If Spanish Mac's are the target spieces - Is it bubbles in the spring, Looneys in the fall - or the other way?
We are coming the 2nd week of May and need to stock up.
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If Spanish Mac's are the target spieces - Is it bubbles in the spring, Looneys in the fall - or the other way?
We are coming the 2nd week of May and need to stock up.
Spearhead jigs year round! The only thing that chums up sharks more than a bubble rig is a bloody fish carcass tossed over the side! Speaking of tossing over the side- that's what we should have done to those stupid bass fisherman that brought that lame rig here from Tennessee! This is pier fishing in the Gulf of Mexico!
Always have plenty of spearheads when visiting the pier, other fish bite on them too with a little belly strip
So, if a person does not have a spear head jig handy, what would he/she be giving up by throwing a round head or shad head jig? Is the difference big, and why? Thanks.
It's a good question. Why fish seem to prefer one shape over another is likely a matter of it looking more like the baitfish the Spanish Mackerel (in this case) are feeding on. Many times I've been cut off by Spanish, while I was fishing for pomps with round-headed "pomp jigs". So if that's what you have, it's not like Spanish just won't hit pomp jigs. Looney jigs cast a long way, which is why I like them. I like to have an assortment in my tackle box in case fish express a preference of one lure over another. Sometimes, to answer your question, it doesn't matter. Then again, sometimes it does.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin E.
They might work when alot are present....I remember way back when I first started coming to the pier catching them on any type jig...never knew of the looney....almost every cast rail was 2 deep....everybody catching (this is when I got the real passion) not every year was or is the same....learning all the time....good thing is I catch walleye on them to....and enjoy making them and sharing when I can (have extra's)....I like the action of them and fall rate....ultering some now to give a different action (side to side)
Sunny days I'll go with a Kastmaster style chrome colored jig to get the flash (and to look a little different from most of the others). Love Looney jigs but when the macks have taken a lot of the paint off the head (which does not take long on a good bite) I don't seem to do as well. Maybe that's just me losing confidence and fishing differently.
It's a lot harder for them to take the shine off chrome than to take paint off a jig.
I've done well with swm jigs and other cheaper flat ones from walmart....would make a speck rig with the swm jigs .........prefer throwing jigs most of the time, that's why I decided to start making them, plus I had a bunch of lead to get rid of :D 800lbs
Don't forget the Cotton Cordell spoons. I.ve caught tons of Spanish on the small and large ones and the bigger ones will way outcast a Looney jig. Speaking of Looney Jigs has Terry decided to still make them?
Probably same reason you can catch a Spanish every cast with a green straw but not get a bite any other color. Next day you can get a bite on any color but green lol. You could make a large fortune if you could talk to fish lol
I think the shape of the head dictates the action you get. A round head jig should work fine for pompano since you're just bouncing it on the bottom. The same lure wouldn't have the darting action of a bullet or "Looney" jig. The minnow head will dart too so Spanish should hit those.
As far as the bubbles versus jigs, I'd rather use a 1/2 or even 3/4 ounce jig rather than a bubble full of water dragging it on top mainly because a jig doesn't wear me out near as fast!
Exactly right jigslinger!
I like the action of a round jighead for slower speed work (like with a pompano jig or on a 4" Zoom Fluke for trout).
But I REALLY like the action of a bullet head or spearhead to jig for spanish, etc.
And I positively LUV the action of a hexhead to jig for spanish when they get finicky ;-)
I agree you can't beat a hex head for spanish and bonita love 'em too
Do you have a pic of this hex head jig you are talking about? Heading back down the first week of June and would like to add to my arsenal. Thank you!
My new altered spear heads look like those now but the eye balls & hex.....00706 tried them last fall and had a great side to side action like the hex head or gotcha.....doing 1/2 and 1/2 reg and custom.....can't wait to try them this spring the way he did it with lite single stand wire ( no kicks)
Thanks guys, what weight would be a good weight for spanish? Also, would you go smaller for specs? Last year my son hooked what might have been a Jack that almost spooled him before it broke off. Was on the first cast right when he got there. Fluorescent orange head with a white bucktail musky jig. Only one I had and I never found another. If you guys ever see something similar let me know. That thing was a great lure.
