Is anyone making their own and tying a mono keeper on the hook shank somehow? I was thinking of trying it with some 50lb mono and epoxy the thread and see if it holds? The prices they charge for a plain jighead with a little mono keeper is just insane. I paid $8 for 4 unpainted 1/4oz jigheads a couple weeks ago, not even tungsten. Sure they work, but it seems like something pretty simple to replicate.

I make my own using split shots and walleye jig hooks. Clamp the split shot a little higher on the hook for more roll. I use sewing pins with the head cut off for bait keepers but you could use really heavy braid (80lb) wound behind the head for a keeper. The braid holds well if it is wound with space between the rows. I use UV glue on the tying thread and braid to hold everything together.

I figure about 25 cents a jig.

I’ve never tried it with mono. I do similar to Reel. I use a light wire like floral and fasten it to the shank with thread then fix it with superglue.

I am late to the party. What is the point of having a flexible mono keeper? I am curious and would like to know. I have several ideas, but until I find out what the logic is, I don't want to post something stupid. Can anyone enlighten me please? Thanks in advance.

Sounds like too much work; straight out of the package for me.

2 hours ago, cadman said:

I am late to the party. What is the point of having a flexible mono keeper? I am curious and would like to know. I have several ideas, but until I find out what the logic is, I don't want to post something stupid. Can anyone enlighten me please? Thanks in advance.

It’s really not flexible. The ones I have the mono is so thick and short that it doesn’t really flex much at all but the little bit it doesn’t probably helps to flex with the bait and maybe prolong the life of the bait a little bit instead of just cutting and tearing like wire.

1 hour ago, Tackleholic said:

Sounds like too much work; straight out of the package for me.

I don’t lose many of them and I could pour my own. I’d rather put a few minutes work in on the bench tying up a few jigheads and not have to order them or go to BPS.

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

It’s really not flexible. The ones I have the mono is so thick and short that it doesn’t really flex much at all but the little bit it doesn’t probably helps to flex with the bait and maybe prolong the life of the bait a little bit instead of just cutting and tearing like wire.

I don’t lose many of them and I could pour my own. I’d rather put a few minutes work in on the bench tying up a few jigheads and not have to order them or go to BPS.

Can you post a picture? No idea what you are talking about.

Allen

Oh ok. So I have poured jigs with weedguards in the past and the weedguards fused into the lead. On this note, I have also used Sevenstrand and Surflon stranded coated wire and it fused as well when pouring. So my thoughts are this, why not put a piece of Surflon ( or heavy mono) under the hook shank in a mold and pour the jig head. You can put a bend on one end which will go into the mold (to hold it in place) and leave the tag end long to be cut and bent later. The only problem might be, is powder painting the jig. I do know that the Surflon or Sevenstrand should hold up. I am not sure about mono, however if it is 90 lb then it might. If you want the keeper stiffer, you can glue it or epoxy it to the hook shank. I would opt for epoxy. This would eliminate wrapping with wire or thread. This is worth a try if you pour jigs. Just a thought or I might just be totally wrong.

I will try this later tonight when I get home and see if I can post a pic of my concoction.

9 hours ago, Munkin said:

Can you post a picture? No idea what you are talking about.

Allen

This is the exact ones I’m using that I’m wanting to do something similar to.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Minnow_Shaker_Ball_Jig_Head/descpage-VMMS.html

31 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

This is the exact ones I’m using that I’m wanting to do something similar to.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/VMC_Minnow_Shaker_B

That's interesting. Haven't seen anything like that before. If I were to do bulk order. I would make a silicone mold to hold the jig, hook and mono. Then pour in epoxy and let dry, or maybe something faster like hot glue. I don't know of an easy efficient way to make these.

I saw that one also. They seem to be using epoxy. Looks good but I don't like the position of the hook eye for strolling.

41 minutes ago, cadman said:

That's interesting. Haven't seen anything like that before. If I were to do bulk order. I would make a silicone mold to hold the jig, hook and mono. Then pour in epoxy and let dry, or maybe something faster like hot glue. I don't know of an easy efficient way to make these.

Hot glue is an idea I hadn’t considered, I wonder how that would hold? It might even make a good base and then epoxy over the top.

I regularly use traditional jig heads without keepers and just add my own mono keeper. I actually do the same on other styles of baits like spinnerbaits, buzzers and Chatterbaits that don’t come with a built-in keeper. It works just as well, if not better, than factory keepers, IMO…and I can confirm your theory of less plastic damage. I can often go all afternoon on a single minnow trailer or two.

I typically use 15-20 lb. mono and simply tie a 5-turn uni on the shank. Add a couple half-hitches to the flat piece of line that forms the base afterward to get two projecting ends of the knot. Cut each end, leaving about 1/4-inch tag or less depending on trailer, etc. Holds well on the shank after a good tightening, but a drop of superglue gel will help lock it up - I usually don’t though. I also like to locate this a bit further down on the shank than some traditional keepers coming out from the head. I want the body of the trailer to have to be pulled over the entire knot and slid up tight behind the head. Makes for a better hold.

Clayton I wish you had shown that link earlier. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out how to do it but was not even close to what you want.

Get some Mason hard mono. Very stiff and what I use for weed guards.

Just tie it to the hook shank and finish with superglue.

Why not just use the freestyle jig mold with the wire keeper?

Allen

3 hours ago, Munkin said:

Why not just use the freestyle jig mold with the wire keeper?

Allen

I like to be difficult I guess.

It’s mainly because the baits last longer with the mono keepers than with the wire and it’s easier to rig a bait. With the cost of some of these minnows, I’d like them to last as long as possible.

10 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like to be difficult I guess.

It’s mainly because the baits last longer with the mono keepers than with the wire and it’s easier to rig a bait. With the cost of some of these minnows, I’d like them to last as long as possible.

I am trying Guppy heads this year myself as I have a mold to pour two different styles of them.

Allen