Trending in Micro-Jigging...Tungsten Beads

[Slip Sinker]

Tungsten slotted beads… who’s using the versatility of the beads in their Micro-fishing methods and How?...

[Slip Sinker]

...those are great tips Allen!

[Slip Sinker]

...you sure got a head start on me, Kelly... I haven't begun collecting materials yet... for me, I'm thinking the 3.8 or 4 mm beads to get in that tiny 1/64 range... I'm really comfortable casting with my setups with approx. 1/64th.

so you have the heavier wired jig heads are you considering lighter wire hooks to negate crushing the barb.

nice flexibility to add a bead or to in the design of a bait

yeah I tried going smaller... securely hooks the smaller fish... but some of my big ones got away going smaller than #12

my interest really struck a nerve in a good way, with bead utilization in jig design is that one is not limited to jig hook styles and sizes. regular ball jigs are designed to be fished vertically given the line attach point at the top of the ball. for me, I swim them in after a long-cast so utilizing a regular hook style and bead combination would better for the presentation. more weedless I noticed when using with the swimming method. there is that snag pinch point between the eye of a ball jig and the ball itself that harasses me with algae and weeds during the cast.

are you preparing anything for the upcoming hard water season?

[Kelly Peterson]

Hi Ken

Yup am going to use some of the light wire 3261 Mustad Aberdeen hooks that I have a bunch of. Have bent them for 90 degree jigs but will do 60 & 45 degree bends to them because I too do very little vertical jigging, almost all long casting and retrieving via bouncing off bottom/let fall/repeat bact to me. Stikes happen anywhere from soon as jig hits water till just as I’m removing from water. Of course these jigs are always tipped with something, mostly Gulp Alive Waxies or 1” minnows. Sometimes Helgramites or other scented tiny plastics are used and even little red worms.

Regarding the impending ice season am going to buy a small flip over ice shed and do some ice fishing. I consider myself a novice when it comes to hard water. Am anxious to try John McKeans way of mounting the Waxies, although don’t know how it can be any better than the way we do it.

[Slip Sinker]

...that would be the problem for me... i used to love experimenting... but the success rate for this method is top notch for me the past few years is that i am hesitant to try anything else. heck tipping with the Lil Minnow stays dry alot nowadays... lol

I figure going tungsten on selected hooks enabling a swim jig style attach point in the front would tweak me in a positive direction... I was impressed with Allen's ice fly productivity that he sent me... lost it to a toothy pred...

[Kelly Peterson]

[Kelly Peterson]

From top to bottom in above picture.

#8 Mustad Aberdeen light wire 3261 hook.

Above same hook with approx 60 degree bend.

Again same hook with approx 45 degree bend.

Will add various slotted tungsten beads to the above.

My attempt at making jigs without molds. #6 Mustad Aberdeen light wire 3261 hook with 90 degree bend. Then I added a lead split shot to bend of hook, mashed it in place with pliers. Used fingernail paint and sparkly finish over that.

Another homemade jig with a #6 red Aberdeen hook with 90 degree bend and lil minnow. These jigs are approx 1/32 ounce or slightly thereabouts.

My most productive setup this past summer. About 1/40 ounce trout magnet style jig head tipped with Gulp Alive Waxies. Sometimes two Waxies were used.

Small tungsten ice jig with Waxies tipped John McKean style, I think?

Finally another very productive jighead this past year. 1/32 ounce with Waxie installed John McKean style, I think. Really believe eyes on jigs are an advantage. Plan to add some stick on eyes to some eyeless jigs this winter.

[Allen Morgan]

Kelly, you might want to head over to jigcraft.com.  LedHed and I are both over there.  Lots of info regarding painting, pouring, tying, etc. 

[Kelly Peterson]

Allen a couple years ago I tried to sign up at jigcraft but nobody authorized me. Has this changed?

[Allen Morgan]

Wow, I didn't know that.  All I can tell you is that it's a slow forum, and seems to have slowed down from what it was 2 years ago.  All I can say is to try again?  Maybe if you give me the handle you were using, I can contact one of the owners and ask them.

[Steve C]

These are my tungsten slotted bead jigs.  Ones on the left weigh ~1/64 oz 4.0 mm bead, top two on Daiichi 1130 size 12, bottom on a Gamakatsu J20 size 12.  Ones on the right weigh ~1/32 oz 4.6 mm bead, top two on Daiichi 1130 size 10, bottom on a Gamakatsu J20 size 10.  My go to is the 4.6 mm Daiichi 1130 #10 tipped the a gulp waxie.  The fine wire size, big gap and mirco barb = good hook-ups at long distance with my slip float setup.  Beads are attached as explained HERE with lead filings and crazy glue

[Slip Sinker]

Steve… A very nice assortment of jig set-ups… I like the idea of the super glue to bond to the hook… have you also tried thread?

[Steve C]

Slip, I use super glue and lead filings.  The glue by itself won't work.  The filings fill in the gap around the hook and the slot and the super glue bonds the whole thing together like its soldered on. 

I'd probably use thread if I was tying flies bodies on the hook, but not sure if the bead would stay oriented correctly though.  On the Daiichi hooks, the slot is towards the hook eye and the eye will go into the slot if the bead can rotate.