Damniki TG Tungsten Micro Jig Product Review

Lure Review

What the... Finesse Jigs? : Damiki's TG Tungsten Micro Jig

Date:	10/25/11
Tackle type:	Lure
Manufacturer:	Damiki
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.5 - GOOD

Introduction: When it comes to finesse tactics for bass, it's not difficult to imagine four out of every five anglers will lean towards drop shot, split shot, shakey head, or other techniques that are primarily concerned with presenting a miniature soft plastic baits. How many of you out there honestly think of a jig? The common stereotype for jig fishing is heavier fishing lines and rods that are rated medium heavy and up. Who fishes a jig on a spinning rod and 5lb test line? Well, this year, we do. There are a number of manufacturers offering mini-jigs no doubt catering to those anglers who will throw almost nothing else. We got a hold of a few in our What the Finesse themed year. Here now is a look at one of these products, the TG Tungsten Micro Jig from Damiki.

Damiki TG Tungsten Micro Jig Specifications
Type	Micro Jig
Skirt	Silicone
Sizes	2, 2.5, 3 grams
Colors/Patterns	Four
Hook	Light Wire Proprietary Brand
Additional Features	Wire Tied Skirt
MSRP	$4.99

Impressions: When I hear the term “micro-jig”, I think of those 1/32 and 1/64 ounce leadheads with micro-mini, soft plastic tube baits used primarily for panfish. When I think of jigs for bass, I’m pulling out half ounce football heads or arkie heads and the like and tossing them on a stout stick with 12lb test fluorocarbon and up. But then I got a load of the Damiki TG Tungsten Micro Jig and the finesse fishing light bulb lit up!

What the... Finesse Jigs?

These tiny little jigs feature round, tungsten heads and are tied with a metal wire. The skirts are trimmed to flare up at the head, but trail behind the hook for a small, wispy profile. As one might expect, the hook is light wire, and there is no weedguard on these jigs.

Yes, introducing the TG Tungsten Micro-Jig from Damiki.

Field Tests: These jigs are tiny and they're light. They come in three sizes from 2 grams to 3 grams or 0.07 ounces to 0.10 ounces. I toyed with fishing these on casting gear (Daiwa Finesse Alphas + Daiwa Steez Megatop casting rod), but really, I had best success fishing these jigs on spinning gear. My setup of choice? Why the Damiki Angel Blade S701ML of course, a rod that has been discontinued in North America.

Matching the bait with an appropriate stick.

Tying: Those with failing eyesight like myself, be forewarned, these tiny jigs can be frustrating to tie to the end of your line. The frustration stems not just from the line tie, but from the way the skirt flares around the jig's head. It can take quite some time to get your knot wound correctly, and free of any stray strands of skirt material!

Rigged and ready to go.

Casting: The castability of these jigs is highly dependent upon your gear. Case in point, while I was able to make barely serviceable casts with my Finesse Alphas and Steez Megatop combo, the best distance I was able to get was maybe twenty to twenty five feet away. This was with just the bare jig. Using a trailer helps bulk up the bait for casts which will make it a tad easier with conventional gear, but still, there is a better solution.

As you might expect, the TG Tungsten Micro Jig comes with a very sharp, but very light wire hook.

That better solution is spinning gear, and that is why I fished the TG Tungsten Micro-Jig with spinning gear the majority of the time. While, with the finesse baitcasters like Daiwa's Finesse Alphas and PX68s, you can use just as light of line as with spinning gear, you can still cast super small and light baits like these jigs more easily, and with less effort by using spinning gear.

Small baits not only catch smaller fish, but also more variety!

Next Section: How effective are these "Micro" lures?