Jig Man

I make my own. The cheap ones cost me $2/100. The expensive ones are $18/100. I get some pretty good deals buying 1000 hooks at a time and I have a lifetime supply of free lead. As for TRDs my daughter bought me 44 packs of assorted colors.

Many times they take it on the fall even if they don’t I want a slow sink. Most of my Ned fishing is less than 20 feet and the 1/16 works best for me. I also have found that 6# fluorocarbon line beats everything else that has been in my boat for numbers of bites. I also vary hook sizes. If it is open water I will use a 1/0 hook. If it is rocky and has a bunch of narly wood like Table Rock had yesterday a #2 hook lasts longer. I think we went through between 2 to 2 1/2 dozen heads for 34 bass yesterday.

The 1/16 head is the one I use the most on my spinning setups. I have to use heavier for my bait caster Ned setup. I fish them several different ways depending on the fish depth and wind. Today they were in 4-8 fow so mostly is was let it fall, if no bite, lift and let it glide back to the bottom.

I do a lot of smallmouth fishing with Ned and shaky heads. I paint all of my jig heads. However, the color of the head has nothing to do with the color of the bait that I am using. My smallmouth head colors are strictly for me so that I can get the size that I want to use. For example, my Ned heads go up in weight by 1/16 oz increments and I color them brown, green, red, black, yellow and white. So if I want a 1/16 oz head I grab a brown one. I use 4 different hook sizes so all I would have to do is grab a brown head with the correct size hook.

For me it is a cold water bait. I’ve been using them for several years. I wanted a variety of designs so I chose to make my own. I like the flash mob type best with silver willow leaf blades. I mostly use 4/0 hooks with 1/16 or 1/8 oz heads to cut down on the weight. I have used a lot of baits on them but like flukes and swimbaits best. I got started with them on Bull Shoals fishing for winter time white bass those 3 and 4# whites will nearly jerk the rod out of your hands. Over time I have 3 setups dedicated to Arigs. Two of them are in the boat all the time.

I have 2 HMG 6’ ml rods that I use for Ned rigs, small swim baits, and slider grubs using 1/16 and 3/32 oz heads. They are paired with Shimano 1000 reels and 6# fluorocarbon line.

Yep I’d say thermocline. Last week on Pomme de Terre it was 20’ in some places and 30’ in others.

I used to be a guy who did all of my repairs. Now I “have a guy” for each of them. Some things I deliver and some come to the house. This way is a whole lot less stressful and less dangerous.

Get you a set of these. https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/wire-forming-tools/d-barb-hook-cutter-remover.aspx

I have some Shimano Curados and Stradics that are 2001 models and going strong. I use my stuff hard but I keep my stuff maintained.

First trolling motor and engine on the same battery is not the best option. Trolling motor on one battery and engine and electronics on the other one is a better option. If you have a Sams club in your area, they have some good group 31 agm batteries. There are a lot of better choices than Optima. Reserve capacity is what keeps your trolling motor going.

Most of the time I can go through the gills turn the hook and safely remove it. Once in a while that doesn’t work so I keep a special pair of cutters handy. They cut the hook and have a magnet to catch the cut piece. https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/wire-forming-tools/d-barb-hook-cutter-remover.aspx

Yes G3 is still a good boat. Yamaha bought them a few years ago.

The spinnerbait bite has been good around Aunts. One of my friends had a good trip flipping. He said he never got out of sight of the ramp.

You also need to be 6’10” and weigh about 250#.

You can buy 20 ga. wire at a big box store and have enough material for thousands of clips. Two finishing nails in a board, a pair of side cutters and needle nosed pliers and you are ready to go.

I use a couple of my cranking rods sor shaky. They work great.

As recommended put some tape on the knot. I use blue painters tape.

No only not tried it, never heard of it.

Trigged craws and worms for me but mine are a lot deeper piles, like 15 to 30 feet deep.

Thousands of people have done the same thing. They are made for first time buyers.

Yesterday was tough with the north east wind. I could only find deep fish tight to cover and not many of them. I used spinnerbaits early then jigs, shaky and Ned. Only bites were on shaky around 20 feet deep.

They are several levels up from the entry level Tracker which will be under powered with a cheap trolling motor and electronics.

Scrambled with hot salsa, sliced tomatoes and some kind of potatoes along with Turkey bacon.

If you have a Sam’s Club near you, you can buy a group 31 for less money. What ever you get high reserve capacity is what you need.