When I first started using butterfly-type jigs with assist hooks, I had an occasional bite-off, most often by Spanish mackerel and kingfish in my home area. From that day forward, I have used wire 100 percent of the time and have had no bite-offs. Wire is no more visible than normal assist rigging and is totally bite-proof.
I prefer 125-pound seven-strand wire cable; tuck the tag ends inside the crimp sleeves. I use sleeves one size larger than recommended and make three passes of the wire through the sleeves. This gives the rigidity you need to prevent tangling around the jig. I use 9/0 Eagle Claw Alaskan Teflon-coated hooks. They have a gap large enough to work with jigs up to 8 ounces. I like to have my hooks somewhere near the middle or a little forward of the middle of the lure.
Capt. Ken Roy
Crystal River, Florida
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