Do It Midwest Finesse Jig Mold

[dtrs5kprs]

The corrosion issue with the Owner isn't so much in the box, as rigged. I was seeing rust in them after one day of use. Doesn't hold up to the salt.

[Fish24/7]

8 hours ago, Basfis said:

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. 

I've been using the lil nasties by Eagle Claw for a few years. its the only hook I use for my Ned head. They don't rust, ,very strong, and I don't use glue anymore because the bend of the hook holds the bait in position if rigged just right.They can't throw it either. At least I've never had one toss it yet. So sharp you never have to set the hook hard, just reel tight to the fish and they are on. The points stay pointed too.

1/16

 

[bluebasser86]

Also a fan of the Lil' Nasty hook. I've been using it several years now and it's a solid little hook. It holds up to abuse too, horsed this one in the boat less than 5 minutes (tournament time), on a 1/16oz head and #2 hook.

 

Just picked up one of their newer ones with 6 cavities all the same size. I use the 1/16oz 95% of the time and now don't have to pour them 1 at a time anymore.

[Mitch f]

Interesting about the owner hook corrosion. I’ve always considered owner the best hook in the market. They did have one model...their Super Needle Point that failed me though. All their other hooks I consider the best.

[dtrs5kprs]

3 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Interesting about the owner hook corrosion. I’ve always considered owner the best hook in the market. They did have one model...their Super Needle Point that failed me though. All their other hooks I consider the best.

Surprised me too, Mitch. It was one of the first hooks I put in a Ned head, after the horrible Gamakatsu 114s.

I'll stick with the little Mustad. And occasionally, to it 😁.

[slothman]

As somebody that is a novice in and is just getting started pouring my own jigs, this is a very interesting and informative thread. I don’t fish a Ned much (hardly at all), but this has been a good education in hook selection. I’ve exclusively used mustad hooks in my bass jigs so far and have been quite happy with them. I have had requests from some guys to use a beefier hook like a gamakatsu or owner. I think I can just use a mustad with a heavier wire (not sure I want to modify my mold to do it though).

Sorry for the digression. Please continue and don’t allow me to sidetrack your conversation. 

[dtrs5kprs]

16 minutes ago, slothman said:

As somebody that is a novice in and is just getting started pouring my own jigs, this is a very interesting and informative thread. I don’t fish a Ned much (hardly at all), but this has been a good education in hook selection. I’ve exclusively used mustad hooks in my bass jigs so far and have been quite happy with them. I have had requests from some guys to use a beefier hook like a gamakatsu or owner. I think I can just use a mustad with a heavier wire (not sure I want to modify my mold to do it though).

Sorry for the digression. Please continue and don’t allow me to sidetrack your conversation. 

Not at all.

I would say Mustad is generally "beefier" than Gamakatsu, about the same as Owner. Gammies run a full size small (2/0 Mustad is more or less the same as a 3/0 gammie). Owners and gammies may start sharper, but the Mustad will usually hold a point better...jigs, spinnerbaits. The cutting point Owners are a different animal altogether.

VMC is becoming more and more available in heavier jig hooks. And their quality is excellent. Sharp, strong, good finish. Their flip jig hooks are amazing. I put a bunch of vmc hooks in heads for little brown jigs and tubes this winter. They run pretty close to the Mustad in terms of dimensions, once in a while one or the other will surprise you. 

That's a newer VMC in a bug jig. Similar version is available in a standard 60 degree eye. And the most heavily modified mold I use.

Barlow's is a great place to get a guess on wire diameter. They usually have caliper measurements of diameter for one size of every hook in the catalog.

Most Do-It molds have a little wiggle room on hooks. Some have quite a bit. Can often modify a mold to use multiple hooks, even different eye orientations. Some mods yield a head with a little more flash, easy enough to trim if it does the job. Takes a hammer, a Dremel, some patience, and sometimes a little JB Weld.

If you're just needing to jump from say #1 to 2/0, you my just need the hammer. Put the bigger hook in the mold, close it, start gently tapping the frame, beginning at that cavity, but working up and down the frame. Especially in the middle. Might have to use a small piece of masking tape to hold the bigger hook in place.

We have somewhere north of 40-50 molds. Solid 2/3 are modded out in some way.

[Dutch]

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.

 

 

[dtrs5kprs]

Better look at that VMC. Offhand, I think it's 0.058in diameter, comparable Mustad is 0.060. Heavy on the offhand.

If VMC made a hook suitable for Ned heads, I'd sure give it a spin, but so far they don't.

[dtrs5kprs]

6 minutes 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.  
 

 

Works if you have one. Mine is too small for it. I use an old ball peen. For years I just used a Dremel, but hammering or pressing it is definitely faster. Maybe a little cleaner, too.