Some examples
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...&_sacat=179969
Sounds similar to a cobia jig.....they would work for muskie
The long slender profile of the spearhead mimics the body of a bay anchovy( a.k.a. glass minnow). The McDonald's straw used on a bubble rig is long and slender and has the stripe. I have always done better on spearhead jigs in early spring, bubble rigs and gotchas once the water warms up and clears up. It seems like the glass minnows show up before the LY.
http://www.vims.edu/research/departm..._anchovies.jpg
Looney or bubble? That’s easy you need both. And some gotchas. A few DOA shrimp too
Didn't catch very many last year but used to catch quite a few on 1/8 oz. crappie jigs. Peaches showed me that trick.
Searched a bit today and had no luck finding a hex head mold. Found several finished heads and jigs for sale.
You won't find a mold unless extremely lucky.....the hex head seller said he has only seen three in 10 years of looking on ebay.....and he owns all three
Saltwaterguy said you can buy a blank mold and have them cnc cut with jigs to copy from....but that would not be cheap (unless maybe a vocational school) if you knew someone that worked in a machine shop too
My solution was altering the spear head (sanding the beveled cut on the nose) quick and easy....and works good
I wish I had a recording of the conversation I had with some guy out there one day about the bubble vs jig! My choice would be the 1/4 oz hex straw but I must say iron mans 1/2 oz spear hex are pretty darn good!
I'd imagine somebody got a blank from Do-it and had it machined out. Or maybe took one of the standard Do-it molds and had it modified.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin E.
Custom molds:
http://www.pouritmold.com/
I bet you could get Do-it interested in making one if you tried.
Edit: Yikes!! Looking at the custom mold pricing ($345), I'd buy a blank and a Dremel.
Went ahead and customized the remaining ones, painted (the easy part) curing in the oven now....time to tie....already have some tied but these sure added to the lot of untied.....hope they work like in the fallQuote:
Originally Posted by 00706
I never noticed before and know I don't have any .....is there white tubing that people use for the bubble rigs (sunglass holder) like what walmart or maybe even J&M sells?
I am in need of white
Thanks
Looks like C & B custom jigs sells the jig heads painted, unpainted and finished.
Yeahhh my search for hexhead molds has me seriously thinking about ordering a few jigs then taking measurements and firing up the CNC.
Been to TN and seen a lot of folks using a bubble rig? Been here all my life and have never seen one used. I guess you're thinking of another state. Better study up on your geography.Quote:
Originally Posted by 00706
Make me one while your at it...I would pay.....but not the 345.00.....Quote:
Originally Posted by will46r
I would think you would have to due it all through a computor program to get both sides perfect ....then need multiple sizes...
Pretty sure Charlie Nuckols was from Tennessee I think some of you guys see a million posts by your name and think you know something about pier fishing and the history of Gulf Shores pier fishing
Yeah... Well it would be CNC's just for repeatability and to keep me from going insane cranking handles. Lol Cost is gonna kind be based on how much prep work I have to do to the workpiece.Quote:
Originally Posted by ironman172
Lot of the cost in machining is set up. Building fixtures, building tools, it can be a pia on a complicated item. I'm not in the field but hage a degree in machining and access to a CNC.
Do you frequent the Pensacola beach pier much?Quote:
Originally Posted by 00706
No I fish Gulf Shores pier John Gaines told me I wasn't good enough to fish P cola He's one of the 3 guys I listen to
Your one of the few that’s actually good enough to fish Pcola.
Thanx man! Just talked to Gainer( he's out of the woods) he said he would give me a refresher course He said if I left my float and sinker at home I might be able to fish P cola!
That sounds like Gainer. Tell him Rob from St. Louis said Hey next time you talk to him.
Will do Rob! Gainer will be at the pier the next few days signing autographs and giving Sheephead fishing lessons!
Did Gainer get anything in the woods?