Custom Baits - Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: anyfish on 01/23/25 22:14 UTC
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So I've never fished a darter head, but I found the weedless one for sale for $40, so have it on the way. For those that have it, how does it do through the weeds? Does the hook eye act as a catch point or does it stay fairly weedless? Figured if noting else I could also use it as a bucktail or feather jig head
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For not having a weedguard of any kind, the Weedless Darter holds up well in grass given that its not overweighted for the depth and density of grass you'll fish it around.
The technique originates from the west coast, clear desert lakes to be specific, where its often fished over cover paired with a worm profile plastic. That said, it still has a plenty of range of use!
A quick modification could be made to make it "extra weedless" if needed by adding a wire weedguard: https://store.do-itmolds.com/cable-weedguard.html
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I fished this jig last fall for walleyes paired with a Quakin Shad and a 5" Fork Tail Wutzit. Fished as weedless it stayed clear of rocks and weeds, both of which were common annoyances. The jig stayed clear on both counts. There was significant current where the heads were used and they cut thru it easily. Its a nice head.
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Line tie is not in a good location for the name "weedless" Catch's tons of weeds.
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Thanks for the comments. When it shows up, I'll see how it works. I already had the hooks, so that's a plus.
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I have the mold, but so far have not used it a lot. It's certainly going to depend on what kinds of weeds/vegetation you try to pull it through, just like with any other lure.
There's stuff in the lake here, it pulls through fine, and we also get that nasty snot grass, and slimy algae and that stuff hangs on everything, regardless of how weedless it's supposed to be.
I like that darter jig as an alternative to a C or T rig, and with small 4" or 6" worms or grubs, were I'm moving them fairly steady and tossing them around the cypress trees. It might have been a slightly better jig with the hook eye in the tip of the cone, but that would have required a special hook, and the way the molds is, it can be poured with a basic Aberdeen jig hook. I'm not knocking it at all, but I have some Do It Molds, that the hooks are no longer being made, and who knows what might happen down the road.
I also tend to keep molds, and try to make use of them, even if I have to modify them for other hooks that are readily available. Hopefully, that won't be the case with this mold.
You can pour a regular darter style jig with it, and probably adding a wire keeper would not be difficult.
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Thanks. I have to try the Carolina rig approach.