I believe the original has a wire diameter of .041. It provides just enough flex and rigidity to cast the 4-5" hollowbodies. You can use either American Fishing Wire Tooth Proof or Mason Stainless steel fishing wire.

I make mine by bending the wires around each other...no crimping, I just don't trust a crimp. I use 3 strands of wire to achieve my 5 "legs". I bend 1 main wire around the other 2 wires (which are bent in half) to create the head. For the head I use a 3.5" hollowbodied swimbait head that I glue & use silicon to secure. I can make mine for under $5 a piece. If anyone is interested, just hit me up!

Here is how to bend the wires before crimping...these aren't coming out. I would be more worried about the wire you twisted and got hot breaking. Of course with any size wire your line should break first.

JR, I like that approach for the wires at the head. I'll make a few that way IF I can find any more of the 3/16" ferrules in my area. They keep dissappearing from the Lowes stock, LOL

Yeah you need to get them online a lot cheaper. Also you can get just them and not the stops.

I've used this same wire for Musky leaders up north, when I have to bend the wire to make the leaders...and if they don't break there a bass won't break this either. See how I do mine below...everyone has their preference for how they make'em.

How the wire is wrapped...I used a small parasite weight in the front...a lot of people who I've made them for wanted some weight up from (1/4 or 3/16):


Finished Product with Head:


I've even added a bit of flash for dirtier water situations........before the ones on tacklewarehouse came out:

Those look nice xpress.