Do It Midwest Finesse Jig Mold

[Ealy]

I’m thinking about ordering the MW Finesse jig mold. It calls for an Owner 5313 hook. 

For those of you pouring with this, are you using this hook, or have you found a good alternative? Also, which size hook do you prefer?

[Basfis]

5313 owner is good. So is the 32746 NPBN Mustad. 
 

recently bought the new 500 BP from eagle claw. Sickle type. 
 

all 3 work really well. I’m curious to see how the sickle works for jumping fish. They work extremely well for crappie flopping on the surface. Just now getting to surfacing fish to test them out. If they stink, they are still really economical and very sticky. 
 

size wise, I’ve poured #2 up to 2/0. Depends on the day and the bait which we use. 
 

save your $ on the keepers and 100% super glue. Baits lay better. 

[Ham]

Super Dave should weigh in. He’s got me “hooked” on a Mustad Steelhead hook in #2 : I think it is a 33286 or something close to that. Sharp and STRONG. 

[dtrs5kprs]

The 5318 is super sharp, but bends out, and corrodes badly. Had high hopes for it.

Think that mold is also cut to take a 604 Gamakatsu in #1. We used that one, but had trouble with points rolling. Corrosion resistance is good. Good hook, if you don't mind chucking out some heads every day. Stopped putting it in our jigs about 4 years ago.

Sickles never worked for me, in any size under 3/0. Probably just me. The eagle claw version seems less sharp than the old Matzuo, which apparently went bye bye.

The Mustad 32883, size #2 rocks. Same size as the Gamakatsu (they run a full size small). 2x heavy wire. It's made for salmon and steelhead, basically looks like a little bitty shakey head hook. Points hold up. Good corrosion resistance...I just pulled some cut sticks off that had been on rods since 2018, no rust. That's my choice. The shank to eye leg length is designed to be shorter. This gives it a larger effective gap to listed size, bit does mean most molds have to be tweaked to take it.

That's pretty much the range. I've seen references to Mustad version of the sickle, but haven't actually seen one yet.

 

[Dutch]

I just got my second one in last week.  I did so many mods to my first one that I decided to start over.  I have used several different hooks up to 2/0.  I prefer a Gamakatsu 1/0 that I got for 60% off on close out at Shorty's Hook Sales.

[Basfis]

I was skeptical about the eagle claws. Read several positive reviews figured at $.05 each I’d let my kid use them up. He is a die hard ned fan and frequently gets bit by rocks so economical was a factor for sure. Whatever I set him up with needs to be sticky as he frequently has too much slack. 
I’ve never poured the matzuo to compare. The version I ordered was the “black pearl”  

FWIW this was a couple weeks back on the 1/0 sickle hook on the Niangua. It was stuck pretty well in the jaw bone. Used pliers to free it. Between 9 and 10lbs. 
 

yrmv for sure

[Ealy]

1 hour ago, Basfis said:

I was skeptical about the eagle claws. Read several positive reviews figured at $.05 each I’d let my kid use them up. He is a die hard ned fan and frequently gets bit by rocks so economical was a factor for sure. Whatever I set him up with needs to be sticky as he frequently has too much slack. 
I’ve never poured the matzuo to compare. The version I ordered was the “black pearl”  

FWIW this was a couple weeks back on the 1/0 sickle hook on the Niangua. It was stuck pretty well in the jaw bone. Used pliers to free it. Between 9 and 10lbs. 
 

yrmv for sure

Great fish on that little hook. Good price on the hook for the kids box for sure. 

[Ealy]

Good to know on the corrosion factor for the Owner. I’ll bag them in small packs to limit that. Will 2/0 fit the mold OK without mods?

[Ealy]

2 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

The 5318 is super sharp, but bends out, and corrodes badly. Had high hopes for it.

Think that mold is also cut to take a 604 Gamakatsu in #1. We used that one, but had trouble with points rolling. Corrosion resistance is good. Good hook, if you don't mind chucking out some heads every day. Stopped putting it in our jigs about 4 years ago.

Sickles never worked for me, in any size under 3/0. Probably just me. The eagle claw version seems less sharp than the old Matzuo, which apparently went bye bye.

The Mustad 32883, size #2 rocks. Same size as the Gamakatsu (they run a full size small). 2x heavy wire. It's made for salmon and steelhead, basically looks like a little bitty shakey head hook. Points hold up. Good corrosion resistance...I just pulled some cut sticks off that had been on rods since 2018, no rust. That's my choice. The shank to eye leg length is designed to be shorter. This gives it a larger effective gap to listed size, bit does mean most molds have to be tweaked to take it.

That's pretty much the range. I've seen references to Mustad version of the sickle, but haven't actually seen one yet.

 

 

1 minute ago, Ealy said:

Good to know on the corrosion factor for the Owner. I’m ordering the mold through TW, so I’ll start out with that one to complete my order. I can bag them in small packs to limit the rust.. Will 2/0 fit the mold OK without mods?

 

[dtrs5kprs]

31 minutes ago, Ealy said:

Good to know on the corrosion factor for the Owner. I’ll bag them in small packs to limit that. Will 2/0 fit the mold OK without mods?

I don't run anything bigger than the #2 heavy Mustad in a Ned head. Defeats the purpose, and hangs up more. We've poured a couple three of them that way 😉.