5Min. epoxy as a tool.

[Illinoisgiller]

I just fished the Grizzly Jig Co.'s Bills Water Flea, and as in previous outings found it to be affective, especially on a tough bite. I found that when buying U.S. tied jigs at $6.50 a doz. one can expect a minor problem. :rolleyes: I was having problems with the finish knot comming loose after lots of gills. They just plain wore out as one would expect.
I couldn't let this happen without a fight.:p I tried some 5 min. epoxy that comes in the double cylinder shringe. Mix a small amount, use disposable artist brush to paint over the threads w/ the glue. One needs to be set up to work quickly due to short time window.
Once dry, these worked over jigs are amazing! On this weeks outing ,I fished for two days and gave up 3 jigs. Lost one to a crappie, (note to self- retie after a couple buckets of fish) duh . Gifted two to a couple nice fella's I met.
Hope this little tip helps someone out. Mike

[Timotha7]

Mike
I have always been a "live bait" kind of guy when doing most of my fishing for last several years but reading your stories and tips bout how to pan fish sure looks like a TON OF FUN!
Do you have digi camera so that you could kinda take step by step pics of some of the fly tying and stuff that you do on these rigs??
If you do, and it is ok with Schoe, you could send them to me and I could probably work them into some kinda slida show format that could be put here on the board at WIF for everyone??
I love learning new things and making those jigs and flys would be a great way to spend free time, especially during winter when the cabin fever is
getting to a person

Tim

[gofish]

illinoisgiller super glue works well also.use it when i run out of head cement

[Rainman4u2]

Will it help hold the minnows on the jigs better to????:D :p :D

Ray

[Illinoisgiller]

Tim, When I get to where I can post pictures ,we could give it a try. I tie rather simple patterns though. It is actually cheaper to buy them but I like to do it myself so I can "tweek" them to my satisfaction.
My grandsons tie some and we are going on a fishing trip this summer . We will be taking wax worms, tying vise, and a few supplies. They are really looking forward to figuring out what the fish want and tying on the spot. :D
As for bait fishing, any hard core fly fisherman would say I am still bait fishing just by adding a wax worm. I don't really care, I'm just having fun doing what I do. :p
I wouldn't doubt that you would love fly-jig tying. Cheaper to buy most times, but I enjoy tying.
Some of the biggest gills I used to catch have been on a #8 long shank hook with dew worm long enough to cover the eye, and when bite was tough, add wax worm on end to sort of give it a "head". lol
I'm somewhat envious of your location. PM will be sent shortly.
gofish, I like super glue ,but like the nice way the epoxy fills over the threads. This may be another one of those things that is a look that catches fishermen faster than fish.:rolleyes:
Rainman, I haven't been using minnows, but I can picture a salt cured minnow over layed w/ epoxy. :rolleyes: Naw, just too much work. lol
I was supprise that on the last trip, I and the wife were doing much better with tiny jigs than most others with minnows. Next trip could be the other way around of course, I guess that's why they call it fishing. lol Mike

[Timotha7]

Cool bout the Jigs Mike, would love to learn a little bit bout how to tie them,
I do paint my own, more for therapy than anything else..and I also buy phelps floaters and doctor them a bit with maribou and use those in "lindy rig" fishing with very light sinkers and worm or minnow s on them

We do have some great panfishing in this area..I will try out that res you mentioned but perhaps some of the best of it comes from some of the small county ponds tht don't get a lot of attention, and from farm ponds where
people have stocked those hybrid gills..some "plate" sized ones come from couple ponds over by Winterset
My bro in law has great pond and is a barber in town so gets an increcible amount of local knowledge and fishing access:D