Diamond jigs

Here are my cheap version of a 'diamond jig'.  I tend to loose a lot o tackle rock fishing.  This has eased the pain.  I'm thinking of adding mylar 'hoochies' a' la Josh...or maybe even spray painting 'em silver.  any suggestions?

What are those made from? I love diamond bars but I hate buying them...

Prism tape.  Also, you might consider taking a hammer to them to give it a little action.

What are those made from? I love diamond bars but I hate buying them...

They are just weights with hooks attached using split rings.

Prism tape.  Also, you might consider taking a hammer to them to give it a little action.

Great ideas...thanks

You will lose WAY less tackle if you stop using treble hooks.  I swithc everyting out to a 4/0 or 5/0 siwash.  VMC makes siwash hooks with an open eye, so you can just take them off and sqeeze a new one on...ez.

Someone has put a link on here as well to cheaper diamond jigs...can't remember where though.

You will lose WAY less tackle if you stop using treble hooks.  I swithc everyting out to a 4/0 or 5/0 siwash.  VMC makes siwash hooks with an open eye, so you can just take them off and sqeeze a new one on...ez.

Someone has put a link on here as well to cheaper diamond jigs...can't remember where though.

What is a siwash hook?

It's a "J" shaped hook. Commercial fisherman have been using them almost forever. The package wiil probably be labeled as "Siwash hooks".

Its a long shank J style hook.  The VMCs are labeled siwash.

Use bronze hooks, not the steel ones. They bend out on snags, although occasionally on big fish too...

Use bronze hooks, not the steel ones. They bend out on snags, although occasionally on big fish too...

Personally, I'd rather lose a few jigs with steel hooks as oppose to a once-in-lifetime lunker  

If you don't use a split ring on a diamond jig, then you've got a pretty good connection between the heavy jig and the hook.  Just yanking on it a bunch of times in rapid succession usually will bonk the hook out of whatever is holding it.  Use diamond jigs that are at 6oz or more and this will work.  Dinky diamond jigs snag and don't tend to come undone.

I find the treble hook will catch more fish, it's like a big gaff with a fish attractor in front of it.  I've pulled up croakers, perch, baitfish, greenlings..  Sometime's they're hooked in the belly or tail because they were just checking it out.  Anyway, that's good live bait.  

Siwash hooks are a little better than octopus hooks on artificials because the point isn't bent inwards to point at the eye.  It's very prominent for hooksets on half-hearted strikes, and sticking in other parts of the fish.  I netted a salmon that was hooked over the eye right into it's skull a few weeks back, an octopus hook wouldn't have stuck the fish there well.  I've only found the open eye siwash at fishermans warehouse, but they're cheap there.

My rule of thumb, when regulations allow, are:
Octopus: live bait
Siwash: soft artificials (plastics, tinsels, hoochies)
Treble: hard artificials (diamond jigs, spoons, ect.)

I'd have to vote for bronze trebles also.  I recently tried switching to the siwash and I'm not a big fan.  Hook up ratio is way lower for me and for some reason they seem to foul (get stuck in an upside down position) alot more.  Plus fish aren't always hitting the tail end. When they come from the side and whack at the head or when bigger fish that just inhale them I'd rather have a tripple ready to sting them in all positions.  I've never bent a bronzer on a large fish.  There like a quarter a piece and worth replacing if you bend them off a snag.  Once there weakened they're worthless. To each his own.