Anyone use the “bottom sweeper” style of jigs? If so, what’s been the most common weights and hook sizes you might use?
I’m considering buying a mold to pour some, and want to be sure I’m getting it to pour the correct range of weights and hook sizes. It doesn’t pour exact copies, just a similar jig.
How about also for Redfish or other inshore uses, are they used for anything else?
Thanks!
No experience but, but i just ordered some and going to try them out Monday/Tues. Trying for sheepshead and reds. Ill post results.
Cool, thanks!
They’re also used for Tog, but not sure they need to be as heavy here as what is used further north for them.
I know they’re used up around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and can be heavy.
The mold I’m looking at goes to 1.25 ounces.
So, did you get the chance to try out those jigs? 
bigjim , I made it out for a little bit before some engine trouble or alarms. But, I as able to try one spot with oysters wrapped in mesh like I saw on YouTube on the jig heads. I caught 3 small sheeps . I will definitely be trying them some more. The only downside I can see for reds or trout is not being a circle hook & having to set the hook.
That’s interesting! I’ve not thought about circle hooks for a jig like this. The jigs use a stout jig hook, and I’m not aware of a jig circle hook that might be as stout, or frankly a jig circle hook.
There was some being made, I don’t know if that’s still the case.
I’ll have to check that out.
What weight jigs did you use?
BTW, thanks for the reply on this, it’s helpful! 
I went with the 3/4 oz one but, current wasn’t bad & I was only fishing 13-15ft deep. I know they make a heavy duty gauged circle hook, but not sure with any with a long enough shank for a jig on.
Thanks for the reply! I’m going to check into that! I appreciate the information.
I’ve seen some videos regarding these being used locally. Seems to be particularly efficient around producing docks while using fiddlers.
Thanks for the response! That seems to be the way most folks are using them, although not only with fiddlers.
My opinion is that they’re not anything special, the same can be done with other jig styles, but these jigs are compact and have a stout hook.
I’ve ordered a mold, and will see if it was worthwhile.
I appreciate the comments.
OK, I bought the mold, and have poured a few to check it out. I also painted some of them to test out some new powder paint colors I just got.
What about hook sizes for here? Another fellow replied to me on a different forum, and he said he uses 1 oz to 8 oz, because he fishes in VA, around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and it’s deep and has strong currents where he fishes for Sheepshead. He also fishes for the Tog. But he said it’s been difficult to find heavy jigs with smaller hooks.
I’m not interested in the heavier jigs, but the mold I have will take some different sizes. I bought 3/0, 4/0 & 5/0, and because I have a swimbait jig mold that takes the same hooks.
I poured the few jigs with 3/0, but that guy was saying he uses sizes 1, 1/0 & 2/0 hooks, and that larger hooks are too big for Sheepshead.
What sizes would you go with here in SC? I’m thinking maybe 1/0 and/or 2/0. The mold pours 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1, and 1.25 ounce jigs and takes a Mustad 2X strong hook. They don’t list them in sizes smaller than the 1/0.
I didn’t try it, but suspect that some of the tinned jig hooks I have may also fit. It seems that all the ones being sold commercially are using the black nickel hooks.
Those look awesome! I wouldn’t think they would be bigger than 1/0-2/0 hook. I don’t have a ton of experience with them but, if I were buying them I would probably purchase 1/2- 1 1/4oz. I want to try putting a mudminnow on a half ounce.
Why not try a couple sizes of treble hooks?
That’ll stick 'em
OK, thanks! That’s a lot of help! If you ever need any, hit me up! I pour all kinds of jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, sinkers and other lead lures.
EF1, I don’t care to use treble hooks for bait applications, and frankly have been switching a lot of lures that I have over to single, inline hooks. I release most fish, and just easier to do and usually far less damage with a single hook, and I’ve gotten into the habit of de-barbing, even trebles on lures.
I would guess that something like this could be done with sinker eyes and trebles, but it’s not something I care to do.
Besides that, with de-barbed single hooks, I know that if I ever stick one in me deep, they’re a lot easier and less painful to remove.
I’ve fly fished for a long time, and have always used single hooks. I’ve lost fish, that’s for sure, but to me that’s not the end of the world when it happens. So, I generally stick to using single hooks. It’s just my personal preference.
The jigs look great! This is off topic but we sell a unique sheepshead rig at Eye Strike called the Jail Bait. It has a double hook and a method of strapping the crab to the hook so the crab stays alive. They have become pretty popular despite us pretty much not advertising them at all 
BTW, for adding a mud minnow, and I’m guessing that you mean a live bait, and not one of the plastic baits, would a lighter wire hook be of benefit?
When I get a new mold, I can’t help but tinker with them some. Some of the hooks I use for bass jigs will also fit in this mold and are plenty strong enough for many other fish species.
It’s not a big difference in the wire diameters, and would still be a rather heavy wire.
The only issue with some hooks is the eye, and the Mustad 2X hooks have a rather large eye. But for using this type of jig for a live bait, like a mud minnow, would these hooks be too heavy?
I’m thinking damage to the bait, more so than the fish.
On thing is for sure, there’s very few inshore fish here that would bend these 2X hooks.
When I lived in MD, the hook that many used for Striper jigs was a Mustad, and it’s a heavy, forged tinned hook. I still use them for Stripers. These are just as heavy and should be just as strong, but are sharper.
I used to catch mud minnows in a tidal creek, near where I grew up, and used them mostly for Perch, or Pickerel, and that was on a single hook under a float. There was no Redfish, or anything like that in those waters. That was above Annapolis and was more freshwater than salt. They got used lip hooked on a jig head sometimes, but those were light wire jigs.
Occasionally someone might catch a Drum, Redfish, Flounder or other strays out in the bay, near the bay bridge near Annapolis, but these were exceptions. Where I fished often was way up in the end of a small creek.
Those are very cool! 
One thing about lure makers, when there’s a problem to be solved, someone always comes up with a different solution!
What weights and hook sizes are you making?
It’s just my mind working, but that reminds me of a small, round flat sinker that I have a mold for making, minus the “eye”.
1/2 oz and 3/4 currently
OK, thanks! I guess I’m in the correct weight range then with the jigs.
You folks make some cool stuff!
I like these ones
