Eye Painting Tools

[Gill Fisher]

What have you guys come up with as an inexpensive way to paint eyes on jigs. I've heard about using different size nails, but how about some other ideas?

Thanks

GF

[CrappieDreamer]

Don’t?

[skiptomylu]

Yes the flat end of a cheap drill bit. I have used them for about 13 years now and works great! Just use a larger one for the first color if it's a two color eye and other about half that size for them pupil. If one color like I do on my little Roadrunners I just use Black Vinyl.

Skip

[CrappieDreamer]

When I used to paint eyes on my wooden frogs, I used the rounded end of two very small paint brushes. I would pour out a small pool of paint on a piece of cardboard, dip the end of the brush in it and then touch the eye. Paint the large diameter first and then the pupil after the first dried

[Gill Fisher]

OK, CrappieDreamer, I take it that you are telling me not to paint eyes on my jig heads. Are you saying that they aren't important? That they keep fish from hitting? That you don't like eyes personally? I'm just asking the "Why?" question, or perhaps I should say the "Why not?" question. I'm not arguing, I'd just like to hear your thoughts on the subject.

I bought some jigs from another person at Crappie.com and his jigs didn't have eyes either. But most of the jig heads that I buy commercially have eyes. Is that because they help sell the jig heads, but not necessarily help catch fish? But come to think of it, the jig heads that I bought from Crappie Magnet didn't have eyes either. So what's the deal?

GF

[CrappieDreamer]

I am by no means an expert on the subject. I’ve never tried a side by side comparison. If you search the forums you’re likely to find people with strong arguments on both sides. IMHO eyes really dress up the appearance of lures and jigs, but I’ve caught tons of fish with and without eyes. To each is his/her own opinion. I personally don’’t paint eyes on my jigs (too much time/work) but have considered the 3D stock-ons.

I think mostly it is a confidence thing, plus as you noted, sometimes baits aren’t necessarily designed to catch the most fish, but catch the most fishermen. In some cases, if you’ve bought it and walked out of the store with it, the lure has done most of its work already

[slammingjack]

I do have people tell me they want the jigs with the big eyes ( walleye jig). When I first started painting my own jigs. I painted eyes on my jigs for no other reason then I liked it that way. Then I get to pouring my own jigs and got jig molds with eye sockets and used stick on eyes. BTW when I painted them I used a wooden toothpick for the black dot in the center of the eye. The end of a Small round paint brushes for the main color. Also had a chop stick that was round on one end for bigger jigs. Now I don't Paint the eyes on Round head jigs anymore. Why? because I don't want to.

[skiptomylu]

Well I have tied them both ways as I use to do eyes if someone wanted them for a price though. Still I never used them on mine except for my little Roadrunners and that is just a Black eye. I know fish will hit the thing either way, but does it actually help to have eyes? I can't truly say, but it's never been proven to me it's necessary! However I say that when most of my spring fishing (which is a big part of my total fishing) I use my little Roadrunners and I have the Black Vinyl eye on them.

I do think the biggest part of the ones at the store are meant to catch the fisherman more than the fish, after all fish do not buy the jigs! I have seen articles where guys tested using just a lead head compared with a painted head and at time the lead head won. I think really even a painted head only helps at times, but it does hep keep the lead for oxidizing and all that kind of stuff so I do think painting is good!

Now the most important part.....if the eyes give you more confidence, then you should always insist on eyes! Confidence is the biggest part of catching fish on a jig or any bait really. if you have it you will probably do well more than not!

Skip

[guest 2]

I use the ends of two small wooden paint brushes. One larger than the other for the big eye. I also have sanded the ends of the paint brushes flat just a bit.

Not perfect, but works fast and the end result is good.

I lay all the jigs flat on table, then dab paint off of paper plate. Can work really fast. Wait about an hour between coats and then flip over.

MY last batch was 300 jigs, so that was painting 1200 eyes. I opted for speed over high accuracy

Good luck!

[shipahoy41]

Yes the flat end of a cheap drill bit. I have used them for about 13 years now and works great! Just use a larger one for the first color if it's a two color eye and other about half that size for them pupil. If one color like I do on my little Roadrunners I just use Black Vinyl.

Skip

Skip taught me this trick and I have been using it for many years now. Skip said it the best ....".if the eyes give you more confidence, then you should always insist on eyes! Confidence is the biggest part of catching fish on a jig or any bait really. if you have it you will probably do well more than not!"