Unpainted flipping jigs

[TimJ]

I've been making walleye and crappie jig heads for years but just got my first flipping jig mold this spring. I'm wondering if anyone here doesn't paint them? I made up a couple dozen and painted them with powder paint like I do other jigs. After fishing them, even caught a nice 2 1/2 pounder on my second pitch with one, I'm not sure I'm going to go through the bother of painting them.

Seems like we have a lot of rocks and I'm rough with them to begin with so most of the paint is gone in short order. I use heavy skirts and usually a large plastic so it's not like I'll be losing a lot of color. Heck I usually use black and if left alone for a while the lead turns a nice dark gray color. Anyone use them unpainted with success? It would also save gluing the weed guards in later, that isn't a big deal.

Thanks,
Tim

[bigjim5589]

Tim, I paint most of the jig heads that I pour, but have used them plain. I don't think it matters most of the time, but paint them anyway because I like the way they look with the paint. I've been making lures & tying flies for a long, long time, and there's a lot of things that I do that are not really needed to catch fish, but again, do them anyway because I like the way they look. I paint or use pre-made eyes on a lot of jigs, spinnerbaits, flies & fly rod poppers. I don't think they're necessary, but I spend the time doing it. To me it's part of the "art" of making my own tackle.

Although, a good reason to paint anything that's poured with lead is to keep, or at least slow down that dark gray coating from forming. That coating is lead oxide, and is not good to be handling, or if it gets into the air is not good to breath. Lead oxide poses a health risk, so IMO, it's a good idea to minimize it when possible. 

[TimJ]

Thank you for the thoughts big jim. I might try a middle ground with some. I'll spray them with clear coat to keep them from oxidizing but I can do that with the weed guard molded in.

I like pretty looking jigs but I sure hate losing those pretty jigs.

Tim