Cuda

Everyone has their ways of doing things, but base your decision on what you economically have in front of you. I am a fan of powder painting, but there is a stipulation to that I'll mention at the end. If you are looking to get at it right away, go grab some polish and have at with a few jigs. Plan out the colors and supplies you will need for powder painting and then purchase them when you can. The cost is more than a few bottles of nail polish, but it is aheck of a lot of fun blending and passing time making jigs pretty with powder paint. With that said, I do not paint my naked jigs 90 percent of the time. They don't last long enough for me to be enamored by a bare jig painted to be honest. I do, however, paint ALL of my skirted and hair tied jigs. Just the way I manage my paint shop Pass the time with the nail polish while you work up an order. You scratch the itch with the polish, and then the excitement builds for the powder paint order coming in "jig mail". Good luck bud.

I'll 2nd the 1/0 hook option. I also tie up an 1/8 oz. classic ballhead jig with marabou for smallies up in Door County. Slow and steady retrieve is the ticket just off the bottom for smallies. I also throw them in ponds with my boys. In this application, I run them through the water column a bit faster and on the high side. I also throw a half or quarter section of a 3 inch senko style bait on for the boys to make casting easier.

Model FST 6-A (3/16th-1/2 oz.) 90 degree jig hook style. I'm looking to use a heavier hook than the recommended Mustad 32746's, Owner 5318's, or Gama 114's. Basically I want to use these in saltwater and need to go with a beefier hook. The Gama 604s do fit and cast well, but want to know if there are other options anyone has used. The mold requires a jig with a bit longer eye stem (think Mustad 32746s), so I am just eeking these out with the shorter eye stem from the Gama 604s. The Eagle Claw 635s are tinned and appear to have a bit longer eye stem, but I have not used them before nor do I have them in my possession. The Mustad 32833s look like they might be a good choice as well. At the end of the day, I don't need Gama hooks, and frankly would prefer to find a more cost friendly option. They don't need to be tinned either. Any advice, discussion or direction would be appreciated. I can always mod, but no point in modding if there are options out there Cuda

Dave and Al, thanks guys!

Thanks, Judgie. I have always browsed through the forum , just never registered. I Appreciate the welcome bud.

Hi folks, Just joined, read the TU rules thread, and dropped in here for an intro and to say hi. Chicago native, river rat, Lake Michigan angler and jig maker who loves all things outdoors. Adventuring into the fly world lately and finally decided to join TU. I've been fishing around the country in fresh and salt for the better part of 40+ years. Happy to join the TU finally and communicate with other like minded lure crafters and fisher folk. For those on Instagram, my name is Mike Murphy, and some of you may have seen my adventures and jigs @barracuda8u I smile a ton at the little things, and love so many of the great designers out there in this wonderful world of lure making and fishing we all hold so dear to our hearts. Anyway, happy to be here and looking forward to connecting with other designers. Cuda