Trouble with tungsten jigs

[Bureaucrat]

Has anyone else had their tungsten hooks break off after a few tough removals from a mouth?

I try my best to remove with a tool without torquing on the hook shaft. I keep breaking them. Seems like they bend easily, and after a few corrections, they shaft breaks right at the jig.

Is it just me?

[Eric_Kruger]

this happens when the hooks are heated to much when soldering them into the head. most heads are pre formed due tot he high temp it takes to melt tungsten. so they are melted with a groove that the hook is laid into then soldered. It can also be a case of cheap hooks being used as well....not uncommon, but a pain when the jigs are spendy!

[Bureaucrat]

I've busted 3 this way and have only caught 2-3 fish with each one. I'm considering filing off the barb on a few to see if I can fish without.

[Brad B]

get one of these. it will save your tungsten jigs. it was designed just for the tungsten jigs for that very reason.

http://clamoutdoors.com/ice_fishing/tackle/tackleaccessories/hook-remover.html

[anderson_dc]

The hooks are tempered and are not meant to be bent. So if you use a forceps or needle nose pliers and twist the hooks out, you will break them.

Either do not twist the hooks during removal or use an easy out like Brad B posted.

[Lawrence Luoma]

To me I just chalk it up as one of the negatives of using tungsten. Good thing there a lot of other positives to continue using tungsten as this raises the cost of the jigs. Every jig that I take out of the package gets bent out and sharpened before it hits my jig box. Normally, if a jig is going to break it will during that process and the weak ones get weeded out before it hits my jig box or gets tied on.

Again, it's just one of the negatives that in the long run raises the price of using tungsten with a fine wire hook. The positives still out weigh the negatives for certain situations.

[palisade1kid]

if tungsten baits are to be used the proper removal tool is a nessesary item to have.

[amateurfishing]

picked up a small handful to try for suspended crappies for the first time this year, definite sticker shock with these

[Savage Brewer]

This may sound completely stupid, but how do you use that style of remover?

I have seen them but never used one.

[JohnMickish]

At the Clam meeting they said that if you are using tungsten jigs and you use a forceps or needle nose, you WILL break hooks. It doesn't matter who's jigs they are, the hooks cannot take that kind of abuse. They are very small and have been reheated to attach the weight.

Just use the right tool and you won't break those expensive jigs.

[stpaulslouch]

I've never had an issue. Just put a single wrap of electrical tape on the tip of the hemostat and grab onto the head. I use all Fiskas and haven't had the paint chip yet (without having tap on the hemostat). I'll be using tape this year to make sure I don't chip paint.

[hamms-scooter]

I too use fiskas and have not broken hooks. My buddy broke a bunch of jigs he bought when he was cleaning the eye...

[pushbutton]

Mainly use Bentleys and Fiskas and do not think I have ever broke one with using a needle nose. Maybe one with the cheaper one at FF...Skandia i think. Northland ....uhm...yeah....not so good. Mainly use the bigger ones though, don't know if that makes a difference. Really like that Clam has a bigger hook on one...think a #8 and will for sure try it. Hope they will hold up with out having to use the gismo. Like someone mentioned just grab the head ......and work it back out the way it went in without going all crazy should be all you need to do. If not...how is it suppose to handle a fight from a big fish?

[MikeG3Boat]

I want to know how to use that hook remover also? They don't come with directions. So can someone please explain how to use them? Thanks!

[Bureaucrat]

Now that I've ordered a $3 hook remover today, hours later I stumbled upon this gadget:

Couldn't find a good video for the common one.

[blackdog1101]

I've never encountered breaking hooks on tunsgsten jigs. I've used Fiskas for several years with no broken hooks. I do notice more paint chipping, but storing them in a foam fly box and more careful removal takes care of most of the problem.