My DIY Projects and Great Adventures

[DrNip]

Dr Nip-

If I was selling jigs the client would naturally expect that they would not be blind. He might think them incomplete and rushed out the door or something. Cheated. Perception is that without eyes there is a lessening of value to the fish. Causing the loss of a few bites even. Perhaps so.

The FreeStyle jig has flat sides for the addition of 3d eyes, which serve to form a rounded head when applied. However, applying the eyes causes the jig to lose some of it’s painted surface. Maybe up to half or more. To me, this defeats the purpose of painting as I use attractive colors. I like the bright bright head out front and an attractive figure behind. The eyes add nothing unless you believe the fish is staring at the jig, and examining it.

My jigs are the drive-by killers of the crappie world. They come screaming past a fish and he is simply reacting. There is no inspection for details, and I am grateful for that fact, too. A jig doesn’t look like a minnow, so thinking it has to have eyes like a minnow makes no sense. It looks like something trying to escape. Bladed food items do not exist in nature either, but we all know them to attract bites. So for my style eyes are definitely unneeded.

You dip and wiggle and watch the fish eyeball your jig, so your works of art do make sense in that regard. You need every bit of attraction you can get as your jigs are not swimming past them. Kind of looking at the fish- taunting them. Even so eyes are optional, but most would reach for a jig with eyes anyways, and I understand that.

I find it interesting that you want to try your hand with tubes. You can make a far more attractive lure so I wonder why. I can see tubes as the lures someone wants to use when they don’t enjoy fiddling. Something simple and easy. I made up a bunch of them and almost never clip one on the line. I am glad to see you have a new deal there at the house and can start pouring again. Nice.




I will mail this to you at absolutely no cost or obligation - should it be of interest. It would come in a package with a fine selection of tube baits. Simply claim it by sending me your name and mailing address and I will get it together and visit the post office. As you can see it is very lightly used. It makes clean heads that do not require further attentions. I chose this shape as I thought it would slip inside much easier than the ones I had purchased.

Wait a minute…..are you inserting some sort of goo inside the tube to add scent ?

It is just hard to imagine this transition. Can you tell me why you think tubes will outperform what you already make ?

Haha didn't mean to throw you for a loop. Just broadening my horizon I guess you can say. Plans would be to mostly use with my 6.5' rod and cast to them as well as some dipping with long rod. No plans on inserting anything. I do have various crappie nibbles that I never touch. Have tossed the around the idea for years of having a 2-2.5" tube mold made. Will see how this goes and maybe one day fork over the money for a custom. Definitely wish I could have some plastic color combos made in the tube that I've made over the years.

I would love to try out the mold. If you don't need it I will borrow it. If you were to ever need it back let me know.