Do It Midwest Finesse Jig Mold

[dtrs5kprs]

On that line... I've heard of guys using a press to do it too. But I also lack that option. 

Apparently a long gone KC company called Ament made a lot of molds using steel protos, and pressing them into the aluminum blanks. I've seen a few, but don't own any.

[Ham]

I remember getting some Ned heads with a sickle hook in them early on. I love a ball head for a grub with a 2/0 Matzu sickle and I was sure that was going to be the ticket in Ned. It was NOT. I had a large quantity of myster get offs where the fish was hooked up and would magically come unbuttoned on the way back. I have no idea why.

All my first line jigheads have the Mustad Steelhead hook in them now. The hook is no longer an issue

 

[dtrs5kprs]

11 minutes ago, Ham said:

I remember getting some Ned heads with a sickle hook in them early on. I love a ball head for a grub with a 2/0 Matzu sickle and I was sure that was going to be the ticket in Ned. It was NOT. I had a large quantity of myster get offs where the fish was hooked up and would magically come unbuttoned on the way back. I have no idea why.

All my first line jigheads have the Mustad Steelhead hook in them now. The hook is no longer an issue

 

A Matzuo cost me one that would have gone 7+ out of Whites Branch in 2012. That was it for me. Lots of flex.

The gammies are the ones that really bug me. Good solid pick ups, pound them, and it just never penetrates. Over and over.

As much as he drives me nuts to watch, Zona did a good segment on setting the hook on brown fish last year. He happened to be fishing tubes, might have been with Zaldain. But he made a point of explaining why he just hammered each fish multiple times. His explanation was brownies will clamp so hard on a soft bait the first set may just move it, and they'll stay clamped, but not hooked. Made a ton of sense based on what I've seen, and talked to folks about.

[Mitch f]

2 hours ago, Dutch said:

I don’t use a hammer when modifying a mold.  I tape the item in place with masking tape then go to my largest bench vise.  I put the mold in the vice and tighten it down.  

I also have used JB Weld but lately switched to RTV silicone.

 

 

Dutch, you taught me this and it worked famously! I’ll never buy a weedless mold anymore... only possibly if I’m using a fiber weedguard, which will never happen! 😂😂

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, dtrs5kprs said:

A Matzuo cost me one that would have gone 7+ out of Whites Branch in 2012. That was it for me. Lots of flex.

The gammies are the ones that really bug me. Good solid pick ups, pound them, and it just never penetrates. Over and over.

As much as he drives me nuts to watch, Zona did a good segment on setting the hook on brown fish last year. He happened to be fishing tubes, might have been with Zaldain. But he made a point of explaining why he just hammered each fish multiple times. His explanation was brownies will clamp so hard on a soft bait the first set may just move it, and they'll stay clamped, but not hooked. Made a ton of sense based on what I've seen, and talked to folks about.

I think tactical bassin talked about that too.  And the fluke getting eaten head first and then you just pull the hook out backwards without Hooking them.  Video of the fluke bite.  

[dtrs5kprs]

14 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I think tactical bassin talked about that too.  And the fluke getting eaten head first and then you just pull the hook out backwards without Hooking them.  Video of the fluke bite.  

Sounds right. They for sure do it with tubes, Ned, sometimes shakey heads. Makes sense it would happen with a fluke too.

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 minute ago, dtrs5kprs said:

Sounds right. They for sure do it with tubes, Ned, sometimes shakey heads. Makes sense it would happen with a fluke too.

If I can get away with it I nose hook a fluke with a 5/0 ewg.  Never miss them.  

[wily]

That’s cool how you rounded out that head

[Basfis]

It might be obvious and,,,, the hammer trick is best done with a dead blow ideally with a soft face. 
blackening with a marker before fitting and closing is telling too. A light tap on marked surface shows what needs work before spraining hinges. 
I haven’t tried the rtv before in mods but probably will now. Good tip for duplicating.