(11-28-2022, 05:01 PM)Therapist Wrote: Pat, why do you prefer a rigid wire dropper to either a mono or chain dropper? Enjoy the info !! Need to schedule a time to come harass you, have a great one !!
I bit the money bullet and invested in some Hali jigs many years ago. Proved to myself that the slightly remote bait did get bit better at times. But quickly discovered the potential for disaster if a large fish with teeth chomped on the flimly wire meant for perch. Lost a big toothy brown under the ice at Deer Creek one time...and lost a walleye on another trip to Starvation. Only lost the hooks and didn't have any chain to replace what was lost, so I tried some fine wire...and it worked. Figured out pretty quickly that I could make all kinds of "dropper lures" using the thin wire...at a lot less $$$ than the spendy jigs from Finland.
Since then I have made a lot of different sizes, shapes and colors of the dropper jigs...using wire. And I have caught just about every species in Utah on them...both under the ice and in open water. To me it is a proven concept and the wire is inexpensive, easily available, stronger and less easily damaged...and the fish don't seem to even notice it. [b]Mono? I have used mono and it works fine...but not demonstrably better than wire and is more prone to tangling up on the line. It also develops memory coils and does not always hold straight...decreasing the sensitivity and strike detection.[/b]
Springbuck mentioned that he had poorer hookup percentage using wire. There are some variables...like hook type and size, method of attachment, basic hook-setting skills, fish aggressiveness, bait used and method of attachment to the hook, etc. But my experience is exactly the opposite. On my recent outings for perch on Willard I have had a very high percentage of solid takes that turned into hookups. True, there were some bumps and pecks that did not get stuck...but whenever a fish climbed on they usually got hooked. And it was about the same for my early "Holy Jig" models on ice. You know you are always welcome in my playroom. It would be good to see you again. Just give me at least a few minutes warning to get rid of the girls and toss out all the empties.
(11-28-2022, 05:33 PM)SkunkedAgain Wrote: Pat, I shouldn't ask this question, but, how do you do your lead heads on jigs and such? Do you have a big pot of lead or do you use a small scale smelter? Not sure I've seen your lead write up, do you have one? Thanks JeffSilly boy. Of course I have a writeup on the subject...see attached. I also put together an amateurish video at LINK TO JIG MAKING VIDEO
The short answer is that I do have a lead melter...a Lee Production Pot that holds up to 10# of lead and dispenses it precisely with a handle pour release. Much better than using a ladle to dip out of a melting pot. At one time I had well over 50 different jig molds. I have downloaded some of them to my son in California and sold a few others to local tacklecrafters who needed them more than I do now. But I still have over 25 jig molds.