Pouring Jigs

[clayton86]

Is pouring your own jigs really any cheaper then just buying them jigs are only 2-4 bucks usually. I want to get into pouring and tieing my own but if its gonna be more expensive I don't see the point other then satisfaction. I understand start up will be pricey but after the first few you make your money back. I have access to probably 100lbs in old wheel weights also. Whats the break down do you guys that pour and tie figure each jig costs you to make. Im not looking to go into business but if it saves a few bucks here and there threw out the season and I don't have to wait to order something im thinking it will be worth it.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Honestly I doubt you would save a few bucks. When people ask me this question my reply is: If you want to make your own, buy the head and tie your own skirts.

A mold is 30-40 dollars

Lead pot is 40-90

Lead you have free but you have to clean it by melting it down and its nasty buring stuff with wheel weights.

That will just get you a mold and pot. This doesn't include the lure parts plus all the other little tools and stuff you need. You can buy alot of jig heads for just the 150 bare bones cost of it.

[smalljaw67]

Unless you loose about 5 or 6 jigs every trip then you will never ever recoup your start up money. I guess I should say if you spend more than 75 dollars a year on jigs it may benefit you to pour your own but if you don't go through a high volume it really isn't worth it. For me it is a rewarding hobby that gets me through the winter and I now have thousands invested between molds, skirt material, paint, hooks, wire, eyes, melting pots, air compressor, air brush, etc. etc.

[clayton86]

I do go threw a lot of jigs I fish every day rain or shine and jigs are my favorite presentation. I have considered just buying the head I was actually on your site Siebert checking out your packages for just the heads. I may just go that route for now and see where it takes me. I thought about doing it here on deployment the tieing part just ordering heads and material and making a bunch here on my free time but id probably go mad wanting to try em out and see what they do lol.

[Hi Salenity]

No you won't save any money! The hooks I use are $.50 each!

Btw I'm about to post a mold for sale

[cadman]

In the long run, you will have to only make one jig and I believe the profit doesn't come for a couple of years. Yes you can buy a pot, molds and the free lead. However, now you have to buy hooks and lastly, you have to get the knack of getting good pours and then painting your jigs. I've seen a lot of guys start out and then are overwhelmed with everything they need to learn. They loose interest really fast. It takes some time to learn all of this. It's more of a hobby and a passion to make jigs. You have to want to do this and enjoy it. If you don't want to spend the time to pour and paint then buy your jigs like you have been, and walk away from the rest. I'm not trying to dissuade you from doing what you want, just giving you the facts. Also some days when you have a bad day, pouring jigs does get old but then again it's a passion for some of us to succeed.

[clayton86]

I have a free melting pot as it turns out as well well if it works. My father in law has one he hast used in about 10 years he used to pour his own lead ball for his muzzle loader. I don't see why it wouldn't work though. Idk though still I thought it would be fun to do on the side of reloading another hobby im picking up when I get back that though I KNOW I will save money on lol ammo is expensive.

[Chris W]

You are better off buying your jigheads and tying your own skirts IMO.

[Jig Man]

If it were me, I'd contact Mike or Ted and see about buying 100 jig heads. Then I'd order some skirts from fishing skirts *. Put them together and see how it goes.

[tholmes]

I'll agree that you would have to make a LOT of jigs to recoup the cost of tools and materials, but that's not the reason that I make 'em. There's a certain satisfaction (vanity?) in catching a fish on a lure that you designed and made. It also gives me something to do when the water is frozen over and I've memorized all of the tackle catalogs.

Tom