[Jerry Norris]

Well, I needed something to do during the “blizzard” so I built a jig to make trout or perch bombs out of inline sinkers, here is a picture of the monster. I made it mostly out of odds and ends of stuff that I had on hand. I did have to buy the 1/2” diameter all thread rod and later a piece of 1 ½ by 1/8 steel angle to reinforce the top. The top and bottom pieces are a 1 x 1 ¾ x 1/8 ” aluminum channel that I have had laying around for a long time. The two pieces that are actually used to flatten the sinker and make the crosshatch impressions are the removable jaw pieces from an old vise. The top jaw piece is held in place against the upper channel by lock nuts and the bottom jaw piece is free to float on the support bolts. The jack is probably way overkill but it is one that I bought to level my shed several years ago and is very useful for a lot of things. If I were starting from scratch and had to buy all the materials, I would use a wider steel channel for the top and bottom pieces because the aluminum is not rigid enough, but it serves my purpose once I added the piece of steel angle to stiffen the top. I lock the bottom channel in my bench vise and that helps to support the base of the jack and also stiffens the bottom channel. The sinkers in the second picture are from the top down ½, ¾, and 1 ounce. The jig will handle up to a 2 or 3 oz. inline sinker but the ½, ¾ and 1 oz. ones are ideal for white perch. If you notice in the picture of the formed sinkers, the eyes are rotated 90 degrees on the two on the right. The reason for this is they will be used with a split ring and hook whereas the ones on the left will be used with an open eye Siwash hook attached directly to the eye on the “lure.” This keeps the hook bend vertical and in line with the plane of the lure. I guess it really wouldn't make a difference but it just bothers me and doesn't look right to have a single hook with the bend sticking out to the side of the lure. The third picture is of some perch bombs that I made last summer using the vise to flatten the sinkers.

 

[andypat]

Jerry, That is really cool. I bet you could also jig up some rock fish with them. Great Idea.

 

[Donp]

What a great idea... The finished product looks great too. Well done.

 

[Pajigging machin]

OK Jerry give me ideas on what I should fish for with those lures. I love how they look but not quite sure how to use them

 

[Jerry Norris]

Thanks guys. They have been around for ages and some of the better fishermen on the upper bay use them heavily for white perch and rockfish. They will work on about any gamefish but are especially effective on deep water white perch and rockfish. The biggest walleye I ever caught was on one that I was jigging in the Susquehanna off of Port Deposit.

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys. They have been around for ages and some of the better fishermen on the upper bay use them heavily for white perch and rockfish. They will work on about any gamefish but are especially effective on deep water white perch and rockfish. The biggest walleye I ever caught was on one that I was jigging in the Susquehanna off of Port Deposit.

Jerry, them are awesome! They look factory. If u wanna sell em' I'm down for 20-30 to start. Factor in your cost and time and throw me a price. I have no problems hanging them in the brush or pilings. Nice work!

 

[Pajigging machin]

If I did lots of boat or pier fishing I would definitely buy some

 

[Jerry Norris]

Thanks guys.

Oister, I sent you a PM.

 

[catman]

TROUT BOMBS Now there's a term I haven't heard in ages. I must have made at least 50 of them back in the day. I think I've got a few left. I know I've got all the makins'.