RODNEY

Smallies, like largemouth, have preferences, but they are adaptable. If need be they will be found in a lot of the same places. Smallmouth will also suspend much more than folks thought, they will go where the food is. Rodney

My first mold, hooks(100 of each size), skirts, and Lee Pro Pot came to about 300$ from Jann's Netcraft. I didn't know about some of the other places that I know about now. I have close to a thousand lbs of lead I've gotten for free, too bad that's over. Jig Man and Cadman along with others are great sources of knowledge. Rodney

You guys ever try any of our waters here in NY? We have some pretty good fishing also. Rodney

Nice looking wraps, what blank did you use? Rodney

I haven't fished Mendon Ponds in years, when I did it was from a small inflatable, mostly 100 Acre. The Devil's Bathtub has bullhead only, the others have bass, pike, sunnys and used to have some crappie. Artificials worked pretty well, basically just move around the shore line. Conesus, you can turn left at the ramp and start fishing right away, you can move along the shore working the weed edges and find areas with fish. Rodney

Outside weed edges, small baits, 31/2 tubes, 4 inch worms or my favorite, small hair jigs, all fished slowly. Rodney

Use them when it's slow, move them slooooowwllyy, the hair will move. I'm in touch with one of the SoCal big bass guys, hehas caught fish over 19 lbs, his favorite bait is a hair jig with pork trailer and has caught multiple fish over 15 lbs, good enough for me. Rodney

While I do jigs I've seen crank bodies in Jann'snetcraft, they also have airbrushes and you can find them on the internet. I'm sure what you want to do is as addictive as jig making and you can go as deep into the hobby as you want. Enjoy! Rodney

They look good, brush jig? Rodney

Downeaster, if I lived where you do I'd be throwing dropshpt 90% of the time. In the Adirondacks you can have changes like that with few weeds but a lot of wood. I've seen mushroom heads done in hair and I like the looks, it is different than ball head, I also prefer them for open hook jigworming. Rodney

That is a nice looking jig Keith, I see another mold in my future but I want a mushroom head mold first. Choices, choices choices, lordy I hope I won the Powerball. Rodney

After reading your initial post I would just add, "match the hatch". If you have baitfish, match the hatch, same with craws, and bugs. Here I've gone to the DEC website and been able to check out craw coloration along with colors for various baitfish and insects, if you fish streams or from shore on lakes you only need to turn over rocks. Rodney

It isn't hard and you have most of what you need now, keep your colors simple, greens, browns and black, you can mix a bit of purple in if you want. I tie mine at about 3 - 31/2 inches on either ball head or poison tail jigs I cast. Trailers can be plastic or pork, both have a place. I use them in the Finger Lakes and the bays of Lake Ontario in NY, and Stillwater Reservoir in the Adirondacks. It is just so much more enjoyable to catch fish on your own baits. Rodney

You can use a skirt collar or tie them, I prefer to tie them. You don't need an expensive vise and you can get by with one bobbin and color of thread is not important. As mentioned, start with just a few colors, no need to gonzo, at least not yet. Finger nail polish will work for cementing the thread. This is an enjoyable hobby and to catch a fish on your own lure is very kewl. I must warn you though, it is addictive, the only known cure is fishing and work so as to tie up your time. Take Cadman up on his offer of help, he is very good at his craft and has a lot to share. Rodney,

Nice looking jig, keep it up. I tie ball head and poison tails in hair, they do work. In cold water the bite is usually soft, just an extra bit of weight, lite wire hooks help with the hook set. Don't religate hair to just cold water, they have a place in summer also. Rodney

Bass Pro is having a weekend long sale at the stores, don't know about on-line. Rodney

I'll have to learn how to post pics, it'll be interesting, my puter skills are at about an 1892 level. But to explain it; usually I tie one tab of silicone then tie the hair over it, the silicone pokes through, normally I use a light purple silicone. Rodney

Listen to Cadman as others have said but I would like to add the Flat Eye Arkie jig too, it may be the best skipping jig going. Skip a jig under a dock or tree limbs, swim it out and watch what happens. Rodney

X2 Cadman is showing his experience Rodney.

You sure you haven't done this before? They look very nice and the proof is in the fish you caught. Rodney

I mix rubber and silicone and silicone with hair. Learn to experiment and look at what others are doing and you'll be surprised at how fast you'll be become satisfied with what you're making, it is an enjoyable hobby and allows you to be creative. Rodney

Interesting color. I too have had help from Cadman and am thankful for it. As for thread or clollar I use thread, the silicone, hair or rubber puffs out more. I use a whip tool and Flex Head cement.Rodney