IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Jigging => Topic started by: buckzone101 on Dec 18, 2016, 09:46 PM
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Whats all the hype about these tungsten jigs? Are they really small and heavy to help in dropping to the bottom in 100+fow? Wheres the best place to get cheap bulk packs?
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they have many different sizes and the advantage over a lead jig is that for the same physical size, the tungsten is heavier to get back down the water column faster. I use some of the larger tungsten jigs fishing in 60 to 80 ft for perch.. I have some Northland come out with a tungsten jigging spoon that works well too. As far as cheap prices, I cant help with that
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Whats all the hype about these tungsten jigs? Are they really small and heavy to help in dropping to the bottom in 100+fow? Wheres the best place to get cheap bulk packs?
E Bay
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The problem I have with tungsten jigs is #1 they often come with a barbless hook causing baits to fall off, and #2 hooks frequently breaking off right at the tungsten. For me they are over hyped and not worth the cost.
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So what would fall faster. A tungsten 4mm jig or a lead 4mm jig? ;D
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Tungsten because it's heavier than lead.
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Tungsten is 1.4 times heavier than lead...
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I think my favourite thing about tungsten jigs is they punch through the slush in the hole really well. I fish very shallow, sometimes 3 feet or less and I find that the panfish can spook if there is a good snow cover and your hole is clean on a sunny day.
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But if both weigh the same how can one be heavier? ::)
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The mm is the size NOT the wait, for the same wait lead would be 6mm ! :icefish: WB
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Im picking myself up some today!
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best i've settled on are the vmc tubby jigs. very good hooks for plastics, good colors, readily available, show vup good on sounder and half the price of others.
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I fish shallow, I really don't see what all the hype is,I've got a collection of over a thousand jigs and maybe 50 some are tungsten. I just started buying them 3 years ago. I tend to tie them on but really see no difference. Lures are made to catch fishermen, other than double or triple price for my style of fishing there no advantage.
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I my State (MA) and others most of your thousands of lead jigs are not legal to use... Tungsten is a legal alternative...
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love the tungsten.gotta go real small sometimes and they fish heavy.fiska being my favorate have caught some big fish and have no problem with them.but sometimes the fish want that different fall the same size lead head gives you.
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Got the itch now picked up a few, and gonna get some wicked small ones..
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Even if one is in shallow water, tungsten jigs still give a better feel than lead jigs.
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Its just like any other tool, it has its advantages. But I can tell you one you use them properly you wont go back to lead specially if you fish high pressure lakes... size matters!
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I love tungsten jigs.
Since tungsten is heavier than lead it allows the presentation of a miniscule offering while keeping weight on the jig to transfer jigging cadence, bite detection, and a faster sink rate allowing the angler to have a more responsive control when a smaller profile presentation is required and/or when needing to get the same jig 20'-30'+ down as fast as possible. A 3mm tungsten jig will find 30' in about 6-7 seconds quite deliberately. That will also help guys that don't have a flasher quickly get back down to fish they hope are still their so they will actually spend more time fishing instead of waiting for a jig to sink. You won't need a heavy lead depth finder with tungsten jigs either, especially 5mm. You'll feel bottom.
They also work very well under a slip-float in the warmer months too and tend to offer better paintjobs and hooks than traditional lead jigs. My favorite tungsten jigs are Fiskas. Durable, sticky sharp hooks.
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The problem I have with tungsten jigs is #1 they often come with a barbless hook causing baits to fall off, and #2 hooks frequently breaking off right at the tungsten. For me they are over hyped and not worth the cost.
yep!!!!
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I actually don't think I've come across any barbless tungsten jigs. The thing with tungsten is that the bodies need to be soldered on to the hook, not poured (liquid tungsten is very very hot), and when done incorrectly that process can sevearly damage the integrity of the hook. So it inevitably breaks.
Quality brands that I have used are Fiskas and Skandia's. VMC's are nice too. A quality, mass produced (not these limited run guys you see on here and Facebook), tungsten jig should run you between $2.50 - $3.50 depending on jig size.
I have over 30 Fiskas jigs (at least 10 each in 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm) in an aluminum Perrine clip style fly box (on side is 30 metal clips, the other side is a sheet magnet) and I have had zero hooks break taking hooks in/out of that. Those clips would break before the hooks.
