1/80 Jigs

[Riverman]

I am going to pour a bunch of 1/80 jig heads next month.

What size hooks would you prefer for Bluegills?    #8 - 10 or 12?

I will be giving some away to members in packs of 25... if you need any, simply let me know.

Happy fishing...

[Allen Morgan]

I've got 1/80th jigs with several different kinds of hooks.  Personally, I prefer sickle hooks.  I like the size 12 sickle for gills.  Crappie, White Bass, etc., with bigger mouths, I prefer a size 8 sickle.  Nobody seems to make a size 10 sickle hook?

Aberdeen jig hooks in size 10 work good.  Size 12 Aberdeen hooks have a tiny gap between the eye and the point.  Hard to get a hookset with those.  You have to use some forceps and bend the hook a bit, either open up the gap and/or offset the hook point.

A long shank size 10 Aberdeen makes a really attractive jig for Crappie.  But, I prefer the sickle hooks, as they have a wider gap.

[Allen Morgan]

Forgot to mention:

Make sure you use good, pure, soft lead.  If you're melting down wheel weights, or recycling lead sinkers, you might want to try and find some really good soft lead.  Either buy some lead ingots, or get some scrap lead pipes or lead sheeting for roofs and melt that down and clean it up.

You'll probably need to preheat your mold and hooks each time you pour.  Maybe even smoke the mold or use a release agent.

[Riverman]

I only use soft lead.

I have #10 sickle hooks on order.