DIY Prawn Jigheads????

[Peter KH]

Good Evening all.

I was inspired by this thread:

 

The video that @Little_Flatty linked brought an idea to my mind. I really enjoy prawn imitation soft plastics, however, many times the plastics don't have antennas on them. So I gave it a try. A customised jighead. I used some old faded yellow 25lb braid, and some white, brown and orange sewing string to replicate the antennas, also used 30lb mono to make the eyes. Even though prawn eyes don't actually sit off the body as long as the whiskers do, I thought it would be good fun. I use some yellow and red float stoppers to enhance the eyes. I think the yellow eyed jighead will be for the clearer, natural lure colours (eg. bloodworm or mud blood). While the red eyed jighead is going to be for the green/darker coloured plastics. Red is 2.5grams and yellow is 3.5grams jigheads bought cheap online to test before using more expensive tackle. 

I only made 2 customised jigheads just to test them out and see if my thoughts could come to life. I stuck it all down with super glue, although I may put some rod building epoxy on it not sure yet. 

It doesn't tangle on the hook, however the only concern I may have is that the line with get wrapped up. Ill have to wait till I get some time to go and test them.

Let me know what you all think.

Cheers, Peter.

PS. I just laser cut a measuring board for bream and luderick fishing. Going in my HSC major wood tech project (a fishing rod storage rack/cabinet)

[XD351]

That’s awesome! I would never have thought of using float stoppers as eyes ! You can get tiny rubber glow beads as well - light them up with a UV light for night fishing 🤔

You might find that 5min epoxy is a lot cheaper than the rod binding stuff though . 
Fish measure looks great - would love to see some pictures of the rod holder when it’s done ! 

I can feel a giant rabbit hole opening up under my feet with this lure and fly building stuff - spent most of yesterday looking at Tenkara fishing - nearly fell into that rabbit hole as well 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Peter KH]

4 minutes ago, XD351 said:

That’s awesome! I would never have thought of using float stoppers as eyes ! You can get tiny rubber glow beads as well - light them up with a UV light for night fishing 🤔

You might find that 5min epoxy is a lot cheaper than the rod binding stuff though . 
Fish measure looks great - would love to see some pictures of the rod holder when it’s done ! 

I can feel a giant rabbit hole opening up under my feet with this lure and fly building stuff - spent most of yesterday looking at Tenkara fishing - nearly fell into that rabbit hole as well 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ye I used the stoppers because I didn't have any beads, only the red ones for whiting but they are able to slide freely. The uv beads I've got were too big, that is a great idea though. I'm going to see how long the superglue lasts before moving on to epoxy. 

I just searched up, Tenkara fishing, and it sure does look interesting, might have to have a deeper look at it some time. 

My wood working build is coming along, it will be done in a few days from now, Ill post a picture early next week.

Thanks for your reply. 

Peter.

[Little_Flatty]

Hahaa what have I started?🤣

Some nice handiwork going on there @Peter KH. I’ve also seen heavy mono used for antennae in the past.

@XD351 sorry for mentioning the word Tenkara.🤣

[XD351]

21 minutes ago, Little_Flatty said:

Hahaa what have I started?🤣

Some nice handiwork going on there @Peter KH. I’ve also seen heavy mono used for antennae in the past.

@XD351 sorry for mentioning the word Tenkara.🤣

All good - I learned a lot about something I never knew existed ! You can get into it for under $200 - obviously not top end gear but still usable and another avenue in the wonderful world of fishing to explore! I was thinking of buying one of the fly lines and trying it to the tip eye of my 9ft pro caster and trying it that way . 
currently watching some videos from ventures fly co YouTube channel - good explanation of what everything means - with an aim to keeping it simple .

[Peter KH]

Some good and bad news.

I used my red 2.5 gram prawn jighead paired with a baitjunkie 2.5inch bloodworm grub. After about 10 minutes, I was fed up, my brown orange and white sewing string whiskers didn't seem to be working, they would get tangled up and cause a weird swimming action. I then cut their length to about 1.5cm, before they were about 3cm. This meant the strings flickered and were drawn back much closer to the jighead, I suppose they now looked more like prawn legs kicking instead of whiskers?

3 or 4 casts are the adjustment, I hooked a bream approx 27cm, not big but was great to catch on these jigheads, know knowing they worked.

After another 3-4 casts I hooked my second estuary perch ever, it was about 29cm. Then 2 casts later, my 3rd ever EP, it was also around 28.5cm, then around 6 casts later a third EP around 26cm. It was great catching them, they pulled so hard for their size, I was casting between many ropes and one also did a jump from underneath and then back over, if it did, my line would have snapped! 

Anyway, so 1 bream and 3 EP. After the 2nd EP, one of the red eyes was ripped off by a fish smashing it. I did find that the EP's would hit the lure hard and give a tug but I missed quite a few, either the fish were very small or I don't think the hook was exposed enough. However, all 4 fish resulted in almost perfect corner of the mouth hookups. 

Anyway, I salvaged the other red eye, I'll have to make a 2nd eye again, the small string all were barely hanging on with the superglue. So I guess if i want this to work it will need to use some epoxy. 

I had great fun testing it though, you get this feeling of joy when you catch a fish on a DIY rig that you just don't ever get when using store bought gear, almost like that feeling of a new PB.

[XD351]

Congratulations Peter!

You have joined the lure tinkerers club ! To get a fish on your modified jig heads first try is pretty amazing but to get 4 is epic! 
Well done !

[Little_Flatty]

3 hours ago, Peter KH said:

Some good and bad news.

