VMC 7161 BN 3/0 Jig Hook

Product detailed description

VMC 7161 BN 3/0 jig hook is the foundation for a jig head you cast yourself, giving you control over its shape, weight and hook quality. It has a 60° bend towards the eye, a round bend and an overall length of approximately 46 mm. VMC designs this geometry for swimbait jig heads used with paddle-tails and other soft plastics worked with a swimming retrieve. The lure body should sit straight on the hook, with the flexible tail section left free to move.

The hook comes from French manufacturer VMC, which has made fishing hooks since 1910 and still operates its own production facility in Morvillars. Wire forming, heat treatment, sharpening and surface finishing are all part of its manufacturing process, and the company designs its own production machinery. For the angler, the useful results are a precise shape for fitting the mould, strength under load and a sharp point ready for use.

Hi-Carbon steel and a forged construction provide the structural foundation of the 7161. Forging helps the hook resist opening out. VMC also uses hardening followed by tempering to balance hardness and toughness. The Needle Sharp point is ground and chemically sharpened to initiate penetration with low resistance during the hookset. The bend and body then carry the load while playing the fish. These are practical reasons to build a quality hook into a jig head you cast yourself.

The high, round bend provides room for deeper-bodied soft plastics. Lure length is only part of the picture: a bulky paddle-tail needs enough space between the shank and point. During a take, its soft body must be able to compress or move aside without obstructing further hook penetration. After rigging, leave the point exposed and check the clearance inside the bend. This shape is particularly useful when the lure would otherwise fill too much of a smaller bend.

Why a 60° bend? The front section angles the eye forwards from the shank, whereas a right-angle jig hook has a 90° bend. The eye is where the leader pulls on the entire head. Its position relative to the centre of gravity therefore affects how the head tilts as you retrieve or lift it. A suitable mould uses this geometry for a particular head shape and presentation. The 60° figure describes the hook construction. The head, lure, current and direction of pull together determine the position of the soft plastic in the water.

Size 3/0, at 46 mm overall, sits between the 7161 2/0 at approximately 40 mm and 4/0 at approximately 50 mm. Choose it when the point needs to emerge farther back in the lure body than it would with 2/0, without the shank restricting the section that should remain free to move. Hold the hook alongside the lure first; a slender soft jerkbait and a deep-bodied paddle-tail of the same length do not necessarily need the same hook. Choosing your own mould and this hook lets you match the head weight to the actual lure, rather than selecting the rig solely by its weight in grams.

A pack of 10 hooks suits a smaller batch or testing how a new soft plastic fits. A pack of 50 hooks is useful for regularly casting the same size. Both packs contain the same 7161 BN 3/0 model. Compatible moulds and the other hook sizes are listed below the description, so you can put together the setup you need.

See how VMC hooks are made
The official film Life of a Hook takes you inside fishing hook production and shows the manufacturing behind the finished hook.

Watch VMC Life of a Hook on YouTube

Frequently asked questions about VMC 7161 BN 3/0

Why use a quality hook in a jig head I cast myself?

The mould determines the head shape, but the hook takes the hookset and the load from the fish. With the 7161, you are choosing a specific geometry, forged high-carbon steel and a Needle Sharp point. Casting your own lets you combine this hook with the head weight and shape your lure needs.

How can I tell whether a deeper-bodied lure has enough room inside the bend?

After rigging the lure straight, the point must remain exposed and the body must not fill all the space beneath it. Gently compress the soft plastic to check that the material can move aside without obstructing the hook. Assess body depth and softness as well as the overall length of the lure.

Will a jig head with a 60° hook stand on the bottom or swim horizontally?

The hook bend alone does not determine this. The position of the complete lure also depends on the shape and centre of gravity of the head, the surface on which it rests, the rigged soft plastic and the pull of the leader. The 60° angle describes the hook construction and helps you select and fit the correct mould.

Can I fit a different 3/0 hook in the same mould?

Follow the hook series and size specified for the mould. Two 3/0 hooks can differ in their eye bend, length, hook bend and wire diameter. Before pouring, dry-fit the hook, including its eye, and check that the mould closes fully without bending the hook to make it fit.

Can I choose freshwater BN or saltwater TI in the same mould?

Yes. With moulds designed for both VMC 7161 BN and VMC 6198 TI, you can choose the finish to suit where you fish, using the corresponding hook size. Black Nickel suits freshwater rigs, while tin-plated TI is intended for saltwater fishing. We offer 6198 TI in sizes 5/0 to 9/0, so this choice applies to larger jig heads, especially those for saltwater soft jerkbaits and heavier rigs. There is no same-size TI counterpart to this 7161 BN 3/0 in our range.

→ Detailed technical information is provided below in the Product parameters table.

↓ Below the product description, you will also find related and similar products to help you choose and put together a complete setup.