A method to keep soft plastics from slipping down on jigs after fish caught

[senkosam]

I came up with this idea 10 years ago and won't use jigs & soft plastics without it.

1. floral arrangement wire in 2 gauges. One diameter for light jigs and smaller hooks, the other for larger hooks on heavier jigs.
Example: 24g


2. wire cutters


3. Cut the length shown so that the wire is the same length before and after the line tie eye and one end is at the curve of the hook.


4. Wrap one end once around the eye tie base leaving the other one straight. Cut one side close and bend with needle-nose pliers.


5. Bend the remaining wire 90 degrees.


6. Rig your lure and swing the wire into the body.


The grub holder never affects the bite.


I won't use jigs without the wire.
Note: don't buy jigs with collars used to secure baits. They put a hole in them. If I must buy collared jigs, I carefully cut them off by squashing them with pliers, cutting them near the head and then cutting them off parallel to the hook.

 

[senkosam]

A few other examples:


I won't use jigs without the wire.

But one thing that keeps plastics in better shape after 10+ fish are caught: Use no-collars jigs. Collars always put holes in the plastic.

 

[senkosam]

The same wire can be used in a different way to secure plastic trailers on skirted bass jigs.

 

[thill]

I used to do something very similar. I would wrap a piece of wire around a drill bit, making a spiral. I would thread it around the hook, and secure it around the eye of the jig just as you do. When you put your lure on, you screw it onto the jig, and it will NEVER come off.

Now, I just use a drop of Loctite super glue. Many ways to skin a cat, but I like your simple wire trick!

 

[senkosam]

I tried both ways - glue and the coil - and found the wire L less damaging and quicker to mount or remove any soft plastics - even 6" plastic worms.

Jig trailer keeper wire:

Make a small wire loop that won't go past the barb and insert. Trailer body action isn't affected.

 

[LDUBS]

Kind of related. I have have the "Bait Buttons" in the handy dispenser thing. I don't a need to use it often, but it is kind of a cool idea. I use it to hold plastic sandworms or sand fleas on bait hooks. Works pretty well.