When I started surf fishing those same men were stingy with me. I asked one day, what good does it do you to take your secrets to the grave. Then I began sharing everything I could with whoever would listen and became very popular with lots of folks. There are plenty of fish for everyone. Everything has already been discovered anyways. Nothing new really.
If anyone can make a jig…..I intend to make really good jigs.
It is going to be difficult to fasten up a jig that rivals what a plastic bait can provide though. Of course how the jig is to be fished influences what might be nice and what might be a waste. We still do not understand the fish very well and are learning new things about them as time goes by. Look at what people are learning using LiveScope.
I ordered a powerful UV light for quick curing. The one you recommended looked nice but like you said watch that you don’t put your eye out kid. Mine is coming with safety glasses that I intend to wear when using it. I read about how these things go and saving you the chemistry lesson, almost all resins will cure when the light is intense enough. Once I have set the goo using the light, I will finish the cure off on the back porch anyways. The light boxes really wouldn’t serve a purpose.
The eyes that I stuck on using the adhesive that comes with them, and they overcoating with resin are perfect. Running thumbnail over the edges, trying to catch the edge of the eye, proved impossible as the resin built a dam and the nail simply slips right on past. Slick huh ?
I also ordered some stuff to try to form up a Shad profile onto a jig hook. I have been thinking about what might could be done and want to see if I can do it or not.
Ordered some other things, too. Neon UV reflective powder that is very fine and can be mixed into the resin to produce outlandish patterns and finishes. Ordered ten small bottles with micro tips on them. They are transparent so I am going to coat them with rubber paint to prevent light from entering. Then mix colors right in the bottle and cap off for future use. Yellow, green, pink and blue.
I am glad that I pour my own heads as I go through them so fast tying. I also really need to get organized now that I am accumulating materials. Been reading about feathers and looking at what is being offered. The furs do not excite me very much as I can use other things so easily. Looking at the jigs DrNip sent me it looks like itty bitty little teensie tiny feathers 🪶 are the way to go. So the devil must be in how they are prepared, trimmed, split and such. I will study that some more before I order expensive feathers. I am also going to look at plastic baits again, only this time with a discerning eye for more than just the colors.
Maybe they will bite this one……