Looking For Some Opinions On A New Football Head.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'm working on a new style football jig.  Just looking for everyone's input and what they think of the design.  Here are a couple photos.

 

The head has a flat spot on the bottom and angled edges.  With this it also has a recessed eye, better collar, and barb.  I'm working on this heads angles to help kick it over rocks a bit better then a standard round ball football.  This head is based off my Dredge head but I want it to be a improved.  I'm still in the tweaking phase of this but my main question is:  The head does not stand on a flat surface with the flat base, but when in rocks it fishes like a champ due to the angled sides.  When I put a skirt on the head it does stand from the skirt and fishes just as well.  Would you all prefer a football jig that will stand up like my brush heads by itself on a flat surface or would you prefer the angles to help kick the jig up and over structure?  I personally would rather have performance over look nice on a table top.  I've never seen a bottom contour like a table.

[roadwarrior]

I prefer the stand-up jig head.

[kikstand454]

I would prefer function over form here. I'm not entirely convinced that ANY jig is standing up like we think it is in 20fow ..... and I'd rather just know that its going to come through the trash better. ....

[roadwarrior]

On the fall the trailer stands up and remains up or a limmited time after it hits the bottom.

When the jig is lifted the trailer stnads up again. This is also true, but to a more limited

extent, when  the jig is dragged. Try it in clear water and see for yourself.

[senile1]

I get RW's point but I also would like a football head that is even better in rocks, especially those slab shaped rocks with the narrow deep cracks between the slabs.  I always lose a lot of jigs to this type of rock even when using football heads.  

Mike, how does this new jig stand up when you view it in water with the skirt and a trailer attached?

[Siebert Outdoors]

Here is a pretty horrible picture of the jig sitting in gravel.  Notice the claws and how it is sitting.  They are pointing up at about a 45 deg angle.

 

I've fished this prototype quite a bit and it is real hard to get hung up, even when trying.  I fished it last night in rocks up to about 10" in diameter by dragging and fishing normal. This jig  kicks over rocks better then any standard football or any football I've fished. Then I switched over to a regular football to compare.  There isn't a comparison at all.  This jig is by far more advanced then a standard round football.  When the jig falls the trailer points up. 

 

Overall,  I am highly impressed with the jig. 

[kikstand454]

^ awesome.

How do you feel this jig would perform in an offshore setting where the bottom is strewn with wood and not rocks?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It depends on what I'm doing. A "Shakey Head" stand up jig is nice for soaking a finesse bait but for dragging/hopping a craw imitation through a rocky river bed I like something like this that will come through without loosing more than necessary.

[senile1]

Here is a pretty horrible picture of the jig sitting in gravel.  Notice the claws and how it is sitting.  They are pointing up at about a 45 deg angle.

 

I've fished this prototype quite a bit and it is real hard to get hung up, even when trying.  I fished it last night in rocks up to about 10" in diameter by dragging and fishing normal. This jig  kicks over rocks better then any standard football or any football I've fished. Then I switched over to a regular football to compare.  There isn't a comparison at all.  This jig is by far more advanced then a standard round football.  When the jig falls the trailer points up. 

 

Overall,  I am highly impressed with the jig. 

 

Mike, I have to give you credit for the design.  I think most of us could use a jig that is difficult to hang up in rocks.

[Siebert Outdoors]

^ awesome.

How do you feel this jig would perform in an offshore setting where the bottom is strewn with wood and not rocks?

 

 

I would think very well but I still have testing to do before I build it.  If it works the way I believe in laydowns it should be an awesome design.  I'll be throwing them in a tournement this weekend.  Pitching more rock and wood. 

[kikstand454]

Nice.

If it kills then I will be in the line for an order. For that matter, I may pick up a set just for rocks specifically anyway. Lol.

[gulfcaptain]

I would rather it come through without hanging as easy...it can stand up all it wants but if gets hung up constantly then it isn't doing me very much good.  When you get it lined up and ready, I'll take 3-4....will it come in tungsten?

[ChrisD46]

Mike , for a football head to sit up at a 45 degree angle is plenty - if you want more stand up capability then there is always the Dredge Head ... Besides , a V&M Mud Bug or Z-Man craw will give you all of the floatation you can ask for in a trailer - but no trailer makes a bit of difference if your losing football jigs to rocks ! ... I am in the camp that wants you to stay the course to develop a football jig head that hangs up less in the rocks !! ... Also the recessed eye is a big plus as is the brush guard which should not be too stiff to prohibit a good hook set from a distance ... Moving on , a good barb to secure a trailer securely and a 2X hook that allows for a easier hook set at a distance (as football jigs are generally cast versus pitched)... Lastly offer a couple of different densities of wire wrapped skirts (rubber & silicon) as you do with the Meta and your other jigs - plus all the detailed colors you are noted for ! That should cover it ...

[iabass8]

It's football jig season on the river for me right now and I would love to have a football head that doesn't get caught up on all the river wingdams and main channel nook and crannys. If you can solve that, you win in my book.

[Siebert Outdoors]

ChrisD45, that pretty much sums up what why I'm developing this head.  It will be offered with the Owner XXX hook and an Ultra point hook in all the models I make. 

 

Unfortunately Tungsten isnt a possibility right now.  I wish it was.

 

I am already highly impressed with the performance over a standard football.  As it sits right now with no tweaking it is still better imo. 

[roadwarrior]

Well, I'm fishing ledges, so I'm up for the challenge and will post a review.

I'm happy to pay for a few prototypes with PB&J skirts.

 

-Kent

 

p.s. I have been killin' 'em on your 3/8 oz Big O and only lost half of them two weeks ago!

[Raul]

Mike, I don´t remember if I sent you the video with a kind of jig Imae fishes, the one that rolls forward and stands up, that one would be awesome.

[ChrisD46]

Mike - If you are impressed with the new design (as it is now) over a standard football jig then I would be a potential customer for the popular weights and powder coated lead head is fine  ... Any additional improvements you make is just icing on the cake !

[ChrisD46]

Mike - I wanted to add that if you develop a football jig that hangs up less in rocks , it doesn't mean I will buy less of them . In fact , it will allow me to explore deeper into the football jig category with additional colors , sizes , etc. then just staying with 1/2 oz. Green Pumpkin and Black / Blue (because I lose so many of them) .