Jig Man

My favorite is the Midwest Finesse head. I carry it in 5 sizes with #2, 1, and 1/0 hooks from various companies. What size head and hook do you like?

I don’t think about missed big fish anymore because there are hundreds of tournaments on Table Rock with as many as 500 boats in them. Fish over 4# have become a rare thing. I can’t remember the last time I had a good fish on down there.

By its purest definition I guess I do troll. I rarely stop my boat unless fish are congregated. I keep it moving from .3 to .5 mph. As I work the bait back I usually let it get behind the boat for a while in case I am not fishing deep enough, especially with jigs and Neds. I think of this as dragging instead of trolling.

My first boat was a 12’ 16# styrofoam canoe. I bought it to float the creeks that beside our farms. It cost $39.

I don’t use cranks often but the Bandit 300 is on of the first ones that I use.

That may be the case for your region but not necessarily everywhere. I catch so many more on jigs than Trigs that I have almost quit using them.

The site won’t let me use the name of the jigs and were different with the weed guard. The guy’s name was Beau James. Covid got him. I’ve been hearing rumors that his wife is supposed to be getting them produced again but nothing concrete.

I don’t even try to keep track but I am sure you have much more than I do. My wife keeps asking what she should do with my stuff if she out lives me. Before I switched to the Midwest Finesse weedless mold with the Victory hooks I lost 15 Ned rigs on one side of Piney Creek on Table Rock one morning. After I got the mold and poured some heads I went back and fished the same area loosing only 2 Neds.

If you are considering pouring your own jigs, here are some things to think about. Pot. $70-400 depending on quality Molds $50-70 each Hooks $.30-1.00 each Skirts $.30+ per tab Weed guard $.15-30 each Lead $2.00-4.00 per pound Paint from a rattle can to $200 Eye protection Gloves good to 500° So on the cheap lets say you get a $70 pot, $20 worth of lead (you will need a way to flux it before use), 2 $60 molds, $60 for hooks, $30 for weed guard, $60 for skirt tabs and a $4.00 can of paint. You will have $364 minimum invested and you won’t have a jig yet. My unsolicited advice is find you a bait maker and buy the type of jig heads that you want. Use his hooks or provide your own. Get a few dozen poured (painted or not), buy some skirt material and see if you like to assemble jigs before you dump a few hundred bucks. Getting into plastics is a whole other bigger can of worms. I will be happy to share some of the places where I get supplies for anyone interested.

There are several MO based boat transporters. My guess is it will cost you 2-3 gs. Google MO boat transporters. If you decide to come get it check the weather forecast before you head out. We are snow covered right now.

I mostly fish TABLE ROCK or it smaller rockier cousin Stockton where jig life expectancy is very low plus I don’t like to go get a hung up bait when the boat might scare fish.

I wish I could get 2 to 3 trips out of a jig. Where I fish I am lucky to get more than an hour or so out of one. Plus I carry 5 color patterns in 3 sizes of my main jig so just having 4 of each as backups that’s 5 dozen jigs.

That’s why I started making my own jigs a long time ago. Even with today’s prices I buy the hook I want for about $.30 and skirt tabs for $.30 each. A hook and 2 full tabs run me less than $1.00.

I’ve simplified this. I use 12# fluorocarbon and buy it in 1000 yd spools and 15# braid which lasts for years.

I hear you. I am a lot older than you. I used to go when the forecast was a high of 32°, not so any more. Now I don’t launch until the temperature is 32°. I also wear a heated vest from Sheels that keeps my core warm.

https://www.fishingskirts.com/ has a plethora of skirt tabs for you to look at. For an all around jig I recommend the football head. If you want to buy from an independent instead of a big company, contact Mike at Seiberts Outdoors or Ted at Cadmans Jigs. They both are good guys and can probably help you. If you need some tying help, Google smalljaw videos. He does a great job of teaching how to tie various types of jigs.

Jigs, Ned, shaky, swim baits 90%+

I’ve been wearing them for more than 15 years. They are fully washable, just toss them in the machine with most any load. They are all that I use except for beaded jerseys on really cold days.

I don’t know anyone who would comment about my equipment. If I did I’d think sour grapes.

I would also like to catch a big spot. Table Rock lake has tens of thousands of them, however, the size rarely exceeds 3#. Our state record is 7#. I have never even had a 4# spot.

https://egolfgloves.com/usgrain.html I wear these year round.

I have 2 6’6” St Croix Premier rods like yours. I use them for crappie and have them rigged with Shimano 1000 reels and 10# Power Pro braid. I also use them for white bass.

I’m not sure how important that is. Like I said I have been making and using them for 20 years. I don’t remember ever catching a fish on a longer middle wire so I quit using them.

My best guess is that it is more economical to make the wires the same length for mass production. Here is the wire harness that I use.

I have both your #1 and #2 rods. I use the ml for that kind of fishing with Shimano 2500 sized reels, 15# braid and 10# fluorocarbon leader. The m works better with heavier baits.