Jig heads for swim baits?

[pijon]

What is the preferred jig head and hook style/manufacturer for throwing swimbaits? Do-it molds has at least 3 styles of shad heads which fit the swimbaits fairly well. Anyone have a preference? Most use the 635 eagle claw or mustad 917## hooks which are heavy duty but I have seen some with obviously better quality hooks. Just don't remember the brand or #. I am in the process of pouring some of my own swimbaits (big learning curve...) and I also want to order some lead molds and pour my own leadheads to fit these.
Thanks in advance....

[Weather or Knot]

A buddy of mine (thats a bass fisherman)went on a couple of tuna trips with me this year and of course is now hooked on tuna fishing. After casting swim baits one day and doing fairlly well, he's been making up his own heads. He took a bass jig mold and carved out the shape and size he wanted and used the same hook size he would use for bass. They work great!

[tracker]

I got the do it mold for 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2 oz shad head. The hooks they recomended for that mold were great. Strong and a bit longer than most! Dont have the mold or hooks here but I went with what they said.

[pijon]

A flippin jig hook would work. They are very heavy wire and several manufacturers make them.

[pijon]

Thanks Tracker
According to the do-it website, the mold you have is a style 9 shadhead with 7/0 mustad 91715 hooks. Most of the others use eagle claw hooks. I am sure there are other hooks that will fit these molds. If I can find a cross-ref I will post it. Its a bonus that one size hook fits all three cavities. I have some bullet molds with 3 cavities and 3 different hook sizes. Makes it just that much easier and cheaper having one hook! I think I will order that same mold along with one size smaller for the 3/4 and 1 oz heads.
I made some plaster mold copies of some swimbaits I bought in Astoria. The results are so so. I am going to make one about 9-12 inches for lings and probly end up buying some molds for the 4-7 inch swimbaits. None of this is for retail. Just another way to pass the winter. When I get set up and pouring the leads and swimbaits I will take pics and share what I have learned. This started as a thought and has turned into quite a project.

[Super Fluke]

A flippin jig hook would work. They are very heavy wire and several manufacturers make them.

[tracker]

Yep that sounds right! The hooks are real nice. I also have the mold that does 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz I think it is! You sure can make lots of heads in a hurry with these molds! In just a few hours you can have enough heads for a whole year! I am also going to try and make up some swim baits. As you said, something to break up the winter! It used to be I would do some bird hunting but seems now I just think about tuna all winter. I feel sorry for the dogs!

[pijon]

I pour lead a couple times a year. The leadhead molds will take a few seasons to pay for themselves. Same for the pyramid molds. But the 12 and 16 oz ball mold payed for itself the first couple months of spring as we left so many of them in the south jetty. I am guessing the swimbait stuff, liquid plastic, glitters and colors will take several seasons. Except the stuff for lings. Big plastic baits don't last long and they get pricey.

[Mark Mc]

I am guessing the swimbait stuff, liquid plastic, glitters and colors will take several seasons

That really depends on one's own learning curve....and how well one learns from mistakes.

One thing is for sure...in the early days, you had better learn to like the smell of burning plastic.

[skein]

This is all pretty funny, you know.

We have a big thread on mercury in tuna, then stand over a melting pot full of lead before firing up the old plasti-smelter.

No wonder we're not rational any more....

Skein - who thinks it sure beats bein' normal

[Bait O' Eggs]

I would take the lead pot over the burning plastic :tongue: :tongue:

You dont feel the effects of the lead, that smoking plastic actually hurts the nose

[pijon]

My new plastic hasn't arrived yet. I have been playing around and practicing with old plastic bass lures heating the plastic in the microwave using Pyrex measuring cups. . So far I haven't had much smoke or smell but I pour in the garage with the doors open. It melts fast, I melt it 10-20 seconds at a time and then stir. Melt and stir. I am home this week after knee surgery so I have spent many hours reading info on tackleunderground. Tons of info. So far I have learned that I need a lot of practice. I can't pour straight. The plastic sets fast in a plaster curly tail mold and its real hard to not overfill the cavity. Swimbaits are a little easier since they are flat on top. I bought some Sculpey modeling clay to make masters with. I copied a large 10 inch curly tail in a 2 piece mold but not sure I can fill it without some sort of injection system. What I have read about injectors is they are a bit hazardous. Hot plastic under any kind of preassure is dangerous. So for a lingcod bait I am thinking along the lines of a very large swimbait or an eel shape. Both would be easier to pour. Pouring plastic is only slightly less hazardous than pouring lead. Gloves, heavy clothing and safety goggles or full face shields are mandatory.

[Mark Mc]

On a very, very serious note.....

The plastic is PVC-based. When this PVC gets hot (at / close to the optimum pouring temperature and viscosity), yes there is some visible fume. That is simply the vapor version of the raw material.

However, if you over-heat it....when it thermally decomposes ("burns" in layman's terms) it can give off dioxin. Dioxin is one of the thermal decomposition by-products of PVC....and it is a potent carcinogen.

Do not mess around with this.....avoid over-heating the plastic...have good ventilation....and if you do burn a pot of it, get that stuff far away from the house pronto, and don't breath it.

BTW I support my fishing habit with a day-job as a safety engineer / industrial hygienist.....I didn't pull this stuff out of my arse.

[pijon]

There is a thread on tackleunderground about using a kitchen ventilation hood and ductwork to remove the fumes. A very simple precaution in my garage. Fairly inexpensive also.
I bought a box of DAP putty for making molds. It is a very fine powder and after reading the ingredients I have decided against using it. That powder gets airborne just opening the box. I mix the plaster outside just to avoid the powdered dust. And I am sloppy too!
The other mold materials, resins and silicones have thier own sets of hazards. I used to work in an experimental injection mold shop. Giant exhaust ducts above the machines, and we still had to evacuate the building a couple times due to overcooking. This is fun stuff but only when we take safety serious.

[CATCH AND EAT]

I think I'll let the pros make my stuff for me. I am around enough chemicals each day and don't need any others to saturate my life.

[royalfish]

Get ahold of Mark and have him send you his stuff. First class top notch fish getters at a very reasonable price. Of course, there is alot of pride in doing it yourself