salvaging worn out spinnerbaits

[mark poulson]

I'm sorry if this is the wrong forum for this, but it is wire bait related.

I fish spinnerbaits on the CA Delta a lot. Even though I wrap wire around the R bend, they do eventually get weak and bend out.

I've figured out how to salvage them, because they are still good enough to fish.

I cut the weakened wire at the R bend, grab the remaining wire about 1/4" in front of the head with a pair of round jawed pliers. I hold the wire near the cut off R bend with needle nosed vise grips, and wrap the wire back down over the round bend pliers, forming a loop that's in line with the hook, and just beginning down past the wire.

I put the wire loop that's formed into the sooth jaws of a bench vise, and then use the wise grips to wrap the wire tag end around the wire between the loop and the head, forming a closed eye loop. I try and wrap it twice around, just to play safe.

Once I've removed the vise grips and made sure the eye is straight, I use a dremel with a cut off wheel to trim off the excess close to the main wire.

And now I have a swim jig!

Since I wire wrap my skirts, and the head's paint job is seldom damaged, it's ready to fish, except for the weed guard, which I make from weed whacker plastic wire that I super into into a hole I drill in the top of the bait's head.

I can also put a chatter bait blade onto the wire once the loop is started, but not yet wrapped around the main wire shaft.

Just stuff to do with old, tired spinnerbaits.

converted spinnerbait.jpg

[Ray Vanacore]

I have been doing that for year saves money on buying swim jigs.

[mark poulson]

I have been doing that for year saves money on buying swim jigs.

Two thumbs up!