Shad Imitation

Been reading about crappie and what attracts them. Color of course seems to be the most focussed upon aspect of a jig. However profile is also important, or it should be. So I added potbellies to a couple to get that shad profile.

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Seems the lakes are slam full of shad, so they must make up a large part of the predator’s diet. I have seen on several occasions baby shad being slapped about by predators and when I got home tried to fashion up a jig with the shad shape.

The eyes have been an issue for me as I do not care for stick ons. These were some of the worse left overs from my experiments. Anyways I am practicing using nail polish for my eyes. Of course white with black dot, but also just some sparkle will add the effect of an eye. Others turned out much better. I like nail polishes that provide UV reflectivity.

Today out on the lake the water was green with maybe an inch visibility. The Tail Gunner style jigs did better than those with no spinner. They also have been picking up catfish for some reason, but it could be the slab sauce doing the deed as well. I landed fish using them pushed out the front and trailing behind planer boards.

I am excited to get my package from Bartlows as it will have my bottom pour Lee 20# pot. It will also have large propellers so I can get started with my idea of adding props to jigs. I know others have already done everything possible, but sometimes new ideas can sneak in.

I am interested in trying to go with more natural colors. The grey chenilles did well today vs. bright colors. I need to obtain some more life like minnow chenilles and while flash probably is useless in the green water, just having the silver color might be an advantage.

Could not tell what kind of action my flapper tail jig produced. Nothing hit it.

I am so excited to try that Bat jig with small plastic baits. I also plan to add blades to the larger size. Just very interested at the prospects of what can be done with the shorter profile. Seems it would be an advantage to get more wiggle from the plastic bodies. I never cared for inserting hooks into the plastics as they seldom line up perfectly for me. Just piercing the front and letting the wire keeper hang on should lessen my errors and provide more freedom of movement. Also letting me utilize smaller plastics with larger heads. Trolling jigs, not jigging them is what I do so larger heads don’t hurt, they help.


So.....been thinking about what makes for a successful jig. A big old lazy fish sitting there, minding his own business, suddenly hears something. He can figure out which direction it is approaching from. He knows whatever it is it will come into view right about there, and only be visible for a short distance before it is gone. It is this getting noticed part that I am focussed on. If the fish never realizes my jig is near I have absolutely zero chance of catching him. If however he does notice it, well then he must make a decision- eat it or don’t bother. Getting him to the point where he is making a decision is key. They are dumb and make bad decisions all the time. I also figure that they are skittish and always wary of being eaten by alligators, gar, bass, big catfish, etc. So ever vigilant for danger, always ready to exploit an opportunity. I want to aim my efforts at a few larger fish, not necessarily filling the cooler with big numbers. I want my jigs to scream out and be like the High School Marching Band coming down Main Street. Over here.....I am over here.

Anyways, as always I like to get advice from the experts. Go any advice ?:biggrin

BTW.....whenever I delete an added photo it appears as an attachment below. Is there a way to delete pictures once they have been added ?

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Those look awesome

Pretty neat jigs. First thing I thought when I saw that was the Thump Chubbies from constant pursuit outfitters. Sort of same profile with the big belly.

Gee thanks.

Do you think the profile matches a shad’s ?


Thump Chubbies....hmmmmmmm....are they popular ? I mean they look like a fat Baby Shad by Garland. So obviously somebody thought about the profile besides me.

Garland Baby Shad
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Thump Chubbie
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Me
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You’re always chasing ideas, and that will bring success. Nice work, hope you continue do improve along the way.

Beautiful photos, and an interesting post and comments. Thanks for the share!
Bob

You have to delete them at the point you have them just before you post. Click on each pic with control button pushed you should be able to delete it and stop it attaching.

I can delete any you want if you tell me which one for sure.

Skip

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I got bottom pour pot and started making jigs. This one was dipped into clear powder paint with UV enhancements, then baked, then white and black nail polish eyes, then propeller neck with blade out back. The chenille is car mit.

The clear powder keeps the jig head shiny silver. That fresh poured lead look.

Here with a UV light to show reflectivity.

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I figured out how to add the wire keeper thingie to the mold. Poured a bunch with those keepers to use for plastic baits. Also made ones without keepers for the tying vice. Trick was to grab top of wire with pliers then push bottom into mold and release. Worked about same effort as inserting hook. Those heads with keepers will be painted bright colors that will better match up with plastic baits.

Painting the eyes was easy peasy because jig head has indentations. These make it easy to make round eyes. I plan to use wild colors for the eyes on some. Glitter polish eyes look great with white or yellow chartreuse for example. UV glow orange with green UV pupil. Nail polishes come in interesting colors.

