New Baitfish Jigs

Found the weighted off-set worm hook in the local Academy sporting goods store. It's a 2/0 hook, and I learned it comes in 1/8 oz. and 1/16 oz. weights.

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I powder painted the lead, and tied the eyes on the inside of the shank in that first bend up from the lead.

Then I started the small red crystal chenille just above the lead and wound it up to the eyes.



Then I cut two small strips of standard bunny and glued them together except for about 1/8" at the front end. And that's where I tied them in - so that they face out, and the barring imitates that of a baitfish.

Then I tied in krystal flash that extends past the bunny sides.

Last step is to cut the top piece of bunny to the desired length, measure it from the eye to the hook bend, and pierce it with the hook point.

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Then you tie in the top piece of bunny, whip finish and cement. I'm experimenting with different ways to reinforce the gap with a single piece of mono. Sometimes the top piece of bunny slips down and exposes the hook.

Otherwise, it's a fairly weedless baitfish jig, and I've caught bass on it already. I plan to take it to the flats soon and throw it at some redfish.

Tight Lines

That is a very impressive looking bait imitation!!! I have looked at the weighted swimbait hooks at the store before but could never think of something to do with them - thanks for posting. I will be getting some of those hooks now to play around with.

Now that is a very good idea for using the offset hooks. I like the idea and design!!

Good (new?) idea to use the rabbit strip as a point guard. Yes, perhaps a stiff mono reinforcement might mitigate material sliding. Does pinning the hide towards the back stiffen up the action much?

Looks like that type of hook has a weed catching notch tho. I'm thinking an EWG hook jig head with something like an eye screw attached to the hook eye or between head & eye as a tying platform.

Excellent tye - top notch - need some step by step pics for a tutorial.....

Thanks for the encouragement.

The idea comes from the bendback fly, where you don't have a weedguard and the materials act to cover the hook point a bit. Pinning the hide hasn't affected the action much. You still get the fibers on top and the tag end of the bunny strip on top can move freely. BTW - It's a magnum strip on top.

I shortened the top strip to keep the profile shorter. I'm trying to imitate a menhaden or pinfish. I think it would pass for a juvenile bluegill, sunfish, or shad as well.

I understand the concept you're talking about, HG, with the eye screw as a tying platform. That would work very well, but I haven't seen anything commercially available. It's always nice to find something off the rack to work with.

I'll work on the tutorial later on. Still working out the kinks. Thanks again for the encouragement.

Tight Lines

Those are real cool looking,great idea you got there.Bet some ole bass will eat it up for you.

Say Hippel, you're way ahead of me in tying skills, but I was wondering if tying the eye in front might fill that indent bend up some?

That's cool,I like it.

HG, I tried tying the eyes in front and it didn't work.

There is a limited amount of space right behind the hook eye where the materials need to fit, and putting the eye underneath crowds it even more.

I know the indention you're talking about, but when you put the eyes in it you move the widest part of the jig out front, where it will catch more weeds.

And (in my opinion) they look kind of goofy up there, like they don't quite fit the baitfish profile.

What a dumbell - I forgot about the lateral extension of the eyes.

I figgered forward eyes could be tied in after the body material, but don't know the logistics since I never tied one on with a dumbell.

Who knows, maybe goofy attracts more attention & reaction strikes?