10 replies to this topic

[ice45]

This may be in the wrong area but here it goes. What are your guys opinions on painting on the eyes on a jig? Worth the time or not? Anyone have any incite stuff you have learned or read. Any opinions welcome. THANKS

[airbrushextreme]

I paint the eyes on swimming jigs and bucktail jigs as well as use stick on eyes which are easier. I have had fish follow a swimming jig several times on the same fish multiple times before with no eyes and turn away from it and eat the one my partner was throwing that had eyes just a personal preference I guess

[ice45]

yea i just started to mold my own ice fishing jigs I had a couple of molds made for me so i was just trying to figure out everyone's personal preference and experiences with them

[pirkfan]

ice45, on 09 October 2010 - 03:02 PM, said:

This may be in the wrong area but here it goes. What are your guys opinions on painting on the eyes on a jig? Worth the time or not? Anyone have any incite stuff you have learned or read. Any opinions welcome. THANKS

I put either painted eyes or stick on eyes on most of my jigs. I don't find painting the eyes particularly time consuming if I'm doing a large enough batch of jigs, probably would go with stick on eyes if just doing a few (would sorta depend on my supply of a particular size eye and whether the shape of the jig lends itself to stickons). My theory...it can't hurt...and if it gets even 1% more bites, well, I need all the help I can get. A quick and dirty alternative to painting or stick on eyes is to get a set of hole punches of various sizes and some colored electrical tape. Punch out an eye in colored tape, and the pupil in standard black. It works and you can sort of assembly line the process.

[Jig Man]

I do it but don't think I catch any more fish than when I didn't even paint the heads, but it is more fun to fish a good looking head.

[Peterjay]

For what it's worth: I used to do a lot of diving back when I had a commercial shellfish license, and I was able to observe a lot of various species of baitfish up close in their natural environment. A couple of things struck me: their ability to blend in - their scales seemed to reflect the ambient light, making them very difficult to see. The only feature that really stood out was their eyes. Since then, I've nearly always put eyes on my flies, and whenever possible, on my lures. As has already been said, it can't hurt, and I believe it does make a difference. It certainly drew my attention.

[toadfrog]

Peterjay, on 11 October 2010 - 10:11 AM, said:

For what it's worth: I used to do a lot of diving back when I had a commercial shellfish license, and I was able to observe a lot of various species of baitfish up close in their natural environment. A couple of things struck me: their ability to blend in - their scales seemed to reflect the ambient light, making them very difficult to see. The only feature that really stood out was their eyes. Since then, I've nearly always put eyes on my flies, and whenever possible, on my lures. As has already been said, it can't hurt, and I believe it does make a difference. It certainly drew my attention.

I have made lures since I was a child . The lures I make for others have eyes the lures in my box don't . If you are going to sell them make them with eyes to catch the sport fisherman. Fish don't wear little round spectacles and tap there fins while inspecting potential lunch. They are just sharks with no teeth. If it resembles prey in movement and presentation they will eat it.

[ice45]

Thanks for all your opinions guys

[JBlaze]

Peterjay, on 11 October 2010 - 10:11 AM, said:

For what it's worth: I used to do a lot of diving back when I had a commercial shellfish license, and I was able to observe a lot of various species of baitfish up close in their natural environment. A couple of things struck me: their ability to blend in - their scales seemed to reflect the ambient light, making them very difficult to see. The only feature that really stood out was their eyes. Since then, I've nearly always put eyes on my flies, and whenever possible, on my lures. As has already been said, it can't hurt, and I believe it does make a difference. It certainly drew my attention.

I paint eyes on most of my jigs, mostly because I like the way it makes them look. I had never really thought about whether it helped attract a strike or not. I like Peterjays response, It makes sense to me so, I think I will continue to paint eyes on my jigs. Thanks Peterjay.
John

[ice45]

I like his response to so I think that I will continue to paint them. Thanks for the opinions guys.

[Smellycat]

Try to put stick on eyes then dip it in a clear coat it should keep the stick on eyes on. If not try using a nail to paint the eyes.