My rant on some jigs

[smartguy]

One of my biggest pet peeves is buying an expensive jig or lure and then realizing that the eyelet of the lure isn't punched open. So then I have to use another lure's hook to punch open the hole to thread my line through. If I'm going to spend $2-3 for a lure, that company better **** well finish the last step and punch open that hole!
Sorry, had to vent, I guess.

[student]

they'll charge even more if they have to punch the hole for you. I just bust it open with a fingernail clipper and remove the excess with my finger, works better than using another lure.

[Guest]

Hey SmartGuy, I'm with ya here...

Some of the paints and coatings on these jigs are tougher then $h!t too...Sometimes you actually ruin the hook of another jig to bust it open.

I have used clippers to open them up as well, but gee whiz....What a waste of time.

I know to most this is trivial dump, but imagine that the bite is producing pound plus Crappies, but they only move through every half hour for 5 minutes and ya catch three....One breaks your line....well you get my point.

Sometimes I will go through and open up all my painted shut eyelids before I throw them in the tackle box.

PCG

[Fish Toys]

I thought there is a little tool with a point on it and works like a fingernail clipper to open them up? Maybe they aren’t available anymore? I know I’ve seen them before?
“FISH”

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http://www.icesaws.com/

[BarryG]

You can get them from Cabelas. They are called "Jig Fisherman's Eye Buster". They are in the fishing tools section.

[This message has been edited by BarryG (edited 01-04-2003).]

[kwkfsh]

Last year I was taking a gal I was going out with fishing on the river. I stopped at the old Minnehaha bait shop and while I was there picked up a handful of jigs. The gal who owned the place rang them up, and she asked me if I wanted my eyes poked out. I said thats all right i'll poke my own eyes out. As I turned to leave I noticed that the gal I was with had the strangest look on her face! When we got about halfway to the truck it dawned on me she did'nt know what to make of the getting your eyes poked out thing, and was quite confused. I think she was relieved to find out we were talking about the jigs!

[Guest]

Just use an old bait and use the same one. Don't ream to much as you'll make the eye rough and abraid the line.

[Guest]

There is also a toool out there that is like a mini leatherman for fishing. It is made by Strike King and I bought mine at Gander Mountain but I bet you can find it other places. It has a point to poke your eyes out,a file tofor your hooks, a wrench for your reel, needle nose pliers, scissor and a knife. For all the fishing you do this tool is for you all. I have had mine for a couple of years and it works great.

[bogeyjoker]

I'm in tears after reading kwkfish's post...I'll be chuckling about that one all night...good one.

[Ozzy169]

They are eyebuster's, looks like a finger nail clipper but instead of two flat ends to clip nails, one has a point and the other has a circle. Put the eyelet of the jig on the point and pinch together just like a finger nail clipper and KAZAMM!! Eyelet open.
169 Sports have them.

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Get 'er done

[upnorth]

Most good sporting goods stores have the little do hickey to open the hole. I have no idea what the name is but about a dollar later and you will be in business.

[Crawlerman]

THats one thing I noticed right off the bat when I bought the TC panfish/crappie jigging spoon kit from the FM booth at the Ice show.. all the jigs have punched holes in them! Yay! But usually... I use another hook to chip off the extra paint. It's a pain in the butt.. but gets pretty easy after you have done a bunch of them.

[Uncle Grump]

Smartguy

I hear ya! I posted on this same subject earlier - maybe November or so.

Those Eyebuster gizmos are ok on bigger hooks - maybe a 8 or larger, but 10 on down they don't work - the point is simply too big.

I did find a tool at Fleet Farm - about $3-4, it has a needle like point on it - it worked better than the traditional Eyebuster. The other end was shaped more like a finger nail clipper - for trimming line. Stainless steel in color.

The "Genz" lures and HT Marmooska's are the worst for paint - at least in my box.

People who responded to my post suggested a drywall screw - like 1.25" w/ a sharp point, also a large jig - like 1/2oz - use its hook to clean out the eyes - use that jig exclusively for that purpose.

I think the best suggestion was to clean them out ahead of time - before you hit the ice. This might have been from PCG.

UG

[crappie todd]

WWCT....... what would crappie Todd do.... this is what I do... I already have an old dull jig in my box........thats what I use.
Here is what happens. With all the excitement of going fishing ( interjection here.. Know what your dog looks like when you ask him to go for a ride ? Now you you know how your dog knows when your going fishing,) Any ways, we fisherman are to excited to prepare to go fishing. All this leads to not doing what seems to be the minor details, like punching out the painted hole right after we buy them jigs. I don't..... I do it on the lake at the moment I wish I had. I too go in circle's just as I know I am going fishing. I have only time TO GO get to the lake, And begin fishing.
I do use the old dull jig to punch out the paint.
I do make sure it's all out so the rough paint on my four pound test doesn't abrade away as I am pulling my wall hanger beefy sided crop-eye through my hole.
AW heck.... Just go fishing.

I was so excited thinking about fishing I mis spelled a bunch of words.

Crappie Todd says so.

[This message has been edited by crappie todd (edited 01-05-2003).]

[This message has been edited by crappie todd (edited 01-05-2003).]

[kwkfsh]

There is a hemostat made by Dr. Slick and marketed to fly fisherman. It has a small spike built in between the handles for punching head cement out of the eyes of flies. This is a great dual purpose tool for busting eyes out and will do even the smallest jigs. plus it will take hooks out and it will clip on anywhere so it is always handy. If you have not used a hemostat as a hook remover give one a try.