Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Fishaholic on May 14, 2013, 06:20:27 PM

Title: jigs
Post by: Fishaholic on May 14, 2013, 06:20:27 PM: 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?
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 14, 2013, 06:21:24 PM: 1/8 oz works great in all conditions
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Fishaholic on May 14, 2013, 06:32:05 PM: okay now do I just look for 1/8th jigs or do I have to find a 1/8th jig with a thicker hook?
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 14, 2013, 06:36:11 PM: Preferably a jig with no collar and a thicker hook. Grab a jig off the shelf and compare it to the jig heads hooks
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Fishaholic on May 14, 2013, 06:40:24 PM: 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
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Fishaholic on May 14, 2013, 06:44:01 PM: something like this?
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 14, 2013, 06:48:04 PM: bingo
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: TheHunt on May 17, 2013, 04:55:43 PM: 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
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 17, 2013, 05:09:41 PM: 1/16th work exceptionally well in low, clear and cold water conditions, and on pressured fish.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Fishaholic on May 17, 2013, 05:11:03 PM: Why so small?
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 17, 2013, 05:56:47 PM: Quote from: ddjj1991 on May 17, 2013, 05:11:03 PM
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.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 17, 2013, 06:04:35 PM: 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
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: BigGoonTuna on May 18, 2013, 07:12:58 AM: 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).
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Bullkllr on May 18, 2013, 07:28:18 AM: 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.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: WSU on May 18, 2013, 08:48:03 AM: Where do people buy good jig heads in 1/16 and 1/32?
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: TheHunt on May 18, 2013, 08:56:43 AM: 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.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 18, 2013, 09:13:53 AM: I pour them.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Mr Mykiss on May 18, 2013, 09:16:04 AM: Owner Hooks!! 1/4oz if'n you're gonna fish for those big WA nates on the coast...
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Fishaholic on May 18, 2013, 10:45:33 AM: Quote from: Mr Mykiss on May 18, 2013, 09:16:04 AM
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?
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 18, 2013, 10:49:21 AM: Do it molds. Its easy.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: olypen archer on May 18, 2013, 10:57:50 AM: 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.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: PolarBear on May 18, 2013, 11:24:07 AM: Quote from: Button Nubbs on May 18, 2013, 09:13:53 AM
I pour them.
:yeah:
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.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: BigGoonTuna on May 18, 2013, 04:57:47 PM: 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.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Fishaholic on May 18, 2013, 07:14:48 PM: Quote from: BigGoonTuna on May 18, 2013, 04:57:47 PM
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.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: TheHunt on May 20, 2013, 11:02:38 AM: I should get into the pouring but that will have to wait until I get some free time.
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Black Ghost on May 20, 2013, 11:35:31 AM: 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 (http://www.barlowstackle.com/Do-It-Steelhead-Jig-Molds-P336.aspx)

How To Pour Homemade Jigs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HY1kEdvOs4#ws)

How to Powder Paint Jigheads at Home (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7xc7BNbBnc#ws)

How to Bake and Cure Powder Paint on your Fishing Jigheads (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAu9Ue5Wpp4#ws)
Title: Re: jigs
Post by: Black Ghost on May 20, 2013, 11:42:56 AM: 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.