Fiddlin' with jigs

[RockyRaab]

Earlier this year, I picked up 50 or 60 jig heads at a yard sale. They all had an additional small ring on the underside of the jig head. Obviously intended for a trailer hook or something else.

The "something else" I had in mind involved small spinner blades. So I ordered up some gold and silver blades, split rings and swivels from Barlow's.

I discovered that working with split rings this small is a pain in the labonza. My regular split ring pliers were way too big, so I ened up working with a needlenose and a tiny screwdriver to get all the parts assembled. Took me two HOURS to get four of 'em made up. And had more than a couple split rings zing off into neverneverland, besides.

Cute little boogers, though...



C'mon ice!
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[gaardvark]

I just bought a handful of similar looking jigs from bass pro. They have the round head like yours, but a longer hook shank. I imagine you got a better price, though I am not sure what your frustration might have been worth.
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[RockyRaab]

Yup. These came with a few "stinger" hooks made up of a small treble on a 1.5" piece of nylon and a tiny snap. The stinger might be useful to help hold a minnow or crawler on the jig - and help with short strikers as well.

Here's one with a stinger.



I'll make up 20 of these little pseudo-Roadrunners between now and Spring (I only bought 20 little Colorado blades) for Willard crappie/walleye/catfish use. And keep my eye out for some micro split-ring pliers.
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[rvca]

maybe hackle pliers would help
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[RockyRaab]

Holding the split rings isn't the problem, it's getting them open so I can thread on the stuff. I have to get a blade and a swivel on one ring, and the other end of the swivel and the jig head on another ring.

And the split rings are only .20" in diameter.

Edit to add: Just found some Rapala micro split-ring pliers. Ordered 'em. I'll resume making these little boogers when the pliers come!
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[SBennett]

You are exactly right about the eye for that style of jighead, meant for a trailer hook.
Those heads are made by Northland,the shank is short for the use of live bait, not so much for plastics.
I'm sure your blades will help. Any rattle/vibration helps!
Have fun.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Hope your spinner dinners work well for you. Adding a bit of flash and vibration has been a proven way of waking up fish and helping stimulate a reaction bite, when the fish are finicky. And when they are on the prowl...look out.

I make hundreds of Roadrunners, jingle jigs and "Pistol Pats" every year. Many of them require the use of a small split ring to attach the blade to the swivel. Having one of those mini split ring pliers will speed up the process and reduce the need for profanity. I have two...and wouldn't work without them. Also, when you buy the split rings don't buy the high quality spring steel ones. Get the cheapest stainless ones. They are softer and easier to work with. Some are so easy you can simply use the blade of the spinner to pry open the split ring and then get it started without having to use pliers.

I might suggest that you also use that little loop to attach about a six inch length of .016 wire (or mono) and finish it with a small ice jig for hard deck fishing. A variation of the Hali Jig. Fish are attracted by the larger jig but tip down and suck in the smaller tidbit.
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[RockyRaab]

Hmmmmm...
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[Moosedog]

I also thought you could make a variation of the Hali jig. Those look great though! The fish won't stand a chance[]

I have trouble seeing that small stuff with my tired old eyes.
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[RockyRaab]

Update: The pliers arrived yesterday. After a little bit of OJT, I got the hang of it. Made up more than a dozen of the little beauties in the time it took me to make one with a tiny screwdriver and a hunnert cuss words.
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[RonPaulFan]

This is what happens when I get glue and eyes. See photograph.
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[RockyRaab]

I see!
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[RonPaulFan]

Large eyes were inspired by me learning perch eyes are popular as bait when ice fishing for perch, so I figure I can add large eyes to lures to see if fish will key on large eyes.

I want to find and buy holographic eyes that show eye movements when viewing angles change.

I'm thinking of my digital video recording from my Marcum LX-9 when ice fishing Pineview for crappie last season. A huge head of a tiger muskie almost filled the screen and dwarfed the size of my lure it showed no interest in the lure as it passed by twice only looking.

What if I had a big eye big noisy lure sitting on the bottom on my second rod? Then when something big comes by and isn't interested in a tiny offering for crappie, I can real up the big eye lure and all of a sudden it will cross paths with the big tiger muskie.
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[castnshoot]

Just snip open the eye on the jig and pench it closed on the eye of the swivel . No need to use a split ring. It is not like it has to hold the weight of a fish,, just the spinner blade.

Use a little bigger swivel to to get the blade farther away from the jig for better blade action.
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[WaveWolf]

[#484848]UH-OH ..... Rocky is into jig making.[/#484848]
[#484848]I hope you have a fat wallet rocky.[/#484848]
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[RockyRaab]

You would not believe how fat my wallet is, good sir. However, I was into lead bullet making, so I fully realize all of which you speak.
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[RangerRat]

Now those are EYES!!!
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[WaveWolf]

[#484848]We could go down and harass Tube Dude for a day at his tubeatorium. That is a learning experience.[/#484848]
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Hey. Why's everbody pick on us poor old guys?

Jes give me a little warning so I can clear out the girls and the beer bottles.

Ya know yer always welcome.
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[RockyRaab]

Ahm afeered it maht be sommat like a roach hotel, guests check in, but...


(Nah. I'd enjoy such a tutorial very much.)
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