the weedguards up too high.

I'm sure the jig companies want you to, b/c you'll lose a ton.

I'm more concerned with the stiffness. I usually thin them out some, and than trim just to where they are in line with the hook ponit.