I used my red 2.5 gram prawn jighead paired with a baitjunkie 2.5inch bloodworm grub. After about 10 minutes, I was fed up, my brown orange and white sewing string whiskers didn't seem to be working, they would get tangled up and cause a weird swimming action. I then cut their length to about 1.5cm, before they were about 3cm. This meant the strings flickered and were drawn back much closer to the jighead, I suppose they now looked more like prawn legs kicking instead of whiskers?

3 or 4 casts are the adjustment, I hooked a bream approx 27cm, not big but was great to catch on these jigheads, know knowing they worked.

After another 3-4 casts I hooked my second estuary perch ever, it was about 29cm. Then 2 casts later, my 3rd ever EP, it was also around 28.5cm, then around 6 casts later a third EP around 26cm. It was great catching them, they pulled so hard for their size, I was casting between many ropes and one also did a jump from underneath and then back over, if it did, my line would have snapped! 

Anyway, so 1 bream and 3 EP. After the 2nd EP, one of the red eyes was ripped off by a fish smashing it. I did find that the EP's would hit the lure hard and give a tug but I missed quite a few, either the fish were very small or I don't think the hook was exposed enough. However, all 4 fish resulted in almost perfect corner of the mouth hookups. 

Anyway, I salvaged the other red eye, I'll have to make a 2nd eye again, the small string all were barely hanging on with the superglue. So I guess if i want this to work it will need to use some epoxy. 

I had great fun testing it though, you get this feeling of joy when you catch a fish on a DIY rig that you just don't ever get when using store bought gear, almost like that feeling of a new PB.

Good to hear you trying out your handiwork. One thing you can do to control the shape of the whiskers is to pull them into position with one hand and then paint supaglue or UV resin over part of it and hold it till it sets to stiffen it a little. That's a trick I learned with fly tying.

If you want proper materials, look for sili legs from fly tying shops. They are inexpensive (I'm still on my first two packets after a year of prolific fly tying) and easy to use.

When you're done with the HSC, try making a few of your own lures, be they hardbodies or plastics. Topwater lures are relatively simple to make and will be great for summer fishing.

[Peter KH]

3 minutes ago, Little_Flatty said:

Good to hear you trying out your handiwork. One thing you can do to control the shape of the whiskers is to pull them into position with one hand and then paint supaglue or UV resin over part of it and hold it till it sets to stiffen it a little. That's a trick I learned with fly tying.

I think that is how i did it, i held the strings where I wanted them and in the correct direction, but because of how thin, soft and limp the string is, it doesn't have the stiffness to keep pointing forwards against the current/reeling in. More practice should help. I could only hold it in position for so long before my skin got stuck as the super glue dried.

7 minutes ago, Little_Flatty said:

If you want proper materials, look for sili legs from fly tying shops. They are inexpensive (I'm still on my first two packets after a year of prolific fly tying) and easy to use.

Looks good, didn't know that's what their called and that they could be purchased. I'll have to get round to that.

 

8 minutes ago, Little_Flatty said:

When you're done with the HSC, try making a few of your own lures, be they hardbodies or plastics. Topwater lures are relatively simple to make and will be great for summer fishing.

I had a go at making a lipless crank in school woodworking about 3 years ago, i was dumb and tried doing NRL doggies colours, it was white and blue, looked disgusting, not surprised the fish wouldn't touch it! Also there wasn't any weight added so it just floated. Not sure how far I'm will to go to make them, I've been watching lure carving for a few years, definitely takes a long time, I don't know I would survive losing one if it took me multiple hours to make! Topwater may be the best option, no weights needed, very hard to get snagged, fun to fish with. 

The HSC is flying past can't wait for the summer break after its done!!!

Cheers, Peter.

[Little_Flatty]

13 minutes ago, Peter KH said:

I think that is how i did it, i held the strings where I wanted them and in the correct direction, but because of how thin, soft and limp the string is, it doesn't have the stiffness to keep pointing forwards against the current/reeling in. More practice should help. I could only hold it in position for so long before my skin got stuck as the super glue dried.

Looks good, didn't know that's what their called and that they could be purchased. I'll have to get round to that.

 

I had a go at making a lipless crank in school woodworking about 3 years ago, i was dumb and tried doing NRL doggies colours, it was white and blue, looked disgusting, not surprised the fish wouldn't touch it! Also there wasn't any weight added so it just floated. Not sure how far I'm will to go to make them, I've been watching lure carving for a few years, definitely takes a long time, I don't know I would survive losing one if it took me multiple hours to make! Topwater may be the best option, no weights needed, very hard to get snagged, fun to fish with. 

The HSC is flying past can't wait for the summer break after its done!!!

Cheers, Peter.

I wouldn’t say colour doesn’t matter, but I still haven’t painted any of my home made lures and they catch fish.

The post HSC break might well be one of the best periods in your life if you’re lucky. Make the most of it (go travelling/fishing, get a job, a car if you don’t already have one and start saving up for the bigger things…you’ll never regret it!).

If I had my time again I’d have spent a lot less money on fishing and bike gear and a lot more on fishing and cycling related travel.

[Peter KH]

7 minutes ago, Little_Flatty said:

I wouldn’t say colour doesn’t matter, but I still haven’t painted any of my home made lures and they catch fish.

The post HSC break might well be one of the best periods in your life if you’re lucky. Make the most of it (go travelling/fishing, get a job, a car if you don’t already have one and start saving up for the bigger things…you’ll never regret it!).

If I had my time again I’d have spent a lot less money on fishing and bike gear and a lot more on fishing and cycling related travel.

Cant wait for that break. I'm lucky to live on the Georges River. So my 'travel' money can be petrol for the boat. I can take it up the fresh areas of the Georges for bass/EP' or take it out to Botany for all the fun salt stuff. Would might some East Coast adventures too though!! I missed a family trip to Culburra Beach for a couple days because I had some HSC exams, wish I could have fished the beach all day!