Bottom line (and no offense)...buy better tungsten jigs. Cheap tungsten jigs are just that...Cheap. Or just don't bother with em', people have been doing just fine without them for thousands of years. However, a 4mm tungsten jig on a well crafted custom noodle rod (no spring bobber) is a very good time fishing that can help someone appreciate high-end gear a little more. Although none of it is necessary to catch fish, I appreciate high-end, high-quality gear. It makes fishing, for me, a much more smoother and enjoyable operation.
Same reason people buy $60+ tipups. Not my cup of tea but it helps make fishing more smoother and enjoyable for them.
Just saying tungsten isn't hype. It's just a different way to fish and, with most anything else, has a learning curve.
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I'm curious, what's to learn about jigging a tungsten jig opposed to a lead jig?
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The biggest difference is profile to weight ratio. Getting use to something the size of a BB weighing close to the same as something that should be the size of a pea. You can fish a tungsten jig like a lead jig no problem but you can't fish a lead jig like a tungsten unless it's oversized. Tungsten jigs are a tool to help with certain situations, they weren't meant to be used exclusively although lots of guys do, myself included. Getting down quicker is a big one. A smaller, heavier profile is another.
Once you realize that tunsten jigs produce a profile of at least half the size of lead while maintaining roughly the same weight, you'll understand the more subtle differences. For me, it's easier to maintain a jigging cadence with tungsten because I can downsize my presentation while keeping the weight similar so I can control the cadence without using a bulky jig. Tungsten jigs are shaped differently and move differently in the water, enough for me to notice a difference in presentation. Tied with a loop knot, they can really "buck and kick" when you need them too, better than what I can do with a standard lead jig. That also equates to having to do less work in jigging tungsten. Since it's heavier and smaller, any subtle movement translates to the jig moving with better response. Ever notice how someone can really pound that rod tip and the jig is basically vibrating? A heavier, smaller profile jig helps keep all of that in balance. A lighter jig won't have that kind of response, unless it's bigger. You start the cadence and by the time you stop jigging, you're basically jigging more of the line than the jig, in my experience. I can precisely control tungsten better than I can lead and If you don't go into it expecting a difference, you won't see any.
Also, I think a lot of lure selection has to do with confidence. A guy that's been fishing lead for 35 years is probably going to look at tungsten as a gimmick therefore not having much confidence in the jig. And when he doesn't catch his usually rate, he chalks it up to crappy overpriced tungsten jigs. If that same fisherman limited out in an hour, he'd chalk it up to awesome new-aged tungsten jigs. Confidence.
Not sure if I aswered your question but that's my take on tungsten jigs. Like I said earlier, they work great under a float in the warmer months too. Same principles apply.
Also, like previously mentioned, they really help guys out on lead-free waters.
Kind of like the difference between a pistol and a slingshot. Sometimes you need a faster, smaller, heavier projectile (tungsten) and sometimes you need a larger, slower, lighter projectile (lead). The same could be said about lead/tungsten jigs, figuratively. But there is a difference in operation that should be acknowledged before expecting the pistol (tungsten) to shoot like a slingshot (lead). You can use the pistol like a slingshot but you can't use a slingshot like a pistol.
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Thanks for explaining that, I never really thought about it before and figured they're both jigs and the tungsten is just heavier and smaller. I'm always looking for an advantage and go about things with an open mind. So far I only have two tungsten jigs, the red metallic size 12 Northland Mooska Jig, and the only reason I bought them is because I wanted a jig in that specific color. It's going to be fun trying them out and seeing how well they do. Thanks again for the explanation, it helped a lot. One other question for you, have you noticed if the tungsten jigs glow better than lead jigs in the same make and model jig?
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I got a crazy deal on 3, 4 and 5mm Fiskas on eBay. I paid less than $1 each for almost 40 jigs. Very impressed with these. They dont seem like theyll have paint chipping. I think there is an epoxy coating on them for strength. I dont think ill ever be buying the cheap painted versions...even if I have to pay 3x the price per jig.
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That is an awesome deal! All of Fiskas jigs are quality and I've been recommending them for a long time.
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That is an awesome deal! All of Fiskas jigs are quality and I've been recommending them for a long time.
A 3mm with the diamond on one end pulling out 2 buckets worth of gills and sunnies today and it still looks brand new!
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They are real good jigs
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Just to help with some understanding....
A 3mm ball of lead and a 3mm ball of tungsten will have the same volume/size. However, because tungsten is more dense (19.25 g/mL) than lead (11.34g/mL) they will not be of equal weight. The tungsten ball will weigh more than the lead ball.
I hope this helps the interesting conversation.
