Suspending Jig Head

[george12182]

After reading the post on making floating jigheads, I think I have an idea for something interesting.

http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/wire-baits/16312-floating-jig-heads.html

I think it would work to make either a suspending jig head or a heavy head with a slow sink rate. Say you want the sinkrate of an 1/16 oz jig head but want to be able to cast it as far as a 1/4 oz head. What it would basically be is a lead head inside a floating jig head.

To acomplish this I would first pour a 1/4 oz jighead like I normally would. Then I would place this head in say an 1/2oz cavity. Then fill the cavity with polystrene using the procedure described in the link.

What do you guys think?

[Gloomisman]

use a material lighter then lead. Like tin.

[Ogajiga]

Never needed floating heads, but a smaller lead (or tin) core head inside a larger foam "casting" is definitely an idea worth considering. Both molds would have to fit the same hook, but modifying a ball head core mold for larger hooks is Do-it-able.

Edit: thinking about it more, the advantage of a foam sheathed jig head would be primarily slower sink since regardless of sheath size the jig might not cast any farther than the core weight.

Edited April 9, 2009 by hawnjigs

[george12182]

I have a tube mold that all call for the same size hook. (1/8 to 3/8) and a tube mold of 1/32 and 1/16 already dremeled out. I don't think the suspending jig is going to work. I was playing around with some densities and determined I would need to put a 1/16oz lead head into a 3/8 oz cavity for it to reach around the same density of water. I could probably drop down to around a 1/4oz cavity if I use tin(Didn't do the numbers yet). The problem is I don't know how to get it too initially sink. I'm sure it will sink some on the initial cast, not sure how much though? Anyway, I am not going to worry about that problem yet. I'm just gonna pour some different combinations of lead and foam to see how they work.

I think the plain floating jig heads might have some use as well for non livebait fishing. Normally, they only come in small sizes for live bait. But if you filled a 3/8oz tube cavity for the floating jig head on a 4/0 hook then hooked the tube like you normally would, I think it would work really well on a carolina rig.

Edited April 9, 2009 by george12182

[george12182]

Hawn,

Not quite sure I agree with you on the air resistance. Sure it's going to have some affect but I don't think it's going to be enough to signifantly affect the castability as much as the weight will. This will probably have to be a trial and error test though. Not quite sure how you'd figure the math out on that.

Also, if you use the jig's inside of tubes the air resistance would be a non issue.

George

[Ogajiga]

George, yes, inside tube heads air resistance a non-issue. I'm sure you'll have fun trialing the ideal insert weights into the ideal size sheath heads. Eventually, you'll have a tube presentation system adjustable to depth, species, conditions, structure, etc. I commend your excellent idea!

[Vodkaman]

Originally posted by George12182

What it would basically be is a lead head inside a floating jig head.

What you have described is basically a 'hardbait'! Maybe the thread should be moved to the hardbaits forum.

Just joking. Interesting read.

Dave

[Ogajiga]

George, another idea: I used tube jigs exclusively for all species until my jig mentor turned me onto tied rabbit fur jigs. In theory the fine fur fibers have better movement(arguably) and the wetted down fur has less wind resistance than soft plastic tube "legs".

[kelly]

An idea on the slow sinking jig head is off one of my mistakes. I took the clay that you bake to make hard. Cant remember the name of the clay. Thinking it would make a floating head I squished it in to a mold with a hook in it. Baked it then at the end of the timer I removed it dipping it in powder paint. I did get the temp spiked just before painting and did not burn any. Makes a good looking head thinking that the baked clay would loose the moister and float. But I was wrong. It sank slowly to the bottom. But the good thing that came from that is big head and sank slow plus I can powder paint it. Not being lead it seamed to hold the paint well to. still had some weight to cast.

[george12182]

Well I tried two different craft stores and no luck on the beads so I had to order them online. Now I gotta wait 7 to 10 days to do some experimenting. If anyone's interested the beads are called polystyrene beads. They're what they use in bean bags.

[jimcline]

Hey guys, I already tried the floating tube jig thing and it worked out pretty well. My idea is to fish it like a carolina rig. The only problem is that it floats hook point down which hurts the weedlessness of it. I think we can overcome that by just using weedless hooks in the mold. I actually did this with Arky style mold complete with weedguard. I added a floating soft plastic to it along with a regular jig skirt and it floats very well. I intend to fish them the same way (carolina rig). Should be good over shallow weeds and even deeper structure like stumps and humps and such on a suitable leader. Just a few thoughts. Oh by the way, they worked quite well for the walleye fishing. JIM

[kingfish]

I experimented a while back on suspending bucktail jigs for walleye and ended up using a 3/8 oz roundhead mold with the regular aberdeen hook and instead of lead I used a hot glue gun to make the jighead. Paint and tye with bucktail and ended up with a fairly neutral bouyancy, using more bucktail made the jig more bouyant. I tried different molds and hooks for different rigs and although it is light to cast by itself the idea worked quite well.