Bottom pour pot was not easy, and they put one of the legs right where I want to place mold. Hard to keep lead contained to just one hole. Later I was getting the hang of it. Better than my one pound Rowell ladle though.

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The propeller is touchy. Regular round bead impedes the spin (pictured). I switched to an oval shaped bead and spin city (not pictured). That also made it a lot easier to tie chenille because no worries with crowding bead.

I plan to order smaller drop shot swivels for my tail spinners. Afraid to try smaller split rings- LOL.

Getting better at the eyes. Now I brush polish into cavity, let dry, then dob in the pupil using end of stick dipped. Kind of punching it on.

Can’t wait to take these babies for a spin.

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Great looking jigs, and fresh ideas for sure. I found for eyes, least wise for me, to use enamel model paint. Like for plastic model cars and planes. I also use a rotary hole punch from Harbor freight and any color craft foam, the 1mm thick stuff you can get at any hobby store. It don't take much at all. Punch out some circles from the foam. I use pieces of bamboo skewers and super glue the foam to the skewer. Once dried, shake paint well and dip foam brush into paint on the inside of the lid from shake mixing paint. Dot your first color and let dry. then dot pupil. One little bottle of paint will last a really long time...With the hole punch method you can vary the size of foam to make different sizes of brushes, so different sized eyes and pupils.

Nice! Have you tried using gorilla glue clear for gluing eyes? It goes on clear, doesn’t discolor eye, no odor and you have wiggle room to get eye set without getting your fingers stuck together.

Well thank you very much James. The punch method surely would produce better results, and offer some consistency. I’ll adapt it because buying eyes and then having to glue them on just seems silly. My lakes are discolored and as I troll past there isn’t much time for the fish to spot the good eyes. Seems useful only to impress the craftsman.

The Full Fandango here.

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Not sure he will get eaten, but he would probably win Best Costume at the jig ball.


I think trying to get the profile right is important. So many of the things we eat are expected to at least look like they are supposed to look. Some people look funny at Wendy’s square burgers. No one wants to eat a three legged chicken. However in nature these lines get crossed rather easily. For example, my wife’s chihuahua would have no issues eating an entire three legged chicken. Still appearing correctly is important and the lines for crappie are wide and grey and not exactly straight. I have never seen a neon electric chicken minnow swimming wild amongst the grasses.

There are other forage for them though, and that means other profiles will be useful. Well perhaps useful. I am making a streamlined minnow shape now. Made up one and it looked fair.

Here he is

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The h is 1/16 oz, coated in Ally Hansen so the lead keeps it’s natural shine. Size #2 wide gap hook. But I don’t care for the size of the split ring and swivel. Too large. Partially hidden by the thick chenille, but still too large. So I am having to fiddle about some and get creative. But if I can fish two profiles that will be good.

I am trying to join a club that is filled with old men that have caught crappie for decades. The club was formed back after WWII and the members are quite good and filled with a history and knowledge that could turn into lessons for me if I try. I have to clean fish and do dishes a couple of times, and volunteer around the site where they meet. They have tournaments and such but mostly just meet up to eat the fish someone caught for them. I look to be the youngest in the group, with the average age being about 127 ..... I imagine. Grumpy looking fellers some, although they may come around and warm up to me. I am excited to learn of course, and to be a part of something cool, but mostly I am excited because now I have a place to go and dump my creations. You know the jigs I will never fish. LOL. Plan to make a regular habit of bringing shiny gifts to set about for those brave enough to actually fish one of them.

My “mentor” , ( he nominated me in the club ) is completely baffled as to why I wouldn’t just buy some curly tailed plastic baits at Rural King, get the already painted jig heads in the pack and simply long line out the back of the boat using various spinning rods. Like he does it. He catches lots of fish and does well in tournaments and such, but I didn’t learn much sitting in the back of his boat while we were doing that. I wouldn’t learn any more going again. I need to just kind of figure things out on my own. Sure I could monkey see monkey do, but he catches a lot of little fish, which he enjoys relating the number of fish to others. I just want to have fun and maybe catch a few nice ones.

His buddy and he launched right after me last week. I watched them head across the lake and I kept them in sight the entire time. They trolled past me and I could hear them giggling. Later his buddy asked me what kind of bobbers I was dragging, and how did I get them out and away from the boat. So there is definitely room for some new ideas in my area and I enjoy my planer boards just fine.

Also I am interested in in line spinners. Gonna get my hands on some and just see if they offer anything useful to me. I mean I know they will catch fish, but are they an advantage or a disadvantage.

My biggest obstacle so far is finding the fish. Maybe none of this will even matter once I figure that all out. Could be they will eat anything. My mentor sure thinks so.