Mike in CT
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If you are going to buy one do yourself a favor, DIAMOND HEADS are the way to go. Seems like no matter what color you use with a diamond head, it catches fish. A guy on here by the name of Mummbleseed let me use one two years ago when I seen him out Moraine. I've been hooked ever since.
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The drop speed you get with a tungsten jig is a game changer.
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rather than copy and paste my thoughts i wrote them here.
https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=347680.msg3702574#msg3702574
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There selling epoxy tungsten for around $3 at link be low with others going for around $6 some as low as .89 cents see link..
http://sportsmensdirect.com/shop/search/search_key:Heavy%20Metal (http://sportsmensdirect.com/shop/search/search_key:Heavy%20Metal)
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But if both weigh the same how can one be heavier? ::)
(https://media.giphy.com/media/l0MYH9G8KGK7C81tS/giphy.gif)
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(https://media.giphy.com/media/l0MYH9G8KGK7C81tS/giphy.gif)
Not heavier... denser; same weight but smaller size. Equals less resistance falling through the water. Kind of like dropping a 1/64 oz. feather vs. a 1/64th oz. pebble. In a vacuum, they fall at the same speed. In air, the resistance slows the feather. And water offers more resistance than air.
Anyway, I just bought a selection of tungsten jigs and found the more expensive ones (Nils) were much better quality than the cheaper ones (Northland). There's nothing worse for a guy with aging eyes than having to take a pin and try to clear the tough powder coat paint out of the hook eyes on #14 jigs. The Nils tungsten jigs are a thing of beauty.
Tight lines,
Bob
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no he seemed confused the a 3mm tungsten jig wouldn't weigh more than a 3mm lead jig which it is. like 1.7 i believe.
i bought some tungsten 3/8 oz jig heads for walleye fishing. they cost 3 bucks a piece. they were smaller than a typical 1/4 oz jig head. they were amazing. but like with any type of jig fishign for walleye, they eventually got lost. when fishing the dam scour holes, other boats were amazed i could keep what appeared to be a 1/4 oz jighead in control when they were struggling with their 3/8/-1/2 oz jigs.
anyway,
i will also say. people paying 4 bucks for a single tungsten jig, is freaking nuts. i dont' care how pretty it looks.
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I guess you could equate a jig box full of $3-$4 tungsten jigs to a tackle box full of $3-$4 crankbaits for soft water fishing or a box full of Mepps. How many of those have we all lost in a river?
A quality $3 tungsten jig, to me, is just a far better tool than a .60¢ lead jig. The angler has so much more precise control over the jig. They basically do all the things you wish would happen when a light lead jig is frustrating you.
Profile, action, jigging cadence, and drop speed (fast or slow) can go a long way when coercing smart fish into biting and tungsten jigs help me accomplish those things much better than traditional lead jigs. I don’t mind giving up $3 a jig for that. They also pull great double duty under a float in the warmer months and with Fiskas new long-shank and heavier weights, they become rather versatile all year long.
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i can see that justification but we are talking a 15 cent hook ( a good vmc) soldered to a 30 cent piece of tungsten with a splash of paint. a fraction of what it costs to build a crankbait. now some of the paint schemes are wildly amazing and i'm sure that labor is what drives these prices but i think we are buying pretty things because they are pretty to us. I have a slug of bratner jigs and my fiskas catch just as many fish with "lesser" paint schemes.
i'm all for buying what you want. i've bought all sorts of absurd crap that was overpriced. but i didn't argue that tungsten wasn't better than lead. i can find 1.50-2.00 tungsten jigs that are painted in all sorts of colors and glows that suffice.
for me this is more a yeti vs rtic type of deal. they are basically identical yet one is twice the price and people will pay that just to say they could/did.
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There is a difference in mainly the hooks, “sticky sharp” is what I’m after, like the fiskas for example. Do u have to pay that much for a jig, no, but u get what u pay for !! Will they all catch fish? Yes they will, whatever your wallet, and mind can afford, like u say they all will work , just some better than others !!
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There is a difference in mainly the hooks, “sticky sharp” is what I’m after, like the fiskas for example. Do u have to pay that much for a jig, no, but u get what u pay for !! Will they all catch fish? Yes they will, whatever your wallet, and mind can afford, like u say they all will work , just some better than others !!
i guarantee that the hooks in bratner jigs is not sharper than the fiskas and like clam jigs.
i bought some .50 cent tungsten jigs when they first came out. man were we excited. we'd bring up hooks with no more tungsten on them, broken hooks. it was hilarious. thats when i was like we got to spend the money. but ultimately all these other products ont he market, C&J, fiskas, clam started coming out wiht them, they are pretty much identical to the 4 dollar tungstens. maybe not as intricate with the paint but i dont' think that matters.
