Custon Football Jig Mold

[wootonc]

Does anyone on here make a custom football jig mold with a heavier wire than a 32798. Ive tried contacting Shawn Collins Customs but no response ive got some of his molds and really like those. I want a bigger hook and a better bait holder than the DO IT. Thanks

[mark poulson]

I altered the DoIt mold to accept bigger hooks.  Adding a bent wire holder along the hook shaft shouldn't be that difficult.

[smalljaw]

I'd like to know why guys want larger, heavy wire hooks in a football jig? Football heads were developed to be fished on bottom in deep water with 12lb to 14lb line. The hook choice was both standard wire and Aberdeen models that penetrate easily on a long cast with lighter line, but lately I've seen guys fishing football jigs with flipping style hooks. I heard Alton Jones talk about football jigs during a show seminar awhile back and he said that when Booyah was developing a football head, they started out with a heavy hook version and he missed more fish in the 2 month prototype period than he has in 3 years of fishing the final version. That said, Do-it make a heavy hook model that uses the Mustad 32786 or the Owner 5317, both are heavy hooks, or is there a reason that one won't work.

[wootonc]

Smalljaw that would work i was just looking for something that had a better holder on the bottom for the skirt that may be the way that I go. I personally use the 32798 in mine but the ones I sell they dont buy because the people in my area say the hook isnt big enough. but I do the the other hook myself. thanks for the help.

[mark poulson]

There was a thread here recently about modifying a DoIt mold to accept a wire keeper.  Scroll down to the next page or two, and you'll find it.

Personally, if it's going to be a skirted jig, I tie the skirt on with wire, twist and pull until the wire's tight, leave about 3/4" of twist when I cut the wire off, and bend it down toward the hook, once I've trimmed off the tab connectors.

That makes a great holder.  I do the same for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, and almost never lose trailers or have them slide down.

[smalljaw]

I see, you know I find a lot of guys that have gone hook crazy and I don't know why. The only time I use heavy hooks in football jigs is when I'm stroking it or in shallow water with stumps and other cover, these are rock flats but debris gets washed up on and large line and hooks work well because the water is stained. Good luck on the mold but perhaps you may be better served by asking the next customer why he or she wants a large diameter wire hook, I'll bet that is if you ask 5 of them, only 1 will have a real need, the others are just mimicking what they heard. Good luck.