Split Shot Jig Heads

[AtticaFish]

I know many of you have seen my split shot heads but figured i would post it as a tutorial of sorts to have it up as general info. i actually make quite a few of them so i can customize hooks with certain weight heads. The ones i posted here are pretty large (would guess < 1/8th) eye-forward jigs but have been using alot of smaller hooks (#6 & #8) along with heavy heads for bluegill and yellow perch in deep water.

Wanted to post this here if anyone had any questions...

Split Shot Jig Heads Tutorial

 

[LedHed]

Bout time - kidding - thnx for posting up

 

[ScottV]

That's pretty sharp Attica. I guess you could go with any weight and hook size combo by doing that.

 

[toadfrog]

Powder paint will keep them dudes on there too. Used to do that as a kid before I even new what a lead pot was. Yank the tail feathers out of my gramps yellow parakeet to tie on them. Got my but busted too. HARD!

 

[Hawnjigs]

AF, are the split openings on the top or bottom of your heads?

My first 5 years or so jigging was with split shot jigs. The only jigs available at our fishing supply were one brand of 1/2 - 1 oz. white bucktails with too big salt water hooks. Us kids were way brilliant figgering out downsizing for the local bite. Best fishing of my life!

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Great looking homemade jigs.I did some many years ago before I started pouring my heads and they didn't look even close to being that good.I was using a 90 degree jig hook with mine,not bending the regular hooks like you do. Best hand made jigs I've ever seen.

 

[AtticaFish]

LH - Can't say i have ever read anywhere about a 'no pour' approach to jig making, i (as well as others) just put 2 & 2 together. Haha, got to have my options.

ScottV - Yep! I have made them in all sizes too. I make some with small weight on bigger hooks (2 or 1) for crappie to really run them slow. But, the heavy heads on small hooks have stocked up my freezer with yellow perch and gills.

Toadfrog - I am not set-up to powder paint, all my stuff is done with nail polish. I have wondered if it is even possible to powder coat them..... wondered if the split shot would open if it was heated? There is not much 'meat' to the lead once i file them down. Have not had one shot come off the hook yet though.

Hawn - The opening is on top on these, but have done them with the opening on the bottom as well. just depends how i plan to shape them. You STILL can't find light wire hooks with the eye forward, the big companies never figured out the downsizing either i guess!

JJ1 - Thanks! Have never had a hook break from bending it, but is always in the back of my head. :s I guess the slight bend instead of 90 degs. comes from the fly fishing in me... hooks with that slight bend keep the point up as long as there is some weight up front.

 

[Pup]

AF,

Those are great. You could use two-part epoxy to protect and seal your nail polish to finish the head. It's tough stuff (insurance), so the heads won't just slip off if ever wedged solidly. I use it liberally and have reached the point where I use the stinky "5-minute" variety with decent results.

 

[StumpHunter]

Good looking heads. I like the way the hook comes out of the lead. Nice!

 

[skeetbum]

I've heard of em but these are the first ones I've ever seen. They look good. Lead melts at 600 and the powder paint is much lower than that. You should try a few and see how you like it. Good work.

 

[Lost Pole]

THANX!!!!!!!!!!!

Have been wanting to try some 1/4ozs with #4's without spending and think you may have just given me the way.

Adam

 

[skeetbum]

Something else came to mind. While crimping the shot you want two flat surfaces for the eyes. We have all seen the so called fishing pliers that have jaws that travel parallel to each other, one remember having a depression in it to close shot without loosing the roundness of the shot. Well if you were to set the shot up on the hook, and close it slightly, then insert in these pliers and squeeze hard, maybe a tap or two with a plastic mallet, it would crimp, flatten, and maybe leave a raised dot for an eye if you watched where you put things. I'll find the set I have if y'all need to see em. Honest, I'm not crazy. Well, not that crazy.........Tim

 

[rickman]

You can use "smooth" faced pliers to get the sides of the split shot flat to apply eyes. Another trick to get the split shot to stay on the hooks is to add a drop of Zap-A-Gap in the opening of the split shot before crimping them down. I've used regular super glue but it didn't work as well as the Zap. Must be something they use in their recipe. I use the clear "Hard As Nails" to seal the heads/eyes.

 

[Fatman]

These are just as cool as the first time you posted them!!!!!

 

[hookup]

Buddy of mine, who I hope will join the forum, makes them & has provided me with quite a few to test out. He powder paints them & it seals the seam of the split shot.

Nice work Attica!

Hooks break. I use to kirb every treble & discovered black nickle gamakatsu's break when kirbing.

It has something to do with the hook being hardened steel, then any bend weakens the hook in the bend area. If the hook's not annealed, then the bend creates a weak spot.

 

[AtticaFish]

Thanks for the added comments.

I can update this and say i have changed my hook preference for these..... i have given up on the aberdeen hooks for the most part and now use Mustad 3366 hooks instead. They are a heavier hook and have a shorter overall length - i like them and have much more confidence in them holding a large fish. I've also gotten into powder painting since my original post and they do powder coat just fine. Once cured, have never had one fall off the hook or come loose off the hook as long as there is a bend somewhere in the shank to hold it steady.

My favorite jig head for bluegill is one of these - the shot weight is a little over 1/32oz. and a #8 or #10 Mustad 3366 hook. They are the ones on the right in the picture below.

 

[Fatman]

Attica

How about a 3906B wet fly hook for doing those???

 

[AtticaFish]

Attica

How about a 3906B wet fly hook for doing those???

I have tried crimping shot on all manner of hooks. :jig: I like the 3366 because i can bend the shank farther back (toward the hook bend) and the shot will not slip around the shank then. The turned down eye hooks (like 3906) have the eye turned TOO close to the eye. No bend in the shank lets the shot slip.

The only other hooks i have found that work (other than a jig hook that is) without having to modify the hook are caddis/scud hooks that have enough of a rounded shape, they keep the shot in place. Don't have my materials in front of me, but pretty sure it is a C67S. Below are some that use the scud hooks......

 

[Fatman]

Attica great ties!!!!!!! Scud hooks I got!! I have some others but I don't know if they'll bend right or not.

 

[bombora]

Attica they are awesome little Scud jigs!