Jig Man

Ted I tried 3 different beads. I found a size that is perfect with 2 beads. I cast 8 with the 2 beads. 6 of them were perfect. 2 of them had beads showing on the surface. Is there a trick to keeping the beads imbedded?

Ted that’s a great idea. I don’t think I have any aluminum rods but I do have beads. What do you think would happen if I were to use glass beads.

Actually I am trying to turn a 1/2 oz jig into a 7/16. I may be making several dozen. I have looked and not found a 7/16 football mold. I really don’t want to go the red silicone route because I find it nearly impossible to remove. I may have to use it and buy another mold.

Other than filing down each head how would you put a flat place on them? I’m not looking to do a mold mod if I can avoid it.

Those were my thoughts too. The Pee Wee is .039. The EC is the right shape but thinner .034. The Victory is also thinner .033. The Mustad is real close .038 but there seems to be a subtle difference in shape. My current bet is a custom hook from someone. Those babies are out producing all my other jigs right now. I’ve made a knockoff that is working but I’m wanting to try some sickles. I may order some Mustads.

Do any of you know which sickle hook they are using. I’ve been looking and can’t seem to find a match. Thanks

Have you tried oiling the mold?

I can’t answer that question but I have a couple of suggestions, mendit or a hot knife might work.

I have the AnglingAi 5 inch. It makes 4 at a time. It works great. Mine is a TTG04. I paid $125 for it.

Jewell uses sickle hooks on their Pee Wee jigs. Looks like Eagle Claw Little Nasty hooks. They go down to #6.

I used to mentor high school fishing team members. They were 15-17 years old. As much as I had to watch them to keep them safe I would be very reluctant to see a kid that young working with hot plastisol.

That sounds like a plan. What will you use for dye?

Unless you are making hundreds of jigs and dying some you won’t need very many tails.

No logic here, I put mine on the side away from the hook as I feel more fish attack from the side after seeing it approach.

On the ones I thread tie (hair jigs) I use clear nail polish what ever is the cheapest at Dollar General.

Round nosed pliers maybe

I make mine out of aluminum flashing. I put it in the mold and inject both sides, open the mold remove the plate and the off side baits, close the mold and inject the other color.

Will your mold take a lamination plate? I’ve found them handy for keeping colors from mixing.

I hope you get it worked out to your satisfaction. I can’t get fish around here to hit a bladed jig very often.

Looks like you may be on to something there.

Heat, humidity, fan, I don’t know what caused the condition but it hasn’t happened since the weather changed.

Mike’s idea seems like it would give you more control and finessing it open.

You may be on target there. I’ve never been considered to be the brightest candle in the menorah.

Thanks for the advice. I hadn’t considered it being the pot itself. I just assumed it was air cooling the spout. As far as I know I am done until cold weather. I just ran short of some and may need them next week.

It’s been around 100° lately and inside the garage it has been 94°. I needed some football heads so I went out at 05:30 and plugged in the RCBS lead furnace. The garage was 84° this morning. After the lead melted I began pouring 1/2 oz jigs. I am using hard lead and keep the pot on 8. I was running a 24” oscillating fan about 20’ away. Before I got a dozen poured the lead stopped flowing. I turned off the fan and hit the pot nozzle with a propane torch. It poured immediately. I finished the 1/2 oz and started on 3/8 oz. It wasn’t long before the lead stopped flowing again. I turned off the fan and just let the pot set for about 5 minutes. The lead began flowing again. I turned the fan back on and continued pouring. It stopped working for the third time so I just turned it off. I’ll wait for cooler weather. I’ve never poured in this kind of heat and humidity before so this is a new experience. In fact I’ve never even heard of anything like this. Has this happened to you?