willowblade

When making swim jigs I use the smaller diameter 5/64” weed guards that I get from Jann’s Netcraft. They are a fairly flexible weed guard but are still stiff enough to keep the weeds off of the jig. When I powder paint my jigs I do not use a base pin so that way the weed guard hole fills up with powder paint. After the paint cools then I take small 5/64” drill bit and drill out the hole for the smaller weed guard. The finished product looks great. 5/64" Weed Guards

Take a look at the weedless casting jig that Do-It makes. This is the perfect swim jig head and remains the most balanced when coming through the water. There are two different mold sizes available. One mold pours 1/8, 3/16, and ¼ oz jigs while the other pours 5/16, 3/8, and ½ ounce jigs. These jigs also feature recessed eye sockets so that way you can add eyes to give your jigs even more appeal. Casting Jig Mold Small Sizes Casting Jig Mold Large Sizes

The proper hook for a football jig will depend on where and how you are fishing it. Clear and deep water generally requires lighter line where a standard or lighter wire hook will work best. The thinner wire diameter penetrates the mouth of the fish easier with the lighter line. For a lighter wire hook I go with the Owner 5326 Crosseye Hook as it will fit perfectly into all cavities (1/8, ¼, 3/8, and ½ ounce) of the mold. Owner 5326 Flat Eye Jig Hook If you are using a football jig in shallower water with some cover around, and using heavier tackle, a heavy wire hook will work best for that situation. I like to use a Mustad 32786BLN Jig hook in this situation as it is a very stout hook that will not bend out. Mustad 32786 Jig Hook Another option and in my personal opinion, the best overall jig hook to use in a football jig will be the Owner 5304 Deep Throat Jig Hook. It features Owner’s Cutting Point and falls somewhere in between a light wire and a heavy wire jig hook. The wire diameter is still small enough to get a good hook set in deeper water but is extremely strong and will not bend out. Owner 5304 Jig Hook

Take a look at Jann’s Netcraft for all of your components that you will need to make spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. They sell everything that you listed and more. Jann’s also sells these items in smaller quantities so you can mix and match to try different combinations. Here are some links to the products you listed: Spinner Blades Split Rings Wire Clevis Ball Bearing Swivels Hollow Metal Beads - 1/8" Buzzbait Blades Rivet Bearings for Buzzbaits

I use the skirt strip pads from Jann’s Netcraft and they contain 22 strands of silicone. On my flipping jigs and football jigs I use 2 to 2 ½ strips of material or about 45 - 55 strands depending on the color being made. On my finesse and swim jigs I use no more than 2 pads because I am looking for a thinner skirt that will flare more. Skirt Strips

Depending on what kind of jigs you are making will depend on which application to go with. For football jigs, flipping jigs or roundhead finesse jigs that are designed to be fished on the bottom, I simply bake the jigs in the toaster oven for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. If I am making swim jigs I bake the head at the same temperature and time and also apply the Plastic-Pruf Epoxy from Jann’s Netcraft. This helps seal the eyes on the jig and will keep them looking good for a longer period of time. Plastic-Pruf Epoxy

I mix up a batch of the Plastic-Pruf Epoxy that is available from Jann’s Netcraft. It is the hardest finish available and it helps to not only keep the eyes on your bait but it adds an additional of protection to the powder paint as well. I use this same system on all of the swim jigs that I make at home and I can fish them for several trips and not lose an eye or a bit of paint off of the head. Plastic-Pruf Epoxy

Building and ice rod is a great way to start rod building. The basic items you will need include the blank, handle (usually Korkalon), some rod guides, thread, and finish, along with some other basic tools Take a look at some of the rod blanks and components below. Ice Rod Blank Korkalon Rod Handles These Pac Bay Guides are great for ice rods: Pac Bay SVHG Guides Rod Building Thread Perma Gloss Rod Finish Brushes Burnishing Tool This will work great for getting you started on your first ice rods.

There are several good spinnerbait hooks on the market. Like you stated, the Gamakatsu 550 spinnerbait hook is very nice. Owner and Trokar also have extremely sharp spinnerbait hooks. The Gamakatsu and Owner hooks are a nickel finish and the Trokar hooks are black nickel. Check them out here: Gamakatsu 550 Spinnerbait Hook Trokar TK700 Spinnerbait Hook Owner 5320 Spinnerbait Hook

The Poison Tail Jig Mold in the 3/8 size will take a 5/0 hook. The hook that it will take is the Mustad 91768 BLN.

Take a look at this video from Jann’s Netcraft. They walk you through how to make your own plastic baits with all of the parts and accessories that you will need.

The CS Coatings seal coat and UV blast seal coat can both be used on crankbaits. You can either dip the lure into the seal coat and hang it to dry, or you can brush it on in several thin coats and build it up slowly. Both finishes will produce a durable, crystal clear finish on your lures. Seal Coat UV Blast Seal Coat

While not an exact match a #3 willow blade is 1.25” long and a #3.5 willow blade 1.56” long. A #3 willow blade will be the closest match for you. http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/willowleaf-plated-spinner-blades/320383.aspx http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/willowleaf-plated-spinner-blades/320384.aspx

The best way to remove excess lead that is on a jighead or spinnerbait is by cutting it off with gate cutters. This will give you a fairly close cut on the lead, and will leave you with a good looking bait or jighead. If the spot where you removed the excess lead is still rough you can clean it up with a file, and make the surface clean and even.http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/lead-melters-tools/781898000043.aspx Round bend pliers are a handy tool for making the loop in the end of the wire for spinnerbaits. A wire bender would not be the most handy tool for making this loop in a spinnerbait.http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/wire-forming-tools/706569360059.aspx http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/wire-forming-tools/041530200003.aspx Jann’s Netcraft has a great selection of pre made silicone skirts, as well as skirt material that you can make your own skirts. You can come up with some different color combinations to match the hatch on your home body of water. You can get everything you need to make not only skirts, but the whole spinnerbait from start to finish at Jann’s Netcraft.Also, be sure to watch the video on the link below for a quick how-to on making your own skirts. http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/skirts-material/

A hook that you may want to take a look at is the Gamakatsu V-Eye Jig Hook. It has a straight eye, and the gap on the hook is just a touch wider than a standard aberdeen jig hook.