homemade silveware jigs

I've been making some jigs from thrift store butter knives like a few of you other guys have done.  I am setting them up with either a single, treble or assist hooks. 

Does the light or heavy end of the jig attach to the leader? I saw treble hooks on the heavy end on some jigs and on the light end on other jigs in the butter knife pics posted here.

I'll upload some pics later. 

Thanks

i never use trebles. hate em! i put the hook on the "blade" end of the jig just they way I do it. not sure if there is a reason.

Depends mostly on what kind of action you want from the jig. If you want the jig to sink out fast and have a moderate amount of action then put the hook on the heavy end and tie your line to the light end.

If you want your jig to have lots of natural action and flutter on the way down then hook on the light and line on the heavy.

Making your own jigs is fun. Catching fish on jigs you made is even more fun!

Can't wait for rockfish season.....

-Eliot

Welcome aboard Ianh.  We got many talented guys here making lures/jigs from knives and spoons (haven't seen made from a fork yet)    Looking forward to see your home made jigs.

This is my first batch of butter knife jigs.  All weight approx 2 to 2.5 ounces.  I am going to put assist hooks as soon as they arrive from EBAY.

nice looking knife jigs

Those look great! You might try switching the hooks to a single siwash type saltwater hook. They will swing much more easily with a bigger eye and it helps when you hook a fish because the jig won't act like a lever to twist the hook out of a thrashing lingcod mouth.

Worm trailer hooks for freshwater bass fishing work just as well.

-Eliot

Wow, very impressive!! I'm always impressed to see the well-crafted gear that our fellow members have made, yours included

I just used some 4/0 hooks I had, but they do get stuck on the split ring sometimes.  I'll replace with a single siwash type saltwater hook or assist hooks.

Thanks

ianh

Great post. I was making some last night. I found that I like a swivel between the hook and split ring. Otherwise it can bind up. You'll pull the lure to the surface only to find the hook turned back on the jig and not hanging. Your paint job looks better than mine. How well does it stick?

I am using fingernail polish and it's pretty durable.    Nasty stuff to breathe so I get some cross ventilation going as then wear a respirator I got at Home Depot.  You need to buy the correct cartridge to filter paint VOCs.

Thanks for the info. I wonder how well it will hold up in the ocean being bounced off rocks. That would be cool if it lasts. Let us know how they do once you finally get to use them. Thanks again for the tips.

Those look great, Ian. Fingernail polish is great since it's durable & has a glossy finish - the cheap ones on the lower shelves seem to work fine.

I use thin wire trebles on the heavy end if they get snagged they straighten or break. I'm lazy so I just use a couple pieces of xmas ribbon wrapped and hanging off mine for color.  I have used clear nail polish to stick it on, but mostly just tie it. Yours are pretty though

I use the blade. I keep jiggin on the way up, and they are filleted out for me at the surface.