Custom Baits - Forum
Jigs, Spinnerbaits and Sinkers => Lures => Topic started by: ctom on 09/30/14 11:36 UTC
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Ice fishing has taught me several lessons about trout and crappies. One is that these two fish don't need a lot of weight to make them happy to hit. I make a simple jigging spoon using silver and gold finish willow blades in a couple sizes....#1 and #2 are my favorites. Those shown here are #1 blades. My preference is towards smooth blades.
I get the blades and then find a drill bit the same size as the factory hole in the blade, mount it in a drill press that has a wood backer board, and then the holes in the opposite end of each blade is punched thru. I hang the split rings before I apply any paint or tape. The painted blade here in the picture was done with a brush and transparent lure finish before the hook was hung. That dot is glow pigment. The color and dot combination are a dynamite crappie combination where I live. Trout up here thru the ice like gold with a bright orange tape stripe covering 1/2 of the blade on the outside surface from hole to hole.
(http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad259/cttackle/69572042-e5f3-4cb1-aa30-f151c6c9aed4.jpg) (http://s941.photobucket.com/user/cttackle/media/69572042-e5f3-4cb1-aa30-f151c6c9aed4.jpg.html)
Thru the ice or fished vertically for suspended fish these are a super little home-cooked bait that is light in weight. They work well using a controlled lift/drop in standing submerged timber too. Fished with a simple 6" lift and allowed to drop fairly quick on a tight line, they have a subtle action that can drive crappies and trout to distraction. They won't fare well in current unless they are hung under a small float. I fish mine tipped with a 1# length of a thin plastic tail or with a waxie/minnow head if things get real tight lipped.
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What size treble hook do you like on those? size 12? I've got some #1 willows out in the man cave and I was wondering what to do with them. Now I know!
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A 12 will work. The ones in the picture are 10's.
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Nice Tom!!!