torn swimbaits - not from FISH!

I got a couple of big swimbaits (6") and stuck 1 with a 3oz, another with a 4oz jighead. Put them in my tacklebox and pulled them out when I got to the water - less than 24 hours later. I was bummed to see that they had both split at the collar, and were pretty much useless.

Were they junk?
Were the jigs too big for them?
Should I hook them up just before I use them?
Is there any way to fix them (superglue?)

An inquiring mind wants to know.

Melting them back together works better than the plastic glue.You can use a pencil soldering iron or heat a piece of metal with a flame.

You might try cutting a hole in the plastic first with a piece of thin metal tubing. Those jig heads look like they have a fat collar area and overstretched the swimbait. When you remount them superglue them to the jig head.

get a small piece of brass tubing and use that to punch a hole in the swim bait that matches the size of the lead collar.  repair any splits with a small soldering iron.  you can even add material from old pieces of swimbait. 

I would use another style head because the collar seems to be the problem.  It's better not to pre-rig them.  I also like to super glue them if conditions permit.  I have a nice swimbait that I sell locally that has a very thick body that can accommodate that sort of head, but I like using a shad head (which has a smaller collar) for my swimbaits.

I had the same problem which I solved by removing the lead along the hood shank behing the lead head.  This seems to work as none of my soft bodies move because of how the hook comes out of the body.  I used a pair of dikes and chipped off little pieces until I got to the body.  The pieces were then melted for the next lead head.

I've had a hard time finding 3 and 4 oz shad leadheads. Any good suggestions as to where to get them?

  I like these from cabelas (available online). They last forever tho they  have slightly less action.
   heavy duty shad head jig
   action plastics big game shads

 These only go to 2 oz. but they have bullet head jigs to 20 0z.

  The big game shads go to 12"

That's the problem I have with any leadhead over 2oz, the fat collar.

Please let me know if you find something better.

What I've done is put a backwards hoochie over the lead collar to add action and fill up the space, and put the shad on the hook only, rather than thread ot over the collar.

The soldering iron worked a treat! My rubber soldering skills are even worse than my electrical soldering skills, but at least I'll be able to use these guys now.

As for the fat collar goes, either the soldering iron, or a breass tube will work great. just make a hole where the collar will go by heating up the iron and sinking it straight into the swimbait.

For the tube, an empty .22 casing will work great - think "cigar punch" to get the image.

Here are the same 2 swim baits after the soldering iron repair work. Not pretty, but functional.

Thanks for the tips, guys!

Peter

Looks like you have it solved.

I use a busted up old phillips screw driver and heat it up with a little butane torch.  Having the handle of the screw driver for insulation is nice, esp if you are rigging a buch of baits at once.

Nice tips!  I found some swim baits in the kelp last time I went to Capitola that were chewed up a bit, guessing whoever threw them there got tired of them sliping off their hook.  Took the ol' iron to each cut and tear and sealed them up just fine!  They were mostly white, used a red sharpie to color the "wounds" and I think it looks pretty cool!  Like the idea of coring the swimbait a bit to get it to fit easier on the lead.  Gotta try that!

for and on the water welder. Take a paperclip and open it up. tape it to a butane lighter and bend the wire till it's in the flame. Then heat the wire, shut of the flame and weld away...
Caution: wrap a couple wraps of tape first so you don't over heat and melt through the lighter body, that would be bad 

Peter

I've been having the same problem. it's definitely the lead collar. have fixed a couple with needle and thread Made the needle entrance points away from the wound to avoid tearing. Even stuffed and sewed yarn into the wound. I'm figuring the yarn will soak up and hold scent longer.

I'm looking for larger diameter swim baits to help solve this problem, but they can get really expensive. does anybody know a good source for inexpensive 5 - 9 inch swim baits?

Great post...good info...friend of mine uses zip ties to secure baits to jigs...like the lighter idea... and super glue...nice...