Make your own jigs

[Col Forbin]

I was just at the Fisherman's Headquarters here in Draffenville (on the way to the Moors), and he has set up a station for making your own jigs. You choose what jig head, then choose from ton of skirt color combos - or together your own combo (almost endless possibilities) then run it through the skirt tool. I have never seen or done all of this, so I thought it was pretty neat. I don't know how much more or less it will cost than buying a pre-made jig, but you get your own custom jig.

I still think I will start making my own soon. Do any of you out there make your own jigs (pour the heads and everthing)? Any pointers on what all I will need to get started, and which equipment or supplies would be the best? Where did you get your supplies? I used to tie some flies and really enjoyed it, so I think I would enjoy this. Plus I am pretty picky with my jigs.

[FlyLie]

Quote "I still think I will start making my own soon. Do any of you out there make your own jigs (pour the heads and everthing)? Any pointers on what all I will need to get started, and which equipment or supplies would be the best? Where did you get your supplies?"

Col.....Some of the other boards out there discuss making tackel (jigs, etc.) Check out www.smalljaws.com as a starter. You may also want to run a Google Search on this one.

Good Fishing,
Gary

[PRO V LE]

Andrew aka. APB one of our mod's makes the absoulute best Striper jig's you can get. I'm sure he can help you with info.
By the way I'm running low on jig's Andrew, I keep giving a few away to show how good they are. hint,hint

[zx150]

I sent you a PM.

[apb]

Jannsnetcraft, Stamina Inc., and Barlows are good sources for lure making supplies. Do It! makes a ton of molds, most of which can be purchased at the above places. If you are close to a Cabelas or Bass Pro store, they'll often have some stuff on site that you can check out.

As far as making them, you'll need the mold, a lead pot (the Palmer pots are good starter ones that will hold 4# of lead), and possibly a ladle for pouring the lead. Powder paint works real well for painting them. You can get pre-made skirts for your bass jigs, or buy the stuff separately and make your own. Lead, check out your local plumbing supply place and pick up "lead chalking" or ingots. Usually five pound size and its the good soft stuff. Some guys use tire weights, I prefer not too as there is all kinds of other crap in the weight besides lead. Make sure to have a place with good ventilation for doing this, lead is not healthy stuff!

Bunch of other stuff that could be said about jig making. Shoot me an email at: [email protected] if you want to discuss this in more detail.

Dave, I sent you a private message about jigs a while back

Andrew

[kylakenitro]

I sent you a PM

[kc]

apb is right on track. I have never bought lead - I have asked some of my handy friends and have gotten plenty of lead from plumbing projects, wheel weights, or other sources. When you get lead this way you need to melt it down in bulk and pour into some kind of ingot for use later. The bottom of an aluminum can works or pouring onto one side of a mold. A coleman stove, ladle, and propane torch works well for this.

On molding your own Do IT molds are the best. You can get a catalog from Do IT to see all of the molds offered but Janns and Barlows pretty much have all of them. My picky things on making jigs are hooks, weed guards, and the skirts. I use only premium hooks - Gamatsu and Owner are my favorites. For spinner baits I prefer straight Eagle Claws. Round point hooks on spinner baits and rocks don't mix. I also prefer the Y weed guards over the fiber for jigs. I have had a better hookup ratio with them. I also prefer making my own skirts. You can but the skirt making tool and I have just "collected" different skirt strip colors over the years and can make about any combo you can dream up. That is especially fun on spinnerbaits. I also have gotten pretty fond of the rubber rattle arms available for jigs. The best part of making your own is the satisfaction when they work.

[RoadToad]

Tackleunderground.com is an excellent forum for do-it-yourself tackle making of all kinds. For jigs, check out the "Wire Baits" board. The subject matter is different than this one, so hopefully the moderators won't mind me plugging it here. Be sure to check out the safety information posted there, and at Do-It Molds web site. I got some jig-making equipment for my birthday, and I'm totally hooked. Good Luck!

Hey Mods, ever thought about a tackle-making discussion board on fishin.com? Just a thought...

[Col Forbin]

Thanks for all of the info, sites and resources. I think I have a pretty good idea of how to go about getting started, if not I got some emails and phone numbers that I will probably put to use soon.

Mods - A tackle making forum on here would be nice. I have found out there are a good deal of lure makers on here - I got quite a few PM's and responses to this. Lures are part of fishin too.

[apb]

...Hey Mods, ever thought about a tackle-making discussion board on fishin.com? Just a thought...

Just shot an email to Peter/Jim on this. We'll see what they say about it.

Andrew

[MsgMills]

I started this year making my own crappie and Bass jigs, But I haven't bought the stuff to pour my own jig heads. that will be next...I got some great looking jigs and a fellow from Illinois sent me a big piece of Black Bear Hair that I have been using. Got some great jigs I must say, will be using them this year and going to be a blast when I finally catch a fish on one of my own jigs I made....... look out Club members, I'm on the loose to catch some Hogs.....lol

[RoadToad]

I was given a roundhead mold, and bought a live-bait jig mold. I read somewhere that Do-It considers their Sparkie head to be perhaps their best throwing jig for bass, so that'll be my next buy. Pouring/painting/tying jigs is totally addictive. I still have yet to try FnF, but when I do, I'll be using jigs I made myself.

Be careful using wheel weights; they have additives and aren't really "soft" lead. Soft lead is easy to leave a mark in with your fingernail.