Spike It vs. JJ's Magic

[Luke Barnes]

Bumping this with questions. 

 

Im thinking about getting a red or methylate color dye to make tails of swimbaits look bloody. Is JJs still the deal? Ive used Spike It but never JJs. Also reading all these make me regret not getting a tube of Megastrike on my last tackle warehouse order and settling for Bang because I could buy it local. 

 

Big question. Can you use either on Elaztech? I know it's a weird special formula so I didnt know if it would hold up to dye.

 

 

[bowhunter63]

JJ and Mega strike.  Never had a lot of  luck with Spike it. 

[Luke Barnes]

Went to BPS last night and they dont carry JJs or Megastrike. Much disappoint. I know academy has JJs but never seen Megastrike there so looks like another online order is in the works!

[Dens228]

JJ's Chartreuse when I want to add a bit of color. 

MegaStrike when I don't. 

[J Francho]

I've talked to JJ himself a few times on the phone when ordering and just that bit of time and how well the product works is all I need to keep using it and never try anything else. Good people, good product. 

[Luke Barnes]

Does anyone know if you can use JJs on Elaztech?

[NorthernBasser]

10 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Does anyone know if you can use JJs on Elaztech?

No you cannot. It's like acid and will dissolve Z-Man plastics. 

[Luke Barnes]

1 hour ago, NorthernBasser said:

No you cannot. It's like acid and will dissolve Z-Man plastics. 

Thank you. I was hoping it would work for ned rig baits for me but o well. It sounds like the only good option for elaztech are the markers.

[Luke Barnes]

Another thing I just thought of. Does anybody use a brush or anything to apply dip dye to specific areas? I'm going to try fluffing out a Qtip and use red or methylate to make it look like it's bleeding. But if there are better techniques i would love to know. 

[J Francho]

18 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Another thing I just thought of. Does anybody use a brush or anything to apply dip dye to specific areas? I'm going to try fluffing out a Qtip and use red or methylate to make it look like it's bleeding. But if there are better techniques i would love to know. 

Let the man show you how:

 

[Jaderose]

BTW......I was the OP and I went JJ's and never looked back.  It's the shizznizzy.  Even after I dropped a bottle in my garage!

[Luke Barnes]

19 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

BTW......I was the OP and I went JJ's and never looked back.  It's the shizznizzy.  Even after I dropped a bottle in my garage!

Its funny because I googled JJs vs spike it and saw this from 2017 so I necro bumped it. Ill watch the video thanks J!

[Jaderose]

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

Its funny because I googled JJs vs spike it and saw this from 2017 so I necro bumped it. Ill watch the video thanks J!

I have nothing against Spike it, but it ain't JJ's.  Pretty much EVERY soft bait I throw get's tipped in JJ's chartreuse now.  Just be careful with it if you are new to it.  Spill it (and you will) and you will smell it for a long time.  Also, on a hot day, it will boil over.  

 

[Brett's_daddy]

JJ's can and will "explode" in the hot temperatures...the bottle it comes in is pressurized to make a good seal and keep it fresh but the heat expands that pressure and once it's all over everything including clothes and skin you'll play heck in getting rid of that smell (wife or significant other WILL make you sleep elsewhere...lol) but on the flip side if you have all the different colors out when it's hot and they explode you may stink to high heaven but at least you'll look pretty .

[J Francho]

The bottles aren't pressurized.  Any liquid in a sealed container can make a mess, if heated or shaken.  So, don't do either.  You've been warned.

[Luke Barnes]

Got it. Dont keep it in my tackle backpack, especially in summer, or suffer the consequences. Also dont use it on Elaztech or you will get a ball of mush. 

[zeth]

JJ's for the jarred stuff, and spike it markers when i'm feeling lazy. Use a few other scents too. JJ's comes in a clear for when you don't want to dye but want a real strong scent. 

[Luke Barnes]

2 hours ago, zeth said:

JJ's for the jarred stuff, and spike it markers when i'm feeling lazy. Use a few other scents too. JJ's comes in a clear for when you don't want to dye but want a real strong scent. 

I use Bang Crawfish/Shad and Slab Sauce from Crappie.com.  that and chartreuse spike it. But you all convinced me to wait until I can make it to Academy and get JJs and not spike it in red. 

[J Francho]

The clear JJ's is a good base coat if you want better color on a dark bait. Let a coat of clear dry, them do chartreuse on a black bait and you'll see how it works like primer. 

[DitchPanda]

I've used JJs for several years in chartreuse and methylate. I've heard all the horror stories of exploding and spilling bottles so I never carry any with me. I store my bottles in my fishing room in my basement and just tip my baits the night before. Gets hot in the basement in summer but I just open the bottles slowly and I've never had an incident.

[jgordon]

On 1/19/2021 at 2:53 PM, NorthernBasser said:

No you cannot. It's like acid and will dissolve Z-Man plastics. 

Yes learned this the hard way haha get to the lake the next day 3/4th bait gone haha lesson learned just laughed it off.  Basically had to throw away 3 packs of zman.  

[moguy1973]

I really want to like JJ’s. I bought the whole gamut of colors a couple years ago in the winter from TW. I dipped a bunch of baits for that year and then put the jars away. I kept them in a cool place, was very careful not to spill any, and kept the lids on the jars super tight. Went back the following fall to dip some new baits I had gotten and it was all gone. Poof. Evaporated somehow. Every jar was dry  as a bone and ha hadn’t used much out of each jar earlier that year. Not sure how everyone else stores theirs but that’s what happened to mine.  Anyone else have that happen?

 

Ive used spike it too, and I don’t like it nearly as much as it bleeds and doesn’t penetrate the plastic like JJ’s does, but the jar of that I have still has liquid in it to this day.  I guess it’s not as volatile as JJ’s or they have better packaging. 

[J Francho]

Sounds like the lids weren't sealed.  There's some on my shelf that's got to be five years old now.

[Luke Barnes]

3 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

I really want to like JJ’s. I bought the whole gamut of colors a couple years ago in the winter from TW. I dipped a bunch of baits for that year and then put the jars away. I kept them in a cool place, was very careful not to spill any, and kept the lids on the jars super tight. Went back the following fall to dip some new baits I had gotten and it was all gone. Poof. Evaporated somehow. Every jar was dry  as a bone and ha hadn’t used much out of each jar earlier that year. Not sure how everyone else stores theirs but that’s what happened to mine.  Anyone else have that happen?

 

Ive used spike it too, and I don’t like it nearly as much as it bleeds and doesn’t penetrate the plastic like JJ’s does, but the jar of that I have still has liquid in it to this day.  I guess it’s not as volatile as JJ’s or they have better packaging. 

Ive heard people saying it evaporated on them. The jar of spike it I have is two years old and still going. I think I'm going to give JJs a try in red or methylate and get the spike it markers.

[jgordon]

Watching him just have that JJ Magic all over table and fingers I get anxiety and can smell it through computer haha.