"chatter Jig" Spinner Bait Hybrid

[Crymdawg]

I recent Fishing magazine had a article about what to do with old spinnerbaits that might have a busted wire too short to make into another spinner bait. The author suggested cutting the wire shaft coming out of the body then turning it into a circle and making a "Chatter type" bait out of it. If I wanted to do this from the start with a mold, what diameter wire would be suggested and about how long past the head should I keep the wire. I'm tired of trying to put snap rings thru hook eyes then the metal blades of the bait !! If this would work I could save time, money (using spinner bait hooks already owned) and not have to wrestle with those damn snap rings !!! Any thoughts ??

[Tony Maxwell]

I have been using .040 SS Wire, from Jann's or Barlow's. I leave about 1/2" sticking out of the jig head. This depends on what you will use to make the loop. Practice on a straightened paperclip first, measuring before and after.

Tony

[GeorgiaBlade]

I use black nickel Mustad hooks in my jig molds. After I pour the jig I use a small hand-held Butane torch to anneal (soften) the metal just enough to bend (using a round nose pliers ) the hook eye open enough to install the chatter bait blade. I then close the hook eye. The trick is to eat the elephant a bite at a time. Apply a small amount of heat at a time and each time try to bend the eye open. You do NOT want to make it cherry red. Another option is to buy the jigs with the hook eye already open so all you do is install the blade and bend the eye closed. These can be purchased from

Lure Parts Online - by Stamina Tackle Later GeorgiaBlade

[lbslures1]

I use black nickel Mustad hooks in my jig molds. After I pour the jig I use a small hand-held Butane torch to anneal (soften) the metal just enough to bend (using a round nose pliers ) the hook eye open enough to install the chatter bait blade. I then close the hook eye. The trick is to eat the elephant a bite at a time. Apply a small amount of heat at a time and each time try to bend the eye open. You do NOT want to make it cherry red. Another option is to buy the jigs with the hook eye already open so all you do is install the blade and bend the eye closed. These can be purchased from

Lure Parts Online - by Stamina Tackle Later GeorgiaBlade

Why not heat the hook eye before you pour the jig head?

[agarrett]

Here is what I do,

 

I buy the premade hook hangers from Janns and Barlows that look like an 8 but have one end open. (size will depend on the jig/spinnerbait head size)

 

I lay the hook hanger in my spinnerbait/jig mold where I want the loop to be in the jig. I carefully close the mold so that it stays in place and squeeze the two handles together as hard as I can. It doesn't take much because the mold is aluminum and fairly soft. This will leave an imprint of the hanger in the mold.

 

I then take a dremel tool and carve out the section for the hook hanger. I use a bit with a round carving head.

 

Depending on the mold and placement of the hanger, you will be able to slide the blade onto the hook hanger prior to pouring. If not, you will have to carve out a groove at the top of the mold so that the blade fits. This can be easily done with a band saw or even a hack saw if necessary. Again, this will all depend on the specific mold and how close to the edge the hanger lies.