jigs

[Fishaholic]

So I am going to tie my own steelhead and salmon jjigs. what size should I get? Should I find the closest size jig to the ones I would buy at the store?

[Button Nubbs]

1/8 oz works great in all conditions

[Fishaholic]

okay now do I just look for 1/8th jigs or do I have to find a 1/8th jig with a thicker hook?

[Button Nubbs]

Preferably a jig with no collar and a thicker hook. Grab a jig off the shelf and compare it to the jig heads hooks

[Fishaholic]

okay. I have seen them just didnt know what they were for and making my own is better then spending 3 or 4 bucks on a jig

[Fishaholic]

something like this?

[Button Nubbs]

bingo

[TheHunt]

I would agree with Nubbs.  The 1/8th oz is the go to for me.  I did start out with 1/4.  I do have some in my box just incase I am in some difficult water.  But my go to's are all 1/8 and some 1/16 oz jigs

[Button Nubbs]

1/16th work exceptionally well in low, clear and cold water conditions, and on pressured fish.

[Fishaholic]

Why so small?

[Button Nubbs]

Why so small?

Extreme cold water tends to make salmon and steelhead very lethargic. It takes too much energy to digest a bigger meal. Cold water often means clear water also, steelhead tend to be spooked of larger baits in clear water. The biggest factor imo is the presentation being natural, lighter leaders and lighter baits tend to move more naturally in the current. When the water is up and off color or steelhead green they tend to be aggressive, sometimes you have to bump them in the face in extremely low visibility water but they can see a long ways in clear conditions so things like leader weights don't matter as much in off color conditions. They have to make a choice, eat now or it will be gone forever but in clear water they have the option to study your bait for a while. If they see anything they don't like they're not gonna take your offering. A very good fisherman once told me, "these fish don't have hands, they only have one way to check things out." make them curious or excited and they will eat.

[Button Nubbs]

Do yourself a favor and get bill herzogs book "color guide to steelhead drift fishing." It is mostly about drift fishing but has information that applies to all steelhead fishing techniques. The best steelhead publication imo

[BigGoonTuna]

pretty rare to see the locals using even 1/8oz jigs in the summer.  most use 1/16, and as it gets lower often i'll drop down to a 1/32oz jig(about the size of a nickel).

[Bullkllr]

Smaller, lighter jigs are generally the ones I prefer, especially in summer. If you need more weight for casting or getting deep just add split shot. Overall much more flexible than depending only on the weight of the jig.

[WSU]

Where do people buy good jig heads in 1/16 and 1/32?

[TheHunt]

I buy mine from Joel's jigs.  He uses good strong hooks which will not bend.

There are people on here like polar who pours his own jigs.   

[Button Nubbs]

I pour them.

[Mr Mykiss]

Owner Hooks!! 1/4oz if'n you're gonna fish for those big WA nates on the coast...

[Fishaholic]

Owner Hooks!! 1/4oz if'n you're gonna fish for those big WA nates on the coast...

okay   


how hard is it to get started poring jigs? I started making weights for fishing. were can i get the casts?

[Button Nubbs]

Do it molds. Its easy.

[olypen archer]

For light Jigs I buy unweighted jig hooks and brass dumbell eyes at the local fly shop. The eyes are super easy to tie on and I can add additional weight if needed with lead wire wraps as an underbody. I tied up some very buggie looking Jigs with rubber legs that were dynamite last year on the summer runs.

[PolarBear]

I pour them.

It is fairly cheap to get into pouring your own and super easy.  I use Owner heavy hooks in 1 to 1/0 for all my steelhead/salmon jigs.  They are nice and sharp as well as sturdy.  I tried Matsua Sickle hooks but they tend to be too brittle.  Cabela's has Do-It steelhead jig molds in Lacey.  I think they are about 36$ for one that does 3 or 4 sizes.  I think that mine goes from 1/16th, 1/8th, 1/4 and 1/2. Like I said, really easy to pour AND tie your own jigs.  Plus, you can get different molds for bottomfish as well.

[BigGoonTuna]

i usually buy mine of ebay for cheap.  there's a guy named brad out in aberdeen that also sells them for a fair price.

[Fishaholic]

i usually buy mine of ebay for cheap.  there's a guy named brad out in aberdeen that also sells them for a fair price.

I have seen his stuff at dennis company.

[TheHunt]

I should get into the pouring but that will have to wait until I get some free time.

[Black Ghost]

barlowstackle.com is good resource, and they have everything... hooks, lee melting pot, do-it all molds, chenille, yarn, maribou, etc.  Another thing to consider is paint, I suggest watching a video on youtube by wired2fish.  I attached three video's that will get ya started.  Lots of good suggestions above, hook selection is important, you want a strong hook and the right mold to work with that hook. 

http://www.barlowstackle.com/Do-It-Steelhead-Jig-Molds-P336.aspx

How To Pour Homemade Jigs

How to Powder Paint Jigheads at Home

How to Bake and Cure Powder Paint on your Fishing Jigheads

[Black Ghost]

I should have added you don't have to pay big money for a fluid bed for applying powder paint, you can make em for cheap with some pvc, fish tank aerator, coffee filter, etc.  you can find videos on youtube for that as well.  my fluid bed is made from a pvc coupler, knock out cap, and 3-4 inch piece of pvc.  Tap it and glue in a the fish tank tubing.  Do not glue in the pvc to coupler, wrap bottom of pvc pipe with coffee filter and press gently into the coupler.  Pour in powder paint, and turn on aerator.  Heat jig head with small torch or use the heat gun as seen in video.  Then bake em, and never worry about paint chipping on the river bottom.