Jigging lures have been effective enticers of most species of saltwater fish for the past century or longer, but the recent explosion in popularity of jigging for just about everything NC saltwater anglers pursue has led to an incredible number of choices of lures. So how’s an angler to choose which to purchase?
It’s always a good policy to support a local company, and that option becomes even more appealing when the local company’s lures cost substantially less than the competition’s.
Rich Baugess, of Emerald Isle’s The Reel Outdoors, began making his own line of jigging lures under the Easy Hooker brand name over the spring.
Easy Hooker’s lineup features a flat-style jig, known as the Flutter Jig, and a Diamond Jig, both of which are available locally and for lower retail prices than their national brand competition.
The Flutter Jigs are available in 1, 2, and 7 oz. models. The smaller 1 and 2 oz. models retail for $2.29 to $3.19, and they feature through-wire construction and premium treble hooks to ensure that big fish that fall for the jig make it to the boat. Prismatic tape on each side, high durability paint, and glowing eyes all serve to attract those big fish to the lure in the first place.
The smaller Flutters have already proven effective on spanish mackerel and chopper bluefish so far, but the lure will doubtless produce action with gray trout, sea bass, bonito, and other fish susceptible to metal jigging and casting lures.
Easy Hooker’s Diamond Jigs come in 3/4 and 2 oz. sizes, feature a variety of prismatic tape finishes, are deadly on spanish and blues, and are a perfect lure for when a slightly less spastic action than the Flutter Jig’s is what the fish are looking for. Using one for weight on a gold hook rig will add even more flash and attractive action.
The 7 oz. Flutter Jig is designed to be rigged with an assist hook and used for deep jigging offshore for grouper, snapper, amberjacks, king mackerel, and other hard battling offshore species. It features a large, flashy prismatic side, a full glow paint job, and the same through-wire construction. The best part? Unlike similar sized deep jigs which go for $10-20, the Easy Hooker retails for just $6.99, making it a lot less painful to break one off on a wreck or lose it to a toothy animal.
Anglers interested in Easy Hooker’s jig lineup can check the lures out at The Reel Outdoors, K and V One Stop in Emerald Isle, or Chasin Tails Outdoors in Atlantic Beach.
For more information, drop Rich Baugess a line at manofmonkeys@yahoo.com.