Where to find specific jig molds ???

[Fish Chris]

Okay, so I had this goofy occurence a little while ago, that shook my confidence in my Owner jigs. I really don't want to use anything but Owner hooks, as I still believe they are simply the best. {I just hope they don't slowly start to go downhill in the future, the way Gamy's have}

Alright, I landed an 11.8, and a 13.0 Largemouth, setting the hook with my braided line, from close range on those two, and no problems.

Then, I hook an estimated 4 lb Spotted bass.... Oh sure, it pulled some drag, but come on, it moved towards me on the hookset (relieving pressure) unlike the 11.8 and the 13.0 which felt like hitting a stump.... and my darn hook straightened on me, causing the fish to come unbuttoned !

Okay, it might have hit a bony portion of the fishes mouth, and had all the weight bearing out on the point (really hard on a hook) or, it might have just been that one in 1000 "bad hook". I hope not.

But anyway, I had Owner send me some sample jig hooks, that are of heavier wire. I think I have settled on the 5304's in the 2/0 size (I prefer a round bend, but they aren't offered in a 2/0 with  2X wire), and I'd like to pour them into 1/4 and 3/8's oz standup and football style jigs. I have two buddies with melting pots.

However, this hook has the 60 degree eye bend. Where am I going to find a mold for this specific hook ? It seems weird to me that a bunch of companies, make a bunch of different jig hooks, but wouldn't each of these hooks need a very specific mold to work right ? .... and if so, where could a guy find these molds ?

Will do some surfing now, but open to suggestions from you hard core lead pourers.

Peace,

Fish

[Mattlures]

Molds are very easy to customize. All you need is a dremell and a steady hand.

Matter a fact you dont even need that. If you find the mold you want, send it to me with the hooks and I will customize it for you so it will take those hooks

[Fish Chris]

Hey Matt, that is REALLY cool of you to offer ! I might even take you up on that..... But now that I compare hooks, I can't even find an Owner jig hook I'm completely happy with :-(

Most styles don't include a 2/0.

Most are too long shanked... or too light wire.

I gave up on Gamy's more than a year ago.

I've never really found another brand of hook that was truly surgical sharp... maybe Daiichi. Do they even make jig hooks ?

But hey now, it's 2007..... Has Mustad or Eagle Claw ever finally came out with a truly "sharp hook" yet ?

Geeeez ! I'm so freaking rediculously fanatical about hooks, I just drive myself crazy !  :-(

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Anyway, hey Matt, if I ever could find a jig hook I was completely happy with, what do you think about this ?

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/blank-molds/

Doable ? Heck, if the jig hook that I thought was perfect, turned out to be something you might like too, you could pour a bunch of jigs for yourself, before sending the mold back to me. I'd supply the hooks... as you would need a few to build the mold anyway.

Please let me know....

But either way, I need to find some good hooks.

Deep sighhhhh....

Fish

[Mattlures]

I wouldnt biuld a mold from sratch. You would have to buy the jig mold that you wanted and I could make it fit the hooks. I am realy happy with the hooks I use in my baits. They are mustad ultra points and they are very sharp and so far I have never had one bend out. I have not had a single customer tell me they had one bend out either. I do make my own jigs to my specs and I use these hooks.

I did have Byron Velvick send me some owners for me to make him some baits with. When I compared them with my mustads I found that the owners were slightly sharper. I mean it was realy close and I think the mustad was stronger.

[dampeoples]

Chris,

Barlow's carries the most complete selection of hooks that i know of, look them up on the web, get a catalog, or even call and speak to Bill, his catalog lists the wire diameter and all of the hooks, so you know what you're getting up front. As far as the mold, if you're looking at a football jig mold that takes 60* hooks, check the recommended hooks wire size vs. the hooks you are wanting to use to see how compatible they are. Do-It even has a multi-hook jig mold that takes them in flat eye as well as regular, and a lot of different hooks. I have this mold, and have used both the 60* 32798 and 32796 in Mustad, both are 4/0 flat eye hooks, the 96 significantly larger. Here is a link to the mold page, with a listing of hooks that they know that fit the mold, not sure if it's the complete list or not. I'd try it for you, but I'm a Mustad man myself, don't have any other brand

If you can't find one of these to work, and are willing to spend the money, Shawn Collins will make you any mold you want to take any hook you want.

