Midwest finesse jig mold review

[IndianaFinesse]

I received the Midwest finesse jig mold for Christmas, and have been able to try the jig heads from the mold several times this year, so I came here to post a review.  The biggest thing I noticed when I poured the first jig head, is that the head is much flatter than the regular mushroom jig mold.  This works out perfectly, it is the exact same diameter as half of a zinkerz, which gives it a slower fall and makes it easier to skip.  The wire keeper works nicely to, the biggest thing is that it actually lasts and does not fall out or break off the way the zman shroomz's keeper always does.  It takes a little pushing to get the keeper to bite into the elaz-tech, but once its in the zinkerz doesn't fall off or slide down.  I was disappointed that it did not have a 1/32 ounce cavity and it wastes several of the cavity's on useless heavy weights, but it does have the 3/32 ounce cavity in addition to the 1/16 ounce which is nice.  

 

If you don't want to make the investment to purchase this mold (buying a Ned rig head mold payed for itself for me in the first five months, so its saved me a ton of money plus its nice to be able to use whatever hook you want) Seibert is selling a jig called the "Morel" that is poured from the same mold on a premium owner hook for less than the shroomz's.  I use lil' nasty's for the most part, but if I have to have the best (tournaments) I use owners.

 

[smalljaw67]

6 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

I received the Midwest finesse jig mold for Christmas, and have been able to try the jig heads from the mold several times this year, so I came here to post a review.  The biggest thing I noticed when I poured the first jig head, is that the head is much flatter than the regular mushroom jig mold.  This works out perfectly, it is the exact same diameter as half of a zinkerz, which gives it a slower fall and makes it easier to skip.  The wire keeper works nicely to, the biggest thing is that it actually lasts and does not fall out or break off the way the zman shroomz's keeper always does.  It takes a little pushing to get the keeper to bite into the elaz-tech, but once its in the zinkerz doesn't fall off or slide down.  I was disappointed that it did not have a 1/32 ounce cavity and it wastes several of the cavity's on useless heavy weights, but it does have the 3/32 ounce cavity in addition to the 1/16 ounce which is nice.  

 

If you don't want to make the investment to purchase this mold (buying a Ned rig head mold payed for itself for me in the first five months, so its saved me a ton of money plus its nice to be able to use whatever hook you want) Seibert is selling a jig called the "Morel" that is poured from the same mold on a premium owner hook for less than the shroomz's.  I use lil' nasty's for the most part, but if I have to have the best (tournaments) I use owners.

 

 

 

I believe they made the mold the right way. I too think the heavier sizes are useless but there are so many anglers that want a heavy head with a heavy hook, I honestly never realized there were so many who don't know what finesse fishing is. That said, the hook the mold is based on is a great choice, the size 1 Owner 5313 is stout enough to hold up to heavier line without bending out while it is sharp and light enough to get a good hook set with light line. While I would have liked to see a smaller cavity in place of the 1/4oz size, I don't think it could have been done in that design with that hook, simply not enough lead but I really like the 1/16oz and 3/32oz sizes myself.

[IndianaFinesse]

3 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

 

I believe they made the mold the right way. I too think the heavier sizes are useless but there are so many anglers that want a heavy head with a heavy hook, I honestly never realized there were so many who don't know what finesse fishing is. That said, the hook the mold is based on is a great choice, the size 1 Owner 5313 is stout enough to hold up to heavier line without bending out while it is sharp and light enough to get a good hook set with light line. While I would have liked to see a smaller cavity in place of the 1/4oz size, I don't think it could have been done in that design with that hook, simply not enough lead but I really like the 1/16oz and 3/32oz sizes myself.

It is definitely an improvement over the regular mushroom jig mold.  I use the #2 and #4 lil' nasty hooks and the 5313 owner hooks, and they fit in the mold fine to.

[buzzbait4me]

What size hooks are you guys using for this mold? I cant decide if #1 or 1/0 will be better for me. I plan on using the smaller size molds with finesse trd and trd tubez as baits.

[IndianaFinesse]

5 hours ago, buzzbait4me said:

What size hooks are you guys using for this mold? I cant decide if #1 or 1/0 will be better for me. I plan on using the smaller size molds with finesse trd and trd tubez as baits.

#4 and #2 mostly, the bigger #1 and #1/0 sizes are big enough that they hinder the subtle action of half a zinkerz.  Don't use anything bigger than 3/32 ounce for the Ned rig (I only use this size 5% of the time), you don't want it heavy enough to be able to feel it in the water.

[Bluebasser86]

I think the smallersizes might be too small to get the keeper and hook set in such a tiny piece of lead. I wish they had the smaller sizes or multiple 1/16oz sizes

[Spinerbait58]

Ordered this mold Sat from Jann's . Tried the Ned rig late in the year with good results. Indiana is right you pay good money for the z man heads an after a few fish the bait keeper barb breaks off. So if you use those heads make sure you have some super glue! 

[BigMitch]

Thanks for the review. I plan to get this mold soon.

[Junk Fisherman]

What is your favorite hook for this mold?

 

I see the Owner 5313 is recommended at 1 and 1/0.  Most experts say to use 4 and 2 size hooks.  How say you?

[smalljaw67]

I like the Owner in a size #1 and I also like the Lil' Nasty in a size #2. For me it is a question of how I'm using it, if i'm fishing it around sparse cover, I like the size #2 light wire hook, the hook point is closer to the head and it has a smaller bite so it doesn't get hung up.   If I'm in open water and using a slow retrieve to just tick the bottom every now and again, that is when I like the size #1 Owner, it has a bigger bite and the shank is longer for more positive hookups but it is still leaves more than half the worm free so you still get that subtle movement.

[IndianaFinesse]

8 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

What is your favorite hook for this mold?

 

I see the Owner 5313 is recommended at 1 and 1/0.  Most experts say to use 4 and 2 size hooks.  How say you?

I like the owner 5318 in #4 and #2.  I use the #2 for 3-4 inch finesse wormzs and the #4 hook for the 2.5 inch zinkerz.  They look tiny, but you'd be surprised at how small a hook you can get away with on light tackle.  I find I have just as a good a hookups with the #4 hook as the #1, but the #4 or #2 gets way more bites and snags less to.

[Bluebasser86]

I use the Lil' Nasty in a #2 size almost exclusively and it works very well. I'm pouring the 1/16oz a vast majority of the time.

[IndianaFinesse]

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I use the Lil' Nasty in a #2 size almost exclusively and it works very well. I'm pouring the 1/16oz a vast majority of the time.

Yeah, if you're going with the lil' nasty hooks (a surprisingly good hook that is very affordable, not quite as good as owner but pretty close and only 5¢ each) definitely get the #2 instead of the #4.  Lil' nasty's run a bit smaller than the owners.

[Munkin]

Owner hooks run a size or 2 bigger than most of the other manufacturers.  I have been using them in the size 1 but don't have enough time on the water to give an honest opinion.  This mold is the biggest PITA as far as pouring goes so I only make what I need. 

 

Allen