The jig is a simple lure; a hook with a molded metal head and one of the oldest that dates back centuries.

The first jig was a simple ball head that more than likely was a modified musket ball mold that someone fitted a hook into. The jig and minnow, a ball head jig with a live or fresh dead minnow has caught more fish then all other designs or combination combined.

Is the ball head the perfect jig head design? Today we call the ball head a shaky head or wacky head. Early fishermen added a short tubular metal extension to hold skirt material like marabou feathers or deer hair, the combination became known as a doll fly or crappie jig, depending on the size.

The ball shape started jig designs and soon the head started to be customized to elongate it for more weight; the banana head, widen it to add weed guards; the arkie head.

Bass fishermen liked the arkie head because this design allowed the jig to be fished in heavy cover where bass live in southern reservoirs, becoming the perfect jig for flipping or pitching.

Out west the ball head was elongated sideways to add weight and keep the hook upright; the football or barrel head jig with a wire weed guard. The western reservoirs are mostly deep clear rocky lakes that the football shape was twice as heavy as the ball head and worked good in the rocky bottoms.

The first football jig that I know was made by a JPL machinist named Larry McCain and marketed back in the late 50's by Bill Haddock.

Today the football head has become popular; is it the perfect jig?

The footballs wide head design tends to get snagged in wood and wedged in rocks. The arkie head works better in wood, the ball head slides between rocks better.

The bottom line is; there isn't one perfect jig head design and today we have dozens to choose from, all specialized to perform well in specific applications.

The perfect jig head for me is my own design that dates back to early 70's, is similar to Bobby Garlands spider jig; combination of a football and ball head. The perfect rock jig, poor heavy cover jig.

WRB

That was a good read

 Enjoyed the history lesson ...

skillet

That was a tad bit interesting.

Geee what were the odds that you were the one to design and build the perfect jig ?  how surprising  

Geee what were the odds that you were the one to design and build the perfect jig ? how surprising

What is perfect for my use is a poor choice for anyone who fishes heavy cover and that is most jig fishermen. Odds; 100%, I fish custom tied hair jigs with special cut pork trailers, both are not popular and perfect for my use.

Muddy; did you receive the e mailed articles? .

WRB

Negative, but I found the booklet from another member who read the thread, cost me a couple of cranks, but worth it