Good luck, let me know if I can help you any more.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Have you considered the Hookerz hooks or the mustad ultra point or X-point?

[Fish Chris]

Hey Dampeoples, I might call Barlows, and see if they have a specific mold, for the hook "i think" I have settled on. It would certainly be easier than trying to modify a mold....

But also, I plan to talk to Owner to see if they can direct me to a mold for that specific Owner jig hook. It seems odd to me that Owner (or any hook company, for that matter) would sell blank jig hooks, and not the specific mold for that hook ?

Hey LBH, I haven't seen the Hookerz yet, but I did check out the Mustads and the X-points. The problem I see most often, is that the vast majority of the jig hooks I see are either too long a shank (great for actual jigs, with skirts and all, but not for a Huddlebug, or Basstrix Bluegill) and / or too light of wire.

The one short shank, with decently heavy wire that I have found, is the one I have been using.... the one I stuck the 11.8 and the 13.0 on, but which straighted with a 4'ish Spot. But my thoughts are, by going up 1, or even 2 sizes, in the same hook, the wire diameter should also increase, plus, I'm thinking my practice of "opening up" the gap a little before using them, might have weakened them. So with a size or two larger hook, I will have an even wider gap, without having to bend them out at all :-)

All this said, if anybody can show me a 2/0 or 3/0, short shank, 2X strong, round bend, black, 90 degree, surgical sharp jig hook "of ANY brand", I'll at least give it strong consideration... and probably even ask the company for a sample.

Hey Matt, I'll send you a PM.....

Thanks guys,

Fish

[dampeoples]

The mold I pointed out will accept the Owner (5304,5317) hook you mentioned, as well as a few more (they list one Daiichi and 3 or 4 Gamakatsu models), Barlow's has already done the fit testing.

I'll pour some footballs for you to test out, if you'd like, just send some hooks over.

[dampeoples]

From the Barlow's catalog:

The only hooks that come in 2/0 (as you stated above) are:

Standard Eye:

Owner 5304, 4/0 wire Dia. .055

Daiichi 4633 4/0 dia. .051

Mustad 32786 4/0 dia. .058

Flat Eye:

Mustad 32796 4/0 dia. .058

Gamakatsu 5941 4/0 dia. .062

If you go to 3/0, you can use the Owner 5317 4/0 dia. .060 or Gamakatsu 291 4/0 dia. .060

Good luck with your search, I left out some of the smaller diameter hooks from the page, you seem to be looking for heavy duty.

[Fish Chris]

I told you I drive myself crazy with hook choices, right ? :-)

Well, I think I have decided against the 5317's and the 5304's, as they are both a longer shank than I prefer, and might actually be a bit too heavy.

Here's the hook I think I am going to go with:

http://www.barlowstackle.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&Product_ID=1391&CATID=57

Yes, this is the hook I was using when I straightened one on a 4 lb Spotted bass.... but, I think by going up from a 1/0, to a 3/0, the wire diamter should go up sufficiently too. Plus, if I hadn't mentioned it, I'm thinking I might have damaged that hook a little, myself, by purposely bending the hook out just a bit, to give myself more gap. With a 3/0, I won't have to do that anymore.

Anyway, I think I have found the molds I need, although they will need a bit of modification...

Thanks again,

Fish

[dampeoples]

Sweet man, good luck with it!

[Bass Hammer]

Maybe your hook was fine and the real problem was that you caught a spot. ;D ;D

dem' spots gots some bad attitude. ;D