wilfish4774

I beleive that smalljaw is on to something using the silicone as an insert in aluminum molds. Many times I like to use a smaller hook size and of course the mold eye cavity is always too big and placement is tedious and at times inconsistant. However it seems reasonable that with a silicone insert in the mold eye cavity one could use any hook size with consistant depth placement of the eye. Good idea smalljaw.

One thing that really stood out to me is the off white silicone that they use in their molds. I wonder what that stuff is called and were to get quarts of it?

In my experience lead it lead, its what it is alloyed with that causes it to change the way that it reacts to heat and as well may cause differences in the way it pours. . Personally I have never used anything but what I believe to be pure lead and I never use flux, however, there are many other forum goers that use all sorts and kinds of lead alloys in their lures.They will be able to enlighten you much better than I if you are using something other than pure lead. In fact I seem to remember a very in depth discussion talked about on this forum but I cannot remember just were. It could be that someone else could direct you to this informative discussion on lead.

umm, I thought that they were supposed to leak.

bassbanit25 in my experience there is no jig paint that will hold up to the rocks. I fish inshore gulf of mexico and often fish from jetties. The rocks that these jetties are composed always tear up jigs but the real delima with the fishing that I do is the fact that I can lose a perfect jig at any time to fish that have sharp teeth. I feel terrible when I spent time fashioning a nice colorful jig only to have it clipped off on the first cast. (This , at times, happens alot with the fishing that I do.) I guess that what I am trying to say is that, although it is difficult, I have to produce a quantity of good jigs rather than a perfect few.

Basseducer, thanks alot for the info, it really does make sense that those siphon feed-external mix units are the way to go. I have yet to experience it but the clean up must be demanding spraying the vinyl. Still the units that you recommended seem to be cheap enough to give it a try. Oh and by the way that sure is a fine looking cat you have pictured.

Smalljaw I guess that the glow paint that Kasilofchrisn is obtaining from Barlows originates from Component Systems. They have been around as long as sliced bread. Their website actually has instructions for spraying, thinning and drying vinyl paint. They carry the "new and improved" glow vinyl in a few colors. This glow paint, I think, has to be "recharged" with a light source to cause it to actually continue to glow in the dark so using it for a downriggger weight will only have the "glow" effect for a limited period of time. I know that I am biased but imo a glow jig rather than a glow sinker might be more effective. Basseducer, although I have used the vinyl for quite some time I have never gotten around to spraying it. However I have recently obtained a small gravity feed sprayer and I have a compressor and my hopes are that I will be able to at least prime the jigs with this spray technique and get away from the dipping thing? If you don't mind I would like to hear a bit from you on the techniques and results of your spraying the vinyl paint.

Keith, wouldn't be nice for a mold manufacturer to actually just make a somewhat larger hole for the external eye area and offer different slugs with different sized eyes. It would seem that this would be much more workable than always resizing (permamently) by taking away material from the mold.

Choosing a good epoxy isn't the problem is it? Applying for effect is the tricky part IMO.

It sounds like you may not be thinning enough. I personally still use the vinyl paint and can't say that I have any trouble with it drying. And a bonus is that if one chooses to use it in a closed room the fumes will cause the user to become rather intoxicated. Outside on a windy day is preferable for me. IMO another valuable attrobute in utilizing this paint is that one can mix different colors.

That is neat. A guess is that you own a Hero? I would like to get one myself. Your lure is very life like. The bluefish and spanish mackeral that I see alot of where I reside will definitely like it enough to take it from you so if you come to florida you had better have several of them.

Hilt's use to make a silicone mold kit?

hawnjigs I have heard that alot of the south florida bone fishermen are on a first name basis with many of the large bonefish due to them seeing each other so often throughout the season. I would suspect that in the shallow water and calm conditions of the "flats" that a fisherman will do well to lead the fish no matter what they throw at them. The more that I talk about it the more that I am inclined to try out that sort of fishing. The pompano that we sight fish for are usually travelling about 50 miles an hour and I cannot imagine a fish that is more spooky and I would suspect that many of the jacks that you are use to seeing are the same way. Maybe one of the "flats" fishermen will chime in and set us neophites straight about the techniques in this regard?

