EC Lil Nasty -VS- Matzuo Sickles

[Kdog]

Like many, I felt the lil nasty was not as sharp as the Sickles. I did note that point orientation is a bit different so fingernail test my not be accurate. Being a firm believer in Field Testing before opening my trap, I did a non scientific study. A friend and me fish quite a bit and in 10 trips, me using lil nasty only and him using sickles only, Our tourney results are in and today I let him have lil nastys.

Final Tally
Lil Nasty - 218 fish mixed bag - Walleye, Saugeye, Crappie, LM and SM Bass, Rock Bass, Catfish, Yellow Perch, White Bass and Carp

Sickle - 142 fish mixed bag - Walleye, Saugeye, Crappie, LM and SM Bass, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch, White Bass, Catfish and Carp and 2 white suckers

The lil nasty has had a considerably higher hooking percentage than the sickles. We fish a lot with 1/32oz jigs tipped with a crawler and targeted species are Walleye and Saugeye.

Since I am usually the looser in our personal tourney, my having a 30% lead indicates something and the only difference is all my fishing has been with lil nasty hooks. Today, when I let the cat out of the bag, I had 28 fish to his 8. Although I held the lead and ended up 66 to 59. Odds are, next trip, I'll loose my shirt.

Overall impressions with lil nasty has been good. Some mold mods (hook point relief) were necessary. Findings as follows

*3 Bad hooks out of 1500
*The eye closure is a bit inconsistant not a big deal but I like a fully closed eye and some are not.
*I broke 3 eyes off on snags 6# Tatsu is strong but I worry about braking eyes. Have same issue with sickles and seem to break more of those than the lil nasty but and not gonna commit to that one.
*Have straightened several so not a problem at this time.

Overall, gonna stay with them.



1

 

[GrouseFly]

Great Post....Now I don't have to do something I have been meaning to do...Thanks for your time and trouble...

 

[Jig Man]

Thanks for the report Kdog.....

And one more thing that is important to me...

Lil Nasty: Made in America.

Sickle: Made off shore.

I do the best I can to keep my money here, even if it costs more. Lookin forward to tryin the Lil Nasty!

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

On my trip to Cal Sonny who uses the Nasty's all the time now didn't lose a fish that I could remember while I lost a couple on the sickles. Probably need to order some myself just to see how they work. Think the barb is smaller on the sickles and could be the reason for some lost fish but who knows for sure. Couldn't hurt to have some of both.

 

[LedHed]

I've made the switch. So they don't catch on the fingernail - I'm not fishing for fingernails....... My hook up to keeping fish went way up after I started using them. Not sure what it is with the penetration but haven't had any problem sticking fish with 2lb. test line. Managed a few new PBs, this season, using the ECs.

 

[Kdog]

I've made the switch. So they don't catch on the fingernail - I'm not fishing for fingernails....... My hook up to keeping fish went way up after I started using them. Not sure what it is with the penetration but haven't had any problem sticking fish with 2lb. test line. Managed a few new PBs, this season, using the ECs.

Not sure either, but the hook geometry is more eagle style which is well proven. I know they stick in your finger in a heartbeat.

 

[LedHed]

"I know they stick in your finger in a heartbeat." LOL - know exactly what you are talking about!

The QC is impressive also - so much easier pouring with ECs. = less time at the pour table, increased productivity, and better jig.

 

[StumpHunter]

I have used a 1000 of the lil Nasty's and am impressed with them. Been getting some soft hooks in the sickles lately along with the other troubles that they have. I'm going to make a change over to the lil Nasty's also.

 

[Kdog]

I am switching over. The QC is impressive, not a single unable to cast in 3000+ hooks. I did have 3 without an eye but they could have been cast. As far as the guys that insist on sickles..... well I won't tell and I doubt they notice the difference. Having said that, I know someone will. Fishermen are some picky, picky people.

Finally sorted all my PP by color (flavor) and I have 11 versions of watermelon 7 of which are named after the guy that wants them.

