Jig head types

[Triton18622]

Was wanting to pour some jigs this year but am undecided what head style to go with.

I will mainly be dragging this jig on the bottom over sand, gravel, and wood. Will encounter some light weeds as well. I know the football head is good for dragging but will not work well with weeds and wood.

Will be used in Northern Michigan and Northern Indiana waters.

Of the following what will be the best all around bottom dragging jig head type:
Arky
snootie
Poison
sparkie
Banana

The above are available from Do-it molds.

Right now I am favoring the Poison tail...Mold # PTJ-3-AFS. 1/4 and 3/8 oz size.

Are there any other head types I am missing that might be better?

Thanks.


Modified by Triton18622 at 8:14 AM 1/8/2010

[paulpus]

Arkie is my choice almost everywhere I fish, grass, wood, rock, deep, everywhere.
Paul

[Munkin]

Arky #1 with a ballhead coming in second.

Allen

[the_crab]

I like these best for dragging, they're like the eakins jig heads.

do-it mold model #'s

RWR-3-AYS 1/8, 3/16, 1/4
RWR-3-AYM 5/16, 3/8, 7/16
RWR-3-AYL 1/2, 9/16, 5/8

http://www.barlowstackle.com/a...ID=59

[Triton18622]

Now with Do-it mold model # RWR-3-AYM 5/16, 3/8, 7/16 it looks like they call for a 4/0 hook. Could I cast jigs with a 2/0 or 3/0 or must it be 4/0 to fit mold correctly?

This mold may work for the type of jig I would like to produce. The round ball head will help the skirt splay out as I was looking to create a spider jig very similar to the Eakins.

Round ball may not stand up on the bottom as well as other designs but may be the best all around head type.

Just don't want to plunk down 35 bucks on a mold and then decide I should have bought another.

[paulpus]

You might have issue if you use a smaller hook then that in your jig. The angle on the hook might not line up right on the weedguard. This will give you a bad pour or a weedguard that can be holding on by a thread.
I know because I have tried myself, but not on that mold.
Paul

[Munkin]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Triton18622 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Now with Do-it mold model # RWR-3-AYM 5/16, 3/8, 7/16 it looks like they call for a 4/0 hook. Could I cast jigs with a 2/0 or 3/0 or must it be 4/0 to fit mold correctly?

This mold may work for the type of jig I would like to produce. The round ball head will help the skirt splay out as I was looking to create a spider jig very similar to the Eakins.

Round ball may not stand up on the bottom as well as other designs but may be the best all around head type.

Just don't want to plunk down 35 bucks on a mold and then decide I should have bought another.</TD></TR></TABLE>

There is very little if any difference between this mold and the Eakins 5/16. On Barlows site it has 4/0 for all cavities but I think my mold has 3/0 written on the 5/16 cavity? Anyway I know you can pour 3/0 hooks in that cavity but where do you plan on finding 2/0 Flat eye 60 degree hooks? Mustad(32798BLN) and Gama (614 I think that's the #) only go down to 3/0? I can tell you that this is the jig I use most often and the hookup ratio is so much better with the 4/0 hook I will never go back to the 3/0 period.

Allen

[Triton18622]

Munkin,

Thank you for the input.

This will be the first time casting jigs so was just throwing the hook size question out there.

If this mold is indeed very similar to the Eakins jig I think this will be what I am looking for.

I will plan to use the 4/0 per your suggestion. Do you favor the Gama over the Mustad hook or visa versa? Just want to get the sharpest hooks in these jigs with durability being second.

Thanks.

[Munkin]

Tonight I will take a pic of a Eakins jighead and the one the Do-It mold makes so you can see. As for the hooks the Gamakatsu hooks are a little sharper but for personal use I use the Mustad most of the time. I lose so many of these jigs that the extra cost of the Gamakatsu hooks isn't worth it to me. My record is 27 jigs lost in one day so cost starts to add up.

Allen

[Triton18622]

Wow...27 jigs !!! That would be a small fortune if you were throwing the Eakins!!!

A picture would be great, I appreciate the help.

Use to do a lot of fly tying...thought I would make some tackle, as I don't fly fish much anymore.

[the_crab]

If you do want to use smaller hooks you can use a little dab of liquid gasket material on your mold to seal around the smaller diameter hook.

[paulpus]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Munkin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tonight I will take a pic of a Eakins jighead and the one the Do-It mold makes so you can see. As for the hooks the Gamakatsu hooks are a little sharper but for personal use I use the Mustad most of the time. I lose so many of these jigs that the extra cost of the Gamakatsu hooks isn't worth it to me. My record is 27 jigs lost in one day so cost starts to add up.

Allen</TD></TR></TABLE>
Allen,
I think that tops my record of 25 in a 8 hour day.
Now if you count wht my T partner lost it would have been 43!
I couldnt go get them in 20+ foot of water. We did whack the fish ALL DAY THOUGH.
O well glad I make my own.

As to which hook, Mustad Hooks are a EXCELLENT hook!
Gama just cost to much.
You might want to check out Hookerz Tackle, (board sponsor) and see what they have to offer. I have some of the Hookerz Hooks and they are SHARP!!!!
Paul

[Munkin]

L-R Eakins 5/16 3/0 hook, Do-It 5/16 4/0 hook, Booyah 3/16 heavy wire hook.

These are not the best pics but you can see the difference (or lack there of) in the heads.

Like I said no noticable difference whatsoever except Eakins cost me about $2.50 each and come in colors I do not use versus my green pumkin/brown ones at about $0.75 each.

Allen

[Munkin]

Here are some I made last year? All of these are probabley hung on rocks in the Potomac River except the swim jigs.

Allen

[Triton18622]

Munkin - Thanks for the picks.

After further research looks like I will probably go with two different molds.
Arky Flat Eye ARK-3-AFC
Round Head Flat Eye RWR-3-AYM

Was also wanting to secure the jigs skirts similar to what War Eagle does on their spinner baits, with wire wraps instead of a rubber skirt collar. Anyone have a suggestion on what to use; small gauge copper wire?

Thanks.

[Munkin]

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...45340

These will make life easier with the wire. As for the size I will have to check when I get home but it is something like 22 guage? The green wire Wal-Mart sells for tomato plants or hanging picture frames works well.

Allen