St. Croix is what I use. Hopefully you were able to purchase the "new" 2012 with the improved 3M epoxy that they are utilzing.

Golfer1659, you are probaby too preoccupied to realized it right now but you are in the beginning stages of becoming addicted to the art of jig making. Stop while you still are able. Just kidding. I don't know enough about the style of jig that you are tying to "critique" your jig tying however I can offer up a bit of sage jig tyer knowledge: Don't be too concerned about the looks of the first jigs that you tye since you are new at the craft. At least in my experience I had to make 3 or 4 hundred before I started to really get the hang of it.

Ok, now I think I know what you are using the smaller hooks for. Fresh water.. I just have a hard time visualizing a lake on an island but it sounds like from your posts they are numerous in Hawaii. They don't call it the "Big Island" for nothing, right? I bet that a large Hawaiian carp on a #6 hook and light line would take a while if you wanted to try to retrieve your jig. If your lakes are anything like the beachs I have seen pictured there I would imagine they would be something to see as far a beautiful scenery goes. Yea, I was thinking when I do take a trip to South Florida I might try the Hawaiian receipt for bonefish, if I catch one.. I have heard that they are a very wary fish and I am unsure if I have the necessary skill to handle one.

Hawnjigs , Yes the reason that I was asking is that I really have not found any suppliers that even sell the vmc jig hooks in the smaller sizes on the net around here. Wow, am I reading your post correctly when you say that you are using #6 jig hooks? That , in my way of thinking is a very small hook. What are you fishing for using that size? I was thinking that my 1/4 ounce jigs utilizing a #2 were rather small and I cannot imagine a #8 jig hook.. Like I said, the Daiichi is not a bad hook, not super strong but stronger than most, however the red/gold finish I like to think will attract the fish that I target better than the black and silver jig hooks and they are not a bad price compared to the gamis and owners. The mustad steelhead hooks are stronger but lack the red/gold finish. I have seen on ebay that there are vmc 9147 jig hooks being offered for $4.50 per 100 but there is another $4.50 in shipping charges. In your experience Is that a fair price for these vmc hooks? It seems that I remember paying somewhere around $20.00 a hundred for the Daiichi jig hooks that I use and roughly the same for the mustad steelhead hooks. vc

hawnjigs, are or have you used the VMC 9147? The reason I ask is that I have never used or personally seen any of the VMC small jig hook offerings. If so do you know how they compare to the Mustad 32833? The jigs that you illustrated recently,, if you feel comfortable, what style hooks did you use in those jigs? Personally for my needs I use alot of the Daiichi 4663 hooks these days. I find that in most of my fishing situations these hooks have worked pretty good in my small jig adventures.

smalljaw, although I like a jig mold to pour properly as much as the next jig maker, for better or for worse I am equally concerned in the mold pouring the type of jig hook that I most like or desire. This being the case, I have been lucky in being able to modify or build my molds to pour with the jig hooks that I prefer regardless of a particular mold being specifically designed for the certain jig hook. But then the jigs that I pour could be considered a nich market in that I will never need a hook smaller than a #2 or larger than a 1/0.

hawnjigs, you have a bit more on the ball obtaining a "sample" of the eagle claw 570 which imo is eagle claw's closest attempt at Mustad's 32833BLN. I had to purchase a box to find out that these hooks, just are not for me.. I am sure that they will catch fish but I predominately fashion my jigs for myself and I am not interested in using hooks that I feel are not up to my expectations. Personally I don't understand the obstanance of many jig hook makers to simply exactly copy a particularily popular jig hook manufactured by another company. Case in point,, gamakatsu recently started to make a knock off of Mustad's 32833BLN steelhead jig hook. Given gamakatsu's most recent interest in competing with mustad's steelhead jig hooks it seems rather obvious that gamakatsu is interested in being competitive in attempting to comform to what the customers are interested in and are purchasing. I am not a great big jig hook purchaser but in my case I would rather pay a bit more for what I actually desire and will use rather than settling for something less or wasting funds on jig hooks that I will never use regardless of where the hooks are made or who the manufacture is..

