34,500 jig heads

Spent the afternoon out of the mess in the big shop, cleaning up some bulk lead, getting it in usable form. Cleaned it twice and poured it into 32 ounce muffins. There are 7 lead muffins still cooling in the muffin pan, that aren't pictured. If I calculated correctly, there's enough lead there for 11,500 1/16 ounce and 23,000 1/32 ounce jigs. The way I fish in the trees (skwerl hunt as my fishing buddy calls it) that should get me well past spawning season.
LOL

i need about a 1000

I pour my own jigs also, I just got a 1/100 oz mold for some real ultralight fishin.

As slow as I am, I'd have to charge about $1 each to break even.



What size hook you using on those? You must have some great way of cleaning lead. Unless I'm watching my P's and Q's I have trouble pouring 1/32's and them filling in properly. Gotta keep the lead clean and the mold hot. I just got started pouring so if you have any tips, I'm all ears.

Fur did you ever tie any buck tail jigs? I think I remember it was you that was looking for some deer hair awhile back.

No, I didn't. I should have thought to ask for tails during hunting season. I have some 1/32 heads poured to make squirrel tail jigs with tomorrow afternoon.

If you want some deer tails I've got several you can have.

Awesome, thanks! Can you ship them to me or do you want me to pick them up? Obviously I'd pay for shipping if you can ship them.

Just pm me your address and I'll send them to you.

I use soft lead, not tire weights and it has to be hot to pour the tiny jigs.

I also use drop out which is a casting release spray.

I really don't care too much how mine look as they are not for sale.

A little thick green pumpkin dip paint makes them all look good.

There's a lead flux on Barlow's Tackle that helps to clean up lead too. It's not cheap though.

Forgot... I wear googles over reading glasses. One pop in an eye with hot lead and you're in real big trouble.

I dont really care so much how mine look but I want all the lead to be there, that's supposed to be there. I modified my mold so that I could use a #2 hook with the 1/32 jig. The hook takes up so much room, if everything isn't right, there won't be a collar on the jig.

I bet the 1/100's are real fussy.

#10 hooks for 1/100 oz jigs. I even use sickle hooks that small.

Smoke the mold and melt a little wax in lead helps with pouring.

The drop out does basically the same thing as to smoke the mold, only better i think.

I smoked the molds the first time I used them but haven't since. Is that something I'm supposed to do every time? Is that only to help them release, or pour better too?

I can't imagine using a #10 hook. The #6 sickles that I'm using on some bream jigs I'm tying seem to tiny.

What kind of sickle hooks are yall using? I've been using Matzuo but I seen where they went bankrupt. I ordered some of the Eagle Claw lil nasties to try but haven't got them yet.

Lil Nasty for me

Lil Nasty

I tie my own buck tails also. Got tired of loosing hair after a couple of fish and I like some long hair jigs I use without twister to fall faster.

I drop a little wax in melting pot every time I pour ,smoke mold with it I think it helps release jigs.

I've been putting wax in the pot every time, and scooping out the ashes from when it burns. I only smoked the molds the first time I used them though. I haven't had any jigs stuck in the mold, but they don't usually just fall out either. I'll try smoking them every time and see what it does.

Fur which heads are you making? I pour the minnow style for crappie jigs and use the ball style for shaky heads. I've noticed the minnow style come out of the molds real easy. The ball style will seem tight ever once in a while.

Both my molds are ball head. One has a barbed collar to hold the bait and the other is just a plain round head.