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I find out the best jig I have is usually the one that has the paint wore off, and is a gray color! Color is most of the time over emphasized
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Well, the thing with tungsten jigs is that ALL of them are either made in Russia or China because that’s where the refineries are that are capable of smelting tungsten and I’m pretty sure that most tungsten comes from that part of the world. It takes an immense amount of heat for tungsten to melt. Depending on the refinery, quality can be significantly different from each. That’s where you see cheap tungsten jigs that fall apart and have bad finish. Cheap tungsten, cheap hooks, cheap paint, cheap labor. When jig sellers shop around for quality tungsten suppliers it really shows in the end product. Usually, these jigs are imported bare and are then hand painted and finished here in the States by the final seller. You get better bare jigs, better attention to finish detail/durability, and an overall better end product.
Now......does any of this matter to the fish?.......not a bit. However, as a consumer, it matters to me and my wallet a lot. Quality tackle is a must for any angler in all price ranges. For me, I’d rather buy something once that’s a little pricey than buy something several times because it’s cheap.
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Not sure but I thought I read the melting point for tungsten was around 3500* correct me if I’m wrong. That’s why they solder the hooks onto the tungsten
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I think the melting point of Tungsten is close to 6,200 degrees.
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The hooks can’t withstand that temp, or they would all be brittle , hence the soldering
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Melting point 3410 Celsius + or_ 20 degrees. My conversion table only goes to 2482 Celsius = 4500 Fahrenheit. Sorry.
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yeah they all have to solder it on after the fact or just buy the whole thing in bulk hook and all. the difference being even the most expensive paint and expensive hook we are talking a matter of cents, not dollars. i've had bratner jigs fall apart and hooks break occasionally too.
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Melting point 3410 Celsius + or_ 20 degrees. My conversion table only goes to 2482 Celsius = 4500 Fahrenheit. Sorry.
Google tells me that is 6170 Fahrenheit ;D
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I would think all the tungsten jigs are made in Russia or China.
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Love the Fiskas jigs. Matter of fact, I had the same jig tied to my favorite jigging rod all last season. Caught 100s of fish on that jig. In the grand scheme of things, who cares if it cost a buck more? They just plain work well for me. Like others have said, it takes a little getting used to. I don't fish my lead jigs anymore. Now they feel unresponsive and slow.
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last week i put out a couple inquires on alibaba for bulk pricing. not sure if anyone else wants to get on board with this? if you are further along in the process, can i come on-board? i think i can justify buying as many as about 50 or so. looks like we can get them as low as about 20cents a piece. all 4 of my inquires when unanswered outside of an automated message. maybe my quotes are for not enough products to gain a response=/ i will try again.
i have found a couple sources on ebay for around 1-1.2$ per 5mm jig which is good enough for me to just get some and worry more about a bulk order later.
EDIT: after sleeping on it, i have moved forward with the ebay options for now.
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tungsten jigs are absolutely amazing. density 18.1g/cc. there are thousands of tungsten jigs
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tungsten ice jigs also work great drifting open water for Bluegill and Crappie. We tip ours with Berkley Gulp Alive! 1" minnows. We also caught largemouth bass on them. We like to use the 6mm jigs so the line stays taught while drifting.
Just bought some more jigs for open water. Man! Are they expensive. $3 per jig. Glad I found a place to get them for less than that..at least for now.
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Heres a little summertime trick using ice jigs.instead of tying the jig to the end and dragging it thru the weeds.i tie on a jig and leave a long tag line about 1 to 2 ft long and then pinch a splitshot to the tag end.basically like a micro dropshot rig and the sinker hits the weedline and the jig is above the weeds.works great in deep water and can feel bites better too.
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Nice, might have to try that for walleye, can down size my jigs a bit.
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Hype tends to lead to myths and the wrong application and dissemination of the facts. ;)
Likewise there's a reason I like tungsten as weights as it's harder and gives a more pronounced feedback when banging up against rocks and wood. Similar to brass weights over that of lead.
As for jigs, I haven't figure out if a more mechanically induced jigging motion warrants better presentation. There is a time and place when I need to make a nervous vibrating jigging motion and then there is a time when I need a fluid waving motion. Whatever the fish prefers.