You guys obviously know a ton more about jig hooks that I do. My problem is that the U.S. jig hook maker/makers do not offer the style of hook that I think I prefer. Certainly if Eagle Claw could access this site and begin making all of the more sought after jig hooks to the same quality and configuration it would be a no brainer for the forum goers to use the U.S. hook makers offerings. If Eagle Claw is listening: Don't forget to copy the new mustad steelhead jig hooks in the smaller 2/0, 1/0 and #1 sizes you will probaby sell quite a few.

No kidding, that really must be a or the "big island". I think that I know what you are speaking of "skimmer jigs". I, as well, have heard of the south florida fishermen using the goofy jigs which, I believe, doit has a mold for. As I mentioned eariler, I cannot imagine that there are not any old time ardent flats fishermen in south florida and the keys that are not making their custom jigs. I guess that I will have to drive down there and see for myself one of these days if they they exist or not. To be sure I don't think that the south florida charter fishermen would like to hear that bonefish are good eating. Yes, I have done my fair share of beach fishing and I am sure that you would feel right at home given that you show up at the right times. We, have large schools of jacks,(100 or more fish around 35 pounds each) run up and down the beaches but for the most part noone fishes for them here except for the dolphins. The redfish have made a huge comeback due to the florida fishery laws and are as well frequenting the beaches these days. I would be interested in sending you a couple of my jigs, I am curious to know if they will work for you. I like and would, as well, be interested in giving your custom jig mold configuration jigs a try here as well. Who knows, we may both be pleasantly surprized.

pirkfan, yes it looks like it would be great for the bluefish that have been abundant around here lately. I have yet to find any of the crystal flash or flashabou marage that I like in the christmas section at the dollar store but I would love to. I have been thinking about buying a kilo of it from china but that would be entirely tooo much for my needs.

hawnsjigs, wow, 40 years ago? You sound like as much a living fossil as I am. " two hour drive", I had no idea that the big island was that big. How many miles is it across the island anyway? As I mentioned, I have never fished south florida but within all of the TV shows I have always seen the south florida anglers utilizing crabs and shrimp for permit and bonefish. There is a big flats charter industry down there and I am guessing that those captains want to devulge as little as possible when it comes to size and configuration of the jigs that they may utilize or maybe they always use live bait. Are the Trevally the best eating of the inshore fish in Hawaii? Our Pompano run best in the spring but do also run in the fall and pompano are probably one the most expensive fish to buy around here but since everyone has started farming them maybe that will change. Around here we have nothing but sand beaches and mixed in with the pompano run are blue fish, blue runners, skip jacks, spanish mackeral and others. Needless to say with that many razor sharp teeth swimming around one can loose a bunch of jigs quick. It seems a universal consensus that pompano will bit best on light pound test mono/florocarbon and they have no cutting teeth as do the other species hence the predomance of light leader materials when fishing for these fish.

hawnsjigs, Awesome looking jigs. I know a friend of mine that uses the same reel that you describe. Are those the VMC hooks that you speak of? Your jigs are almost identical to mine except that I paint my jig heads. Your colors would work well on the pompano I am sure. Have you ever caught a bonefish on one of your jigs? As well, the south florida fishermen catch alot of permit which, as well, do not range into the area where I reside. I have never caugh either a bonefish nor a permit but I would suspect that both will take a jig of some sort. The St Croix inshore series is very popular in florida. Are the St. Croix rod blanks popular in your area?