Jig Mold Question

[rockmike]

I have a Do-It mold for a 1oz jig that calls for the heavy 630 jig hook. Iwould like to use the light wire hook instead. Has anyone modified a mold to do this?

[fishhunter775]

You can use the lighter hooks but will have to trim off the excess lead around the bottom of the hook.It will work usally.

[smoothlures]

It'll work, there will just be a little excess that goes through the hook hole since it's not the right size.

[Corker]

I'm not familiar with that specific mold, but one simple solution might be a dab of clay in the oversize channel for the larger shank. The clay won't be affected by the heat of the molten lead, but will prevent leakage and the need to trim. Just rub it off when the jig cools.

[rockmike]

The stud that holds the hook eye is too big for the finer wire hooks. Recon I could take a dremel and trim this down?

[smoothlures]

Yep I did that on a hot lips mold the other week.

[LedHed]

When you take the post off, the hook will float around in the mold – not a lot – depending on which mold you are altering. Corker’s advice with the clay will help keep the hook aligned.

You can oversize the mold eye and hook channel (both sides of the molds), fill with liquid weld (some have use Bondo), and place your greased hook where you want it in the mold. Close it and let it cure. Lot of work – I haven’t done it.

Have modified the shad 9 molds for Owner and Gamakatsu 60* and 90* hooks. Some of the jigs come out slightly off center. Don’t think the fish care…

[Fatman]

I've never had a problem using the smaller hooks like others have said you'll just have to do some trimming, but it's not all that bad. With my panfish jig molds that have the barbed collar I use some with the barb and collar on for plastics, and use my gate shears to cut the collar off for tying jigs.

This works out okay when you only have enough for 1 mold.

Fatman