Swim Baits Splitting Open

Am I doing something wrong? It seems as though you need very small lead heads or very large swim baits to avoid having them split at the head. I'd like to be able to use bigger heads when the drift is fast. Anyone have any new tips to keep the swim baits from splitting?

Some people take a 1/4" or 3/16" steel tube and sharpen it to create a "punch" and use that to bore a pilot hole.


ruben

I have done a number of things Ken, none of which is remotely close to perfect. The first is remove some of the lead from around the shaft of the hook with a rotory tool. You loose the lead "barbs" so people will sometimes super glue the heads to the plastic . Second is to take a small piece of tube stock (mine are brass) and insert them into the swim bait to cut out a plug. It is easier said than done a lot of the time. The most effective for me is to take a framing nail and put it in a pair of vice grips heat it up with a burner or torch. Then plunge it into the body of the bait where the hook is to go. You have to allow the molten plastic to melt and come back out the hole the nail went into. The dripping plastic is like magma and burns like the devil if you get any on yourself. If you do it, rig it right onto your jighead while still hot. It's smoother than greased owl shit when it works right, but when you get that hot plastic on yourself you loose some of your enthusiasm. I have heard there are commercially made plug cutters but I have never seen one.

I do something similar, except with a soldering iron. Melts the plastic like butter. No more splitting swimbaits.

I use an 8/0 hook on 6.5" Big Hammers and never have any issues putting them together. It takes a little practice then it is easy.

Most guys don't complain when splitting their rubbers open. 

Im going to subscribe to this. I was just going to post the same question as i have had issues like this.  The tiny "not so big" -hammers split open when i use my diy 3 or 4oz jigheads.  I have since drilled it out with a 1/4" bit. Run it long enough, some of it will melt.  But i Would love an easier method

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Most guys don't complain when splitting their rubbers open. 

I dont get it... 

This happens for me too. My 6.5 bh swim baits keep splitting and it's getting annoying.

I put the jig heads on the night before and everything looks good. The next morning when I open my tackle box and I'll find them split down the side.

I've tried heating them, glueing them and even zip tying them shut. Nothing really seems to work. It's unfortunate because they are my favorites swimbaits [emoji848][emoji58]


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After they split, take some small zip-ties and wrap it around the plastic in front of the collar and you're good to go.

I repair my torn swimbaits with mend it glue.

I repair my torn swimbaits with mend it glue.

When I'm off the water I do the same.  However when on the water, zip ties are quicker for me.

I do two things, poke the head of the swimbait with hot soldering iron to create a cavity for the lead shank portion and then heat the  hook with a butane torch to melt and seal as I slide the hook in, works like a charm, I also use the small butane torch to reseal bite marks after fishing which also works well

Thanks for the ideas. I'm gearing up for GSX and now I have a bunch of split baits.  I think I'll try one of the non heated suggestions so I can use it anywhere. Maybe I'll get a hole punch that's the right size. I guess the tricky part is pulling the cut plug out since it would still be connected at the bottom. $16 for the set, 1/8 to 3/4. I think I'll give it a try before I try grinding the lead.

After they split, take some small zip-ties and wrap it around the plastic in front of the collar and you're good to go.

I wrapped them with line, I think the zip tie sounds better.