Adding Eyes To Jigs

[Randall Runion]

How do you guys do this? I can tell they aren't painted on freehand as I have done in the past. If you use some product that you purchase, please include specific details such as size, etc.

Thanks

Randall

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I mostly use the paint dot method in jigs..
Different sized nail heads, dipped in paint and touched to the lure leaves a dot.
Then use a darker contrasting dot, using the next smaller size nail head.
3mm base dot - let dry
2mm pupil dot on top - let dry.

You can buy all kinda of plastic adhesive eyes, too. Just go to eBay and search for lure eyes. I'm not big on spending money on basic stuff like jig eyes, though.

[Randall Runion]

What size nail do you get to make a 3mm base dot and a 2 mm pupil dot? What paint do you use?

[Jim Gronaw]

Randall...I am by no means an expert...LedHed could probably tell us all how it's done. With that...

The chub or minnow head jigs that actually have eye 'sockets' to recieve tiny UV eyes are tricky. I used Krazy glue, dabbed a drop on the socket AFTER the jig was painted and tied, and then very carefully, with small tweezers, positioned the eye on the socket depression, and just pressed it slightly with the tweezers arm to hld it in place a few seconds, then let go. I left the jig(s) on their side for 20 minutes, then gently set them on the other side and attached the eye the same way, and let the whole deal dry for an hour.

It's a good idea to have a bunch of jigs ready and you can do one side, then the other, for a number of them. After they dry compleatly, LedHed recommends 2 coats of whatever clear finish you like. I use Maybellene clear nail coat and he uses another nail product. These final coats encapsulate the head and eyes entirely. Still, under rough conditions or some big fish, they might come off in time. But for bluegills and crappies, they should hold up well.

I actually had a fit trying to position them the other night, as it was my first effort. But I am pleased with the results...

I hope this helps...maybe LedHed can chime in...

[carl hendrix]

those look great to me Jim!!    on some flies;;  I use regular pins;; red ; yellow; black.  what ever comes in those packs.  wal- mart sewing dept!!  other times use colored mono line;; Cajun red;  crappie line; in yellow;;  even some weed eater line  works great!!    I also use  E6000 glue for  gluing when needed.  great stuff!!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

PS eyes are a subject of some debate.
There are those who claim a lure isn't complete without eyes. I admit I'm in this group.
Then, there are those who say the eye isn't important, and indeed, there is enough evidence to support this.

Spinners don't have eyes.
Spoons dont have them (as a rule).
Plastic worms don't have eyes.
Many of the old plugs and baits lacked eyes, or had only rudimentary ones.

The list is long of eyeless lures that catch fish. But I still love to see em looking back at me.

[Tony Livingston]

I'm a fan of eyes, which sounds contradictory coming from the guy who thinks color and size are the primary attractants, with everything else being unnecessary. I just think it makes a difference.

Also, look at eyes on a jig vs. spinners, spoons, worms......those lures were typically fished on a retrieve, with near constant motion.... jigs are fished slower, or even beneath a float, where the fish have time to take a better look, vs, running down supper "to go".

[Jim Gronaw]

I like eyes. too. But I have caught a ton of fish on jigs without them. If I am trying to tie jigs that imitate minnows then I usually put a painted eye on them or else buy painted jigheads that have eyes on them.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Good points Tony.

[dick tabbert]

I think eyes add an element to the jig or bait and gives it realism. Yes you can catch fish without eyes but in my many year of fishing I always try to get jig/lures with eyes because its a keying in point for the predator. I personally think the eyes are where the predator keys in on and you can see that all through the animal kingdom and even the insect world.

[Bruce Tomaselli]

I agree. I think eyes are predator keys. It doesn't take much time to put them on whether you think they help or not. So, with the little effort it takes, why not put in eyes.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Throw a boxful of lures on a table and the first ones people pick up are those with eyes.
I just put em on, regardless, as you suggest.

Always needed? Probably not.
But why not?

[dick tabbert]

I to agree the eye are a big part of the fly. Predators zero in on the eyes as you see all through the wildlife kingdom and fish do the same.