New Jig and Lure Molds

Well I got an overtime check in and ordered a couple of new fishing molds.  I got a nice 3 and 4oz shad jig head mold for my swimbaits.  I am sure it will work with my grubs as well.  Just wish it came larger than 4oz!



I started looking at the diamond jig molds, but came across this:




I really couldn't find many reviews on the jigs shape but it looked good.  I got the mold which would allow me the jig it vertically and horizontally.  I am thinking about painting it like an anchovie or small rock cod?  I got the mold to cast 4oz and 6oz jigs.  Anyone use these?  I saw Agarcia was casting these in a past post.

I read you can bend the tails to give them a different action.  I also think fishing it horizontal with a single hook, with a scampi above it may work for rockfish and lings.

I looked at Collins Customs Molds, very nice but they were a little out of my price range right now.  Hard to pay that much for a mold just for personal use.  I do like the megabait style jigs and see them mentioned here a lot though.

Matt

That looks like a pretty cool project. Jig heads are one that I really hate paying the price for.

If you don't mind me asking, what does it bring the cost of the jig head down to?

I get my lead free for the most part, so with the mold and hooks, I will get my first 50 shad heads for about .80 cents a piece.  It will obviously improve the more heads I make.

I am considering calling up Barlows and changing the jig to their flutter style in 4oz.  It looks a lot more like a megabait style.  I simply can't find any reviews or experiences with the Shad Jigs.  Of course a new bait to show the fish isn't always a bad thing.

I eventually want to pick up a nice 5-6 oz spires jig mold.  I really don't like the huge collar on that head style, but might be able to fill it in with high temp JB weld or Aluminum Foil.  I would loose a little weight on the head, but it would work better for swimbaits and grubs.

Matt

That is a great Price! I may have to go shopping to some of that equipment.

Well I called up Barlows and changed the shad spoon to a 4oz flutter jig.  I got some results on another forum that the shad jig looked good, but wasn't a good performer on rock fish.  I guess the smaller shad work great on bass.  So this looked close to the knife jigs that seem so popular here.  I may be dense, but I do listen ever now and again....well my wife may argue that point 



It also turned out that the shad head was backordered, so I changed it to a 5 to 6 oz spires head jig.  I read on tackle underground that guys are filling in the collar with aluminum foil to use them on swimbaits and grubs.  I do like the spires head style, and hear they fit inside a B2 squid head really well for monster halibut!  I can always use the collar to tye some up as bucktails for ocean stripers as well.  I figure removing the collar for swim baits will give me a 4 1/2 and  5 1/2 oz jig head.  Should give me a little more versatility.  Thanks for the help here, the past posts are really a wealth of information.

I figured it out that the knife jigs will run me about 50 cents a piece for the first 100 jigs.  The spires points come out to 52 cents a piece for the first 100, as the hooks that jig takes are a little less in cost than the shad heads.  I just stuck with the saltwater Mustads for now, but may upgrade later to a nice Matzu or Gatsu hook. 

Thanks for listening to the rambling of a tackle mad man.....Matt

I was looking at that flutter jig mold after I got a bulletin from Barlows. It should perform, it looks like a cross between the Offshore angler freestyle jig($8) and the Daiwa sacrifice($12). I like that it has big eyes on it.

RAMBLE ON MATT, I'm learnin a thing or 3.

 Thanks Banjotad, maybe we will have to get together for a lure casting party!  I need to get some more lead and plastic, I am a fishing addict......

Good call fishshim, it is a very close match to those.  If only I could paint like that!  Some of you guys amaze me to call of a style of jig by name and nomenclature.....true masters....

I may have to get an airbrush one day.  I need one for my duck decoys anyways, tackle craft is just another excuse.  I also need to clean up my lathe and make some plugs and poppers.  I better put in some WAF points first though.

Matt

These homemades worked very good for me...
Rattlecan grey primer, white paint misted over some netting, model spray paint, decal eyes, covered with cheap epoxy then rotated on a rotisserie till dry.

Then you can always step up to a airbrush and holographic tape, etc. That stuff is killer for catching fisherman...

Wow, very nice!  Gives me something to strive for.  What mold are you using?  I like that jig style.

Good idea with the netting.  I may have to hook up the BBQ rotisserie.  i used it the other day to spin a rod I rewrapped.  Multi use tool.

We need our own tackle crafting forum.  Good stuff here.

sell em in the classified section, I'd buy a few

Matt homemade RTV silicone mold and a plaster mold. I need to make a new master pattern to mold because there was too much shrinkage(lost weight). The plaster is kind of delicate and is cheap and will last for a run or two.The silicone mold works great(detail wise) is expensive and it takes a while for the lead to cool off. The aluminum molds are best for any kind of quantity and repeatable quality, but for futzing around the others are fine.

RTV, I never thought about using it for lead.  I have tried plaster and water putty for jigs, but they break down pretty quick.  I tried to cast some Tady style jigs, but they were a little sloppy.  Sand casting may work for that style though.

I might have to try my hand at a homemade master.  I could make one from wood or carving foam, and cast a mold.  Fun stuff, I have read some articles on guys carving and casting swimbaits.  You can put in a lot of creativity.

Selling a few maybe a good idea to recoop mold costs. 

I may have to try your epoxy coating.  Do you thin it down?  I wonder if a dip in polyurathane sparvarnish would give the same effect?  That stuff is waterproof and tough!

If my machine skills were better, I would get some aluminum and make a mold or two.  I guess they would work as the bait would be too ugly to look like an artificial!

Matt

That shad jig fished as good as any other iron jig but was a pain in the neck to pour.  I had to drill the hole opening alot bigger, and hit the mold with a torch while filling it in order to get a good flow throughout the whole body cavity otherwise you get an unusable end product.  The damond jig mold was way easier to pour, should be the same for that knife jig mold you got.  You made the right choice.

You can pour lead into silicone??  Never even concidered that.