DECOY - DJ-79 LONG PIKE HOOK MADE IN JAPAN

Decoy DJ-79 Long Pike Hook — Made In Japan

"Pike" is the name of a hook shape in Decoy's range, not a species. The DJ-79 Long Pike is the single-hook, long-tether member of that family: one Pike AS-03 tied onto Katsuichi's original Reflection Braid Line, set deliberately longer than a standard assist. The same braid is used on the Middle Pike DJ-78, and its particular suppleness is what lets the fine, light AS-03 hook move freely rather than being held rigid against the jig. Lengthening the tether does three things at once — it raises hook-up rates because the hook can swing round into a mouth, it holds the fish more securely once hooked, and it slightly reduces snagging because the point trails behind the jig instead of leading it. That combination makes it the Pike rig to reach for with long-profile jigs and with slow jigging for bottom-dwelling fish. Tin finish with Aqua Block treatment, supplied here in #1/0 and #4/0.

Within Decoy's Pike ladder the DJ-79 is the long single. The DJ-88 Twin Pike is the twin-hook version on a shorter, elastic braid for general light jigging; the DJ-100 Grand Pike moves to the heavier Pike Type-R hook for power work; the DJ-89 Tachi Pike replaces braid with stainless wire for toothy fish. For light shore game, see the DJ-90 Light Assist and DJ-93 Light Game Twin.

Key Features

• Single assist rig built on the Pike AS-03 fine-wire jigging hook
• Katsuichi original Reflection Braid Line, in a long setting
• Longer tether improves hook-up rate and post-hook holding
• Reduced snagging compared with a short front assist
• Suits a wide range of jig weight classes, including long-profile jigs
• Well matched to slow jigging for bottom fish and to iron long jigs
• Tin plating with Aqua Block corrosion treatment

How To Rig It

• Front assist on a long jig — Split-ring it to the nose eye. On a long jig the tether needs to reach roughly to the widest part of the body; too short and the hook never meets a mouth that hits mid-jig.
• Slow jigging for bottom fish — Fish it on a slow, wide lift with a long controlled fall. The supple braid lets the hook flutter with the jig, which is most of the appeal to grouper, snapper and other bottom species.
• Single over foul ground — One point trailing behind the jig finds far less rock and rope than a twin. Where you are working rubble, wreck or coral edges, this is the safer choice.
• Front and rear — On very long jigs a second Long Pike at the tail ring covers back-end hits, but only over clean bottom.

Target Species By Region

• Southeast Asia — Grouper (kerapu), snapper (merah), coral trout and amberjack on slow jigs over reef and wreck, plus trevally on long jigs in current.
• North America — Lingcod, rockfish and halibut on the Pacific coast; grouper, amberjack and snapper on slow-pitch jigs in the Gulf and off Florida.
• Japan & East Asia — The home use: slow pitch jigging for kue, ara and madai, and long iron jigs for buri and hirame.
• Australia, Middle East & Europe — Snapper, kingfish and bar cod on slow jigs; hamour and cobia in the Gulf; pollack, ling and cod on North Atlantic wrecks.

Specifications

Model DJ-79 Long Pike. Made in Japan by Katsuichi (Decoy).

Recommended Pairing

• Slow pitch or light jigging rod, 3000–6000 spinning or a small overhead reel
• PE 0.8–2.0 braid to a 30–60 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Long-profile metal jigs; #1/0 for the lighter classes, #4/0 for larger jigs and deeper water
• Heavy-class split ring at the jig eye; step to the DJ-100 Grand Pike for full power jigging