Nice write up and thoughts, Micanopy. Stick with it. Like any old club, it takes awhile to break in.
Bob

Good Work! Look forward to seeing the results.

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I came home and a box was sticking out of my mailbox. That stuff was what was inside.



Kind hearts are the garden
Kind thoughts are the roots
Kind words are the blossoms
Kind deeds are the fruits

-Author Unknown



Thank you so very much Dr Nip. I really appreciate the generosity. The jigs are destined to be the very first acquisitions for my museum. Seeing the expression of your imagination excites me to imagine what for myself. The skill set a goal I desire, and the patience to assemble it all correctly a real challenge. Your jigs show pride in workmanship. Impressive.

I feel sorry for your local fish actually. Just ain’t right dipping them devils out there. Ain’t right.

I will try eyes again. Thank you very much.

Good stuff, thank ya and you’re welcome! You’re the 1st time I’ve shipped any of my jigs out since I quit selling in 2017. Enjoy them my friend.

I want some.....lol. Good stuff DrNip. Truly a class act.

Very nice of you Dr.nip' what a great gesture. Micanopy, I guess it's like that every where, as far as your club goes. Being the new kid on the block with a few fellas already set in their ways can be a challenge for sure. Some will accept a different way of doing things and some just too set in their ways my friend.

Painting eyes I picked up the tip to use cheap drill bits for this that I got from FAOL, just use the flat end and use several size bits for different heads. I use vinyl paint for just black eyes like on my Roadrunners, but have also used the enamel model paint for eyes. I know some use wood dowels, but the drill bits are easy to handle and fit most anywhere easy.

Skip

Yup drill bits or dowel rod tips I’ve heard over the years for vinyl eyes. I’ve never done vinyl eyes. Don’t know why not.

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Originally Posted by DrNip

Yup drill bits or dowel rod tips I’ve heard over the years for vinyl eyes. I’ve never done vinyl eyes. Don’t know why not.

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Best part about the Black vinyl you don't need the White undercoat like you do with it's colors. As long as you can handle just a Black eye, it's perfect and just need to dry. It's thick stuff so easy to get a nice thick eye. May need to thin it from time to time.

Skip

I use the little cans of oil based paint, applied with old nail sets or drill bits. Easy to clean/wipe paint of while wet. A black eye by itself is good in my opinion. Catches fish with the ones I have two coated and you cant get it off the jigs even dock shooting concrete walls. Well for awhile anyway.

Skipped fishing today. It was pretty windy and the wifey had a list of want dones for me. I did manage to play some as I fired up my lovely gift.....Bat Jig Mold.

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Thanks again Dr Nip......you are a fine man. :)



The mold is in great shape and will last a long time. For those who might be interested in this jig, I shall share.

There are seven sizes from 1/32 up to 1/4 and the mold is designed to use a #6 Do-It Whacky Hook in all sizes. This to create a compact design for dipping down into trees with fewer snags. The hook also points downward to assist with avoiding snags. Looks like just a regular Wide Gap hook to me though. The eye is at 60 degrees and this is supposed to use the line to bounce off of limbs early, vs wrapping around like 90 degree eyes do. The mold is not easy to prepare as the hooks are small and the wire keepers make everything a challenge to get aligned. I was getting partial pours and had to increase temperature of the lead up to 750, which is hot for me. Still got a few partials but that has to do with the shape of the cavity, and not much can be done about it.

My mold has been modified to accept 90 degree hooks and they insert much easier, and the wire keepers play a little better with them. I was able to insert a #2 in the 1/16th and a 2/0 in the 1/4. Suppose I could go bigger and smaller but the point is there is a nice range of possibilities to suit one’s style and preference.

One of the things I didn’t realize until I held one in my hand was that they are a wedge shape. This will allow them to swim a little differently than my other jig heads.

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I made some up with the 2/0 hooks so I can add blades and propellers and such and also made up with 1/0 as well with no wire keeper for tying in the vice. Skipping the wire keeper makes life so much better.

I am very happy to have been given this fine gift and plan to explore the possibilities of what it can make. The shape is cool and I can’t wait to get out there and fish a few.


BTW- I tried crinkle painting and suffered same as the rest of you. I got crinkled gray. I plan to keep trying though as I want that lizard look of the lime green version.

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Interesting ties and the shape is different. Should be a good one in the conditions you describe.
Bob

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1/16 oz tube jig.....Slim.


Bob- I plan to modify my setup tomorrow and see if I get more interest in my jigs. Basically I am in the middle of a five foot deep lake trolling through shad. I like the spinning blades and propellers and the protruding belly profiles.

Great looking ties

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