jig head actual weights, why so off?

I don't cast my own jig heads; I buy from CDC sponsors, members, and ebay, etc. I buy the no-collar ball style for hand tying. I weighed a few, and all are lighter than advertised. Most of the 1/32 oz jigs were closer to 1/42 oz, and the 1/16 oz run about 1/20 oz at the heaviest. What gives?

Is it because sellers use collared molds, and cut off the collars on no-collar orders (hence the weight loss), or could it be when the mold maker omits the collar, they do not proportionally increase the size of the ball cavity?

Looks like I need to order 1/24 oz and 3/32 oz collarless jigs to get closer to desired weight of 1/32 and 1/16. Comments? Anyone else weigh their jigs?

I noticed the same thing in a recent post of mine. I believe that the mold was designed with a collar and when they removed the collar they never accounted for the weight loss. Jacobs molds are more expensive and machined instead of cast like do it molds are. They might be closer to stated weight. End point to my way of thinking, it doesn’t matter to the fish.

When they are light, they don't cast as far, nor do they troll at the same depth (as collared with plastics). I know the crappie don't weigh them, you just have to get it in front of them. Weight matters to me.

My ebay source confirmed that is just the weight stamped on the mold, he does not weigh them. He's sending me some samples of 1/24 and 3/32 oz jigs to weigh that should do it for me: the 1/24 for dock shooting, jigging, and casting, the 3/32 for long lining and vert jigging.

Never thought about it but it would make a difference long lining. Post the weight of the jigs when you get them I’m curious if the 3/32 is closer to 1/16 might have to tie a few that size.


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I do know your hand ties will weight less then those with plastics. I can cast a 1/32 with plastic but hardly at all with hand tie. Might want to consider finished weight when doing trolling for consistent depths.

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/pour...t-differences/

I have always found the heads about right if no collar, but when they added a collar they didn't count for the extra lead weight? I have not bought any heads in a good while and always get them from the same person so don't think the ones I get would have changed, but I will ask him.

Skip

MAN I HATE TO KEEP KICKIN THIS DOG....but again here we are. NO JIG HEADS ARE GOING TO WEIGH WHAT THEY SUPPOSE TO 100% OF THE TIME!!! The hooks dont weigh the same,all lead is NOT the same,some will weigh different than others in the same size head due to the recipe in the lead. Molds are different too....hand pours pour different than spin cast...ANOTHER VARIABLE that will make different weights...THE ONLY WAY to get truely constant heads is to NEVER change anything and that is IMPOSSIBLE!!!! If you made your own hooks,poured the heads,painted them the exact same way, and everything, they still would not weigh the same. Just look at a do-it mold,the head size is the same with or without the collar and there is NO WAY that can be right. Collarless will always weigh less if the heads circumference is the same size. You will NEVER GET A CONSTANT CLEAR WEIGHT ALL THE TIME!!!! IT AINT GOING TO HAPPEN PEOPLE!!! So just pic the size head (not weight) you want and go fishing like your grandfather did. I am sure he never ran around with a set of digital scales weighing every jig head he threw. He just got the size he liked and when fishing in HIS BIG BOY PANTS!!! And always caught fish!!!! And for you trollers before you start...speed will work as good if not better than weight....you can control speed ALOT BETTER!!!

Ah Grousefly just mentioned spin-casting and I forgot about that and that is most likely what your buying if they are that much lighter than stated! That does make a difference and really I don’t like that near as much as hand poured heads!

then he also mentioned the lead as where it came from and the mix, all this makes a difference but soon cast vs hand poured is for sure going to be lighter!

Skip

Lol at the rants. I will just buy whatever is in the ball park. I'll never ask what they weigh again, or why. I guess it is a sore subject with some that sell jigs. Save the fishing advice for someone that needs it. I'm good.

Good question and answers! I am going to stay out of this one.

I use do-it molds and care less what they weigh. I type my own, have figured out my trolling pattern with the same jig heads with plastic or my hand tied. Don't sweat the details, JUST FISH.

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If you fish with a float or bobber of a certain size, like I do most of the time, the the jig weight makes a lot of difference !! If the jigs are too heavy and the float sits lower in the water. Much harder to detect a very light bite !!! I have poured my own and purchased from others like GrouseFly on this web sight and I haven't had a problem. You just have to adapt to the conditions.

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Originally Posted by jawjatek

Lol at the rants. I will just buy whatever is in the ball park. I'll never ask what they weigh again, or why. I guess it is a sore subject with some that sell jigs. Save the fishing advice for someone that needs it. I'm good.

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Think some know this subject has been discussed here a lot of times over the years, so it's not a new question or answer. Personally I never poured a head in my life, only tie them that others make, but I do have some I like a lot more than others.

Skip

So, with the difference in actual weight vs advertised weight being mere fractions of fractions of an ounce, how much deeper do you think the jig is going to run on essentially the same length of line out ?? I would guess it to be less than an inch but :dono

Is it really that crucial to be that exact, or is this something along the lines of being a little OCD about this weight thing :scratchhead

Not dissing anyone ... just curious. Seems to me that most (if not all) jigheads, regardless of where they come from or how they're made, are NOT going to be "exact" in their advertised weight. It would be extremely costly & time consuming to weigh each jig individually & add/subtract weight to get each one at the exact advertised weight.

To me, it's along the lines of pound test ratings on fishing line ... some say it's 6# test, yet it breaks at 8#'s pressure, or vice versa. Very few lines are rated exactly at their breaking point.

Never really gave it much thought. Well, that’s not true. Never gave it any thought!:Rofl

Too many variables have an affect on trolling depth. I figured early on that I needed to put em where the fish wanted em. Charts and lines and rod length and action.......it all makes my head hurt. Try different stuff, figure out what’s working best that day(May change tomorrow), and load the cooler. I have run junk compared to what I see in other boats, and still be asked what I’m doing that they aren’t.

Ah Yes !
The Joys of Fishing with all that's available has it's moments in question on what to use 😊
A little of this or to much of that has always been the fun an excitement to get bit
Kind of interesting how meticulous we've become to acquire that bite and share that find right here

billygee