Do-it Weedless Midwest Finesse Jig

Hawnjigs

KISS
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
4,226
Location
Ogallala, NE
First, let me apologize for not being able to take and post pics.

Since Jungle Jim posted pics of this jig, thought it would be useful for occasional forays to a weed choked lake with decent #s of largies & bluegills impossible to fish with standard open hook jigs. So, bought the mold & hooks from Barlows. First impression setting the Victory hooks into the mold was that the point angle upwards from the short shank portion in front of the L-bend was unlike my Gamakatsu worm and jig hooks with parallel point & shank enabling a pinned plastic to have point leg sitting straight inline flush against the body of a bait. So, bent the hooks a wee bit to enable the above described fit but the point legs still had a space above the body which could be adjusted by curving the bait a bit to close the gap tho not IMO ideal. Field tested OK on about a dozen smaller largies staying stuck with very few missed hooksets or dropoffs. The straight senko style stick baits tended to straighten and re-open the gap with continued use. No problem sticking fish but the gap tended to snag weeds.

The hooks seemed a bit soft with the bend adjustment able to be undone with minimal pressure.

I've already posted that initial stress testing #6 & #4 Victory sickles without actually bending them out seemed excellent so now I'm wondering if bent out hooks can't be rebent and re-used having been drastically weakened ? Slightly bent out Gamakatsu hooks can be rebent without significant loss of hook strength once or twice and re-used with confidence.
 

Hawnjigs

KISS
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
4,226
Location
Ogallala, NE
Contacted Harry Simmons at victoryhooks.com re: my criticism about the hooks and his response:
Since last July we/ Do-it has sold well over 1 million of the 10777BN-1. To date the only negative feedback has been because the hooks were out of stock and customers could not get enough of them.

Maybe I'm too fussy, but returned the hooks I bought to Barlows and ain't pouring any more of these till properly designed hooks are available.

Don't let me deter you from acquiring the mold & hooks as all other users appear to be satisfied according to co-designer Harry.
 

hookup

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
2,698
Location
VA
Got to love a company that doesn't accept customer feedback
 

Hawnjigs

KISS
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
4,226
Location
Ogallala, NE
Altho I had to pay postage to return em, Barlow's issued a no hassle refund of the original purchase price.

John Barlow is VERY knowledgeable about Do-it Molds and hook fits posting replies to questions on tackleunderground.com in the "Wire Baits" forum.
 

hookup

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
2,698
Location
VA
I've never had any issues w/ Barlow. Pretty much my goto unless they do not carry something I'm looking for
 
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