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Thread: Making a More Compact Jig

  1. #11
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    Good report and that sunrise was spectacular. Thanks for the photo.
    Bob

  2. #12
    Micanopy's Avatar
    Micanopy is offline Crappie.com 1K Star General * Crappie.com Supporter
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    I liked the shorter shank hook, as in the Do-It Whacky hook size #2, so ordered some more to have ready for when I make more Bat Jig lures. I also read some on the interwebs and learned that Eagle Claw makes a 571 jig hook that also has a short shank. This hook is said to be both solid and sad at the same time, but I really didn’t see any deal killer reviews. I know it probably has a poor tip, certain on a few anyways, but I can sample and cherry pick when the price is so reasonable. Cheap machining provides results that leave us fishing weird tips. I will exam each closely as I start using them to put in molds.

    This 571 seems to be a rarity in the jig world. I am sure others make similar but the Matzuo offering is unavailable. It also had complaints lodged on the interwebs BTW. Gamigatzu is said to have an offering that is very pricy. I might go for some of those after I finish exploring short shank hooks.

    I think the trimming down of the plastic baits, and having less involvement of the stiff hook shank along it’s length is an advantage. I felt that I was achieving better rigging because the distance the hook was being threaded was less. Easier to get them straight, no bulges or dips. That alone should provide a better swimmer. Having the tip exit the plastic at the junction of tail and body also seems to be a great location. The entire “body” of the bait is impaled, and the “tail” is left to wobble. It would wobble anyways even if the bait’s body extended beyond that spot, but not in the same manner. It really looked to me like the bait swam more vigorously. The larger Booty Thumpers wobbled my rod tips like a crank bait would. No blade just the body.

    Anyways I am excited about what is possible. I tried using short shank hooks when I first got the Bat Jig Mold. I used Do-It Whacky hooks in size #6, ( 60 degree eye ) as is prescribed on the side of the mold. Started losing fish like crazy. Good fish simply shaking free and gone early into the battle. Knew I had an issue. The original design was for vertical jigging, and at that angle the movement of the hook tip being pulled upwards, is different than being pulled forward. Vertical jigging amongst brush and the design is good due to the length being shorter and less likely to encounter snags, and more easily coaxed out and back up.

    I have been using the size #2 which does in fact fit the smaller sizes, down to 1/16th. It has a little extra length to it and that gets the tip a tad further back away from the head and in a better position to snag a fish, and keep him, and it does. I have very few sneak aways these days.

    The Eagle Claw 571 offers me a short shank 90 degree jig hook for my Free Style jigs. This will be new to me. I want to create short shanked 1/16th oz heads and add shortened plastic bodies to those, blades and no blades. I can make a jig that has a nice fat profile but not too much length. That fat minnow look that makes life so enjoyable for a crappie. I plan to see if these compact jig styles are worthy of pursuit, or would just a plain dumb old jig work just as well. I just have to find out, and that will take some more fishing trips. Those trips are so distasteful, too.

    I also looked over the boat when I got home from work and examined what I had done with the rod arrangement. I think it is good. I did tweak one a little to get a little more separation. I will be able to drag 8 long lines and two shorts. I will probably buy some new rods now that I see what I really need to have. I have some Dawai trolling rods made for big fish and they do just fine on the crappie. In fact when pulling up to motor back to the ramp yesterday I started reeling and discovered a fish on one of my Ozark rods. Whippy. He was just kind of swimming along I guess, so whippy isn’t really a requirement for my style, and heavier rods will work just fine. I also imagine cheap rods will be just fine as long as their lengths are right.

    I am pretty disappointed in the braided line as it wraps the rod tips so easily and creates beautiful macrame of impossible understanding. Clip away and retie. I am gonna consider switching to mono on my spinner reels. Unconcerned about someone’s chartings suggesting to report accurate depths, but only when using light lines. I adjust depths by line out lengths and jig head weights and if needed boat speed. Isn’t gonna need to be thin line to manage that, can be heavier. Tied to a small swivel with a light weight leader ( 6 lb ) off that.

    The braided line will flop around and grab the eyes on the rod and then form knots that defy my abilities and test my patience. Mono has issues too but I shall give it a try.
    Maybe they will bite this one……

  3. #13
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    You are getting this down to a science
    The love for fishing is one of the best gifts you can pass along

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