Berkley's Half Head Jig

Years ago, when Al Lindner of Brainerd, Minnesota was the president and director of In-Fisherman, Inc., he used to describe a 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig as a half-of-a-jig.

Back in those days, he and his brother, Ron, used to tout the merits of these jigs, and Ron introduced me to their efficacy.

Since the  Lindners' discovery of the merits of a half-of-a-jig, a 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig has been the mainstay jig for Midwest finesse anglers who ply the waterways of northeastern Kansas and western Missouri.  These anglers affix it to short stick-style baits, short plastic worms, small tubes, small creature baits, small fluke-style baits, and small shad-shaped worms.

And recently Berkley has begun manufacturing a 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig, which they call the Half Head Jig.

It is endowed with a small dome-shaped head. Its collar has four cone-shaped bait-keepers. It is affixed to a No. 1 hook.

For some unknown reason, most anglers and jig manufacturers possess the opinion that the color of the head of a jig is not a critical factor in assisting anglers in alluring largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass. But several longtime Midwest finesse anglers in northeastern Kansas and western Missouri are of the opinion that the color of the head of a jig can make a significant difference in their abilities to inveigle largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass. And it is heartening to these anglers to see that Berkley's Half Head Jig is available in seven colors: Black, Brown, Chartreuse,   Firetiger, Green Pumpkin, Pearl White, and Smelt. And some anglers are hoping that Berkley will add a red one and orange one to that repertoire.

Besides a 1/16-ouncer, Berkley makes an 1/8-, a 3/16-, and a 1/4-ounce model.  One of the major tenets of Midwest finesse fishing is to use the lightest and smallest jig, and here is hoping that Berkley will eventually make 1/20- and 1/32-ounce models.

A package of eight costs $3.99.