Snagging is always a concern for jiggers as the jigs are pretty expensive toys.

The reason of putting on the rear hook is that fish bites on the rear when the jig is falling. And slow pitch jigging emphasizes on the fall. And Sato Sensei developed this method initially to target bottom fish which lives around structures. He’s not afraid of snagging, and he rather likes to find structures because that’s where the fish is.

He gets off the snag and immediately drops the jig to get contacts. Sometimes he gets contact right after the snag as he explains that all the shaking and bumping attracts the curiosity of the fish. My experience confirms that too.

When asked the title question, Sato Sensei answered when it snags it snags with or without the rear hook. Don’t put on the rear hook if you don’t want to hook a fish on the falling jig.

Don’t let the jig sit on the bottom

To prevent snagging it’s important that you don’t let the jig sit on the bottom. There is a second or 2 before the hooks touch the bottom after the jig did. We use a conventional reel for this game. It’s easy to feel the instant of touching the bottom.

Use curved-point hook

Sato Sensei also changes the angle of the point of the hook. He adjusts the hook point directly toward the top of the hook. It increases the penetration force in hooking and decreases snagging. It’s shown in the bottom video.

Sato Sensei changes the hook by himself, but now there are some curved-point hooks that you can use for SPJ.

>> In-depth Study on Hooks for SPJ

How to get off snag

Here’s a video of Sato Sensei demonstrating how to get off the snag.

First, something knocks. Don’t hit it right away. If you pull hard the snag, you’ll never be able to get off of it. If it’s the fish, you’ll definitely feel it moving. If it’s a snag, try moving your rod tip gently, giving line slack. Do this couples of time, not to many, and it gets off when it can.

Second, use your hand. Feel the weight of the jig. Never pull hard.
When the rear hook is snagged, you feel the jig moving a little and you can usually get this one off. The weight of the jig can help to get off the snag if you let it.
Sometimes the jig head itself gets stuck and you don’t feel anything moving at all. This one is hard to get off.

Thirdly, shake your rod with your both hands. But make sure you give line slack in each shaking. If you keep pulling you’ll never be able to get it off.

This is all based on an assumption that you are vertical. When you are not vertical, as you are free-drifting, it is easier to get snagged and harder to get out of it. Make sure you use the heavier weight. It sounds like the heavier jig can be snagged easier. But the heavier jig can reach the bottom fast and the signal is clear. If you are drifted too far when the jig reaches the bottom, and if the signal is too faint, you may miss the signal and the jig would be sitting on the bottom.

How to adjust hook point

Don’t pinch the hook to adjust the hook point, as it would change the whole shape of the hook and loses its property. Use the special pliers to change just the angle of the hook point.

Hope the information helps you! Good luck!