To paint the hook eye or not?

[wannagofishin]

Pros and cons to painting the whole jig head and making sure the eye is clear vs holding the jig head by the eye and keeping it the original hook color and it not matching the rest of the head... or does it really matter?!

[trypman1]

That depends on how I fell and how much trouble, I want to go to. I don't think it makes a difference to a fish. My 2cts.

[slammingjack]

I used to paint the whole jig and make sure the eye was clear. Learned to hold the jig eye and keep the paint off the the eye and the hook shaft. I like it better that way and more people like the way it looks.

[Cray]

I hold eye in forceps paint head but not barb. I then take the time to clean what paint gets on eye off with pocket knife before baking. Just looks neater to me. Don’t think it makes 2 cents difference to fish.

[GrumpyLoomis]

90% of my jigs were all painted and then cleaned. But someone here on CDC told me about using alligator clips on the eyes and then painting. I really like that and it gives up the tine of popping eyelets. I don't really think the fish care one way or the other.

[Grainraiser]

I paint the entire head and clean the eye out with a hot paper clip. I really don't think it matters one way or another with the fish.

[skiptomylu]

I don't think it matters, but I always paint the whole head and just stick a tooth pick in the eye to open before I hang it to cool before it hits the oven. I am not really convinced painting the head really matters all the time, but feel the painted head helps the fisherman to have a tiny bit more confidence in the bait which is the most important thing in fishing!

Skip

[speckle]

Best not to. The cleaning process can cause problems. Poking the paint out can leave burrs on the eye and cut your line. Paint left on or in eye can be abrasive and cut line. Poking out the eye with bodkin or a eye punch can open the eye and line can come out. Although I also get paint in the eye at times I try to be cautious when cleaning.

[skiptomylu]

Best not to. The cleaning process can cause problems. Poking the paint out can leave burrs on the eye and cut your line. Paint left on or in eye can be abrasive and cut line. Poking out the eye with bodkin or a eye punch can open the eye and line can come out. Although I also get paint in the eye at times I try to be cautious when cleaning.

I have no issue with removing paint from the eye hole. Just stick a tooth pick in before it even gets hard. Actually there is also a very safe way to make the hole after it's even cured, just heat a thin bodkin or large needle and stick it through and it will melt it's way through leaving no sharp spots. Have done this for 12 to 14 years and as of yet, no issues!

I do know lots of guys like to avoid painting them and that's fine too, but I just don't see that as an issue or a problem either way. SO in the end no big deal and just do it however you like it!

Skip

[nnelzon23]

I don’t paint them, but when selecting, I always shop for heads w unpainted eyes. Just makes life easier and I’ve never had a fish tell me there is a difference.


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