I went fishing early this am and limited out (saugeye) I even culled less than 16" and back home, fish cleaned and in fridge and it was not even 9am. Some nimrod beat me to my honey hole, so I fished the other side of the creek. First 3 casts, caught fish. bite slowed a bit after that but very fast action for me. Nimrod proceeds to cross creek and start fishing my hole. Happily, I shouldered my pack, grabbed my stringer, crossed the creek and fished the abandonded hole and first cast, pulled a nice 17". That hole was loaded this am and I pulled fish after fish. 2-3 casts per fish.

Nimrod comes back, never says a word and starts fishing from the rock next to me. my bite never changed. I noticed nimrod fidgeting around on the rock he chose and being a nice guy, cautioned him that if he got to the front of the rock, it would tilt and he would probably slip off. He muttered something and since my hearing sucks, it was not loud enough for me to hear. I hooked something bigger than usual and proceeded to land big fish of the day, 22" saugeye. Had my limit so culled 2 smallest fish. About that time I geard the cltter to the rock tipping and watched nimrod go swimming. I just smiled and watched as he struggled to get out of the creek. As I was baiting up, I asked if he needed help. Some more muttering and he got back to shallow water.

I figured the commotion would have killed the bite so made a long cast to the snaggletooth end of the pool. did not make my 10 count and line starts moving. left bail open, 3 small runs, then nice run, set the hook and knew I had a nice fish. Had some trouble between snags and current but finally got it in. Almost a twin to my big fish, 21-1/2". Retied my jig, fresh crawler and I hear, Hey, how are you catching them.

Started giving a lesson knowing full well that his heavy tackle and tow rope for line would never work. I explained the technique, made a long cast and started my count. Lifted the rod tip and felt the familiar vibration and let some line out. set the hook man, set the hook.
Trying explain what the fish was doing and he kept saying set the hook. After 4 little runs, line finally started moving and wham, fish on.
Got the fish in and realized I had my limit.

Felt kinda bad so rebaited and handed my rod to nimrod and said, here, you try. He hauls off and casts over the pool and into the trees. Wow, I cant cast that far. Breaks the jig off in the tree and appologized. I said its not a big deal, everytime I go fishing, I toss a dozen jigs in the water to seed the hole. He asked where I get my jigs... he never saw that color before. I felt sorry for him and gave him 3 and said its my hobby and thats a custom color I call copperhead, he said whats that, I told him 1 part ral8023, 2 parts GF white, 1 part orange glitter, 1 part gold glitter, 1 part lime green glitter, 6 parts clear.

He was trying to tie the jig on his line but the eye was too small for his line to fit. He said something is wrong with these jigs........ I said no, tow rope is not fishing line, do you have a spare spool, I have a spool of line and we can set it up if you want. When he saw the spool and it said 4# test, he said thats too light, I fish for bass. -------- Good luck, I got my limit and need to get home. Be careful, the rocks are slippery and its gonna get worse. I packed up and I was walking the trail, noticed he had put on a swivel and was trying to cast 1/32 oz jig with 1/2 crawler were not enough for his tow rope. He was 2 hand casting and maybe getting 20 feet. It was everything I coul do not to laugh, almost fell off the trail, but regained my composure enough to make it to safe ground. I got up to the main trail and sure enough, I could see ole nimrod struggling to cast and I lost it.

One of the regulars was walking in and asked what was so funny. I told him and he hunkered down and started watching, couple minutes later he was chuckling and said I'm heading up to the tall dam, if I go down there, my laughing will surely make him mad.

All in all, a great start to the weekend. A limit of fish and a comedy show and it was not even 9am.

Happy Memorial Day, Please remember those who have fallen preserving our way of life.

 

[Hawnjigs]

Enjoyed your story K - good reminder to be nice to even those we'd rather ignore.

Since I tie my warm water species jigs unpainted to imitate primary silvery baitfish forage, I'd have given you the same blank look your new friend did when you recited your color formula.