My First Jig Set...help Me Build It

[ChicagoEd]

Hey all, I need a little advice on putting together a jig set. Here's what I'm thinking...there are so many jig manufacturers that a rookie like me gets easily turned around on why one is better than another. I've tried a few brands and frankly I like them equally. Now I'm wanting to put together a set from one manufacturer. I never remember which co made whatever jig I happened to be throwing. I'd like to find one company that is my go to for jigs. Which jig co. do u guys recommend? Specific reasons? Im thinking My set will include 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4. Skirt wise I'd like 4 main color patterns consistent with each size. For Type I'm thinking football, swim, and shakey. So I guess that's 48 jigs. I know there are other style jigs out there but these three are what I want to learn first and then expand from there. Any thoughts?

[JeziHogg]

Siebert outdoors

[Jrob78]

You will only get 2 responses so I will save everyone some trouble.  Siebert Outdoors and North Star Custom Baits.  Oh, and Rage Tail plastics for trailers.  

[BassAssassins14]

You will only get 2 responses so I will save everyone some trouble.  Siebert Outdoors and North Star Custom Baits.  Oh, and Rage Tail plastics for trailers.

He is right.... Siebert and northstar....if you wana try something new get the new strike king tour jig

[Swampstud]

Or..... Save yourself a few bucks and stuff that tacklebox with all colors/sizes. Order some jigheads from somewhere, and buy skirting material and bands. for the price of 1 manufactured jig I can make 2 maybe 3 myself in whatever color or size combo I choose. I personnaly buy ALOT from ebay

[rockchalk06]

Let me ask you this.

What's the water on your lakes/ponds like? What type of cover do you fish? What's your rod set up for fishing jigs?

Me personally, I only fish North Star jigs. Chris has always treated me well and answered any question I've had. He's even made some custom jigs for me on some specific waters.

These are my basic color patterns, sizes and trailers.

1. Black Series brown craw 1/2oz w/ strike king rage craw in falcon lake craw if I want more action in the trailer. If I want less, I use a Bass Assiassian Pure craw in crawfish. Claws have less action and float. This is basically a brown and orange jig.

2. Black series Insanity 1/2 oz w/ a Strike king rage craw in hard candy. This is basically a green and brown jig.

3. Black series Frogger 1/2oz w/ strike king rage craw in watermelon red flake. If I want less action I use a 4" Berkley critter craw in green pumpkin. This is basically a green jig with red flake in it.

4. Black series Alimony 1/2oz. w/ strike king rage craw in black n blue. If I want less action I use an Xcite baits chunk in midnight. This is your basic black n blue jig with some green/yellow mixed in. I will dip the claws in JJ's chartruse to really make it shine.

All of these jigs are my main colors I use for stained to clear water. I run 1/2oz unless I need a finesse approach then I use the same jig in 1/4-3/8 oz with the same trailers cut down. These jigs have a flipping head made for brush, which is what I fish 99% of the time. If you need a football head for rocks etc, the same jigs above come in football heads too.

I also use swim jigs and hair jigs for certain times of the year. If your interested, I can list those too.

[roadwarrior]

You will only get 2 responses so I will save everyone some trouble.  Siebert Outdoors and North Star Custom Baits.  Oh, and Rage Tail plastics for trailers.  

 

I'm a fan of both companies and would add the MegaStrike Evolution Jig to the collection!

[daiwaguy]

I agree wih everyone on this. Siebert Outdoors has a link on this page(top right) and they make a quality product with many style heads, sizes and great colors that can match most any fishing situation you will encounter. The New dredge jig they offer is a new on to my TB and I love them. You will not be dissapointed with their jigs. You could also try Chompers.

[CC268]

48 jigs?? HOLY EFF

[dreamertino]

48 jigs?? HOLY EFF

$$$$

[mnbassman23]

48 jigs?? HOLY EFF

 

I started the year with about 80 jigs and have lost 20-25 jigs this year so far.  Between the pike/muskie bite offs, rocks, snags, etc it's easy to go through a bunch. I know guys that have hundreds of jigs on hand, literally. When you start to accumulate different head style, colors, weights, it's pretty easy to get up there in numbers, epecially if its your forte.  

 

To answer the OP's question, I would add a brush/alien head to the mix for pitching/flipping around shallow cover. Unless your fishing a lot of rock I would substitue the Alien head for the football head. Just a thought. You have your weights picked out so your good there.  Now pick out 4 colors. Personally I'd go black and blue, a shade of green, a shade of brown, and a bluegill imitator. (The bluegill imitator will be for your swim jigs). I use Northstar jigs so if you want any specific suggestions in their color line-up give me a shout.

[Jrob78]

48 jigs?? HOLY EFF

48 jigs isn't nearly as crazy as it sounds.  My main jig box has easy double that many jigs, I don't carry all of them with me all the time though.   I use swim jigs, football heads, alien heads and arky heads, all have different purposes.  Football jigs, for example, I use 4 different weights.  Pick a few colors you like in each size and multiples of each for when you lose one and it adds up fast!  

[dreamertino]

48 jigs isn't nearly as crazy as it sounds.  My main jig box has easy double that many jigs, I don't carry all of them with me all the time though.   I use swim jigs, football heads, alien heads and arky heads, all have different purposes.  Football jigs, for example, I use 4 different weights.  Pick a few colors you like in each size and multiples of each for when you lose one and it adds up fast!  

 

Thats true Im on a tight budget so mine are coming up a little slowly. But if he has it then go for it.

[MacP]

I have like 10-14 jigs.  I rarely fish them. 

[Jrob78]

Thats true Im on a tight budget so mine are coming up a little slowly. But if he has it then go for it.

Yeah, I definitely didn't buy all mine at once.

[rockchalk06]

Yeah, I definitely didn't buy all mine at once.

I usually buy 10-15 a month from NS. I've got a pretty good stash, but this time of year, I lose 3-4 each trip.

[Chris at Tech]

I recommend to start simple.

For pitching jigs, choose black/blue and either a green or a brown. 1/4 and 3/8 serve 95% of my purpose but a few 1/2 can't hurt. I find the alien heads are pretty versatile here.

Same colors for football heads. 1/2 and 3/4 should get you through most scenarios and depths.

I treat swig jigs abut differently and use colors similar to my spinnerbaits. Shad and bluegill patterns are all I use. 1/4 and 3/8 are all I need. Increase weight if you think you'll be fishing deeper than 10 ft or so

If you're referring to shaky heads, just get the plain jig heads is 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 and use your soft plastic collection to arm them.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Shoot me a pm,  I have made quite a few packages up for guys/gals. 

[Brian Needham]

I like to keep it as simple as possible.....

 

1/4, 1/2, and 3/4. The more I fish deep the more I MIGHT add 1 oz

 

keep it to 3 colors

1. green pumpkin

2. PB&J

3. black and blue

I keep about 15 of each color/weight in the box, which makes it about 150 jigs most times. ALL are football heads, wood, rock, laydowns whatever gets the football.

those 3 weights and 3 colors will cover all your bases and be well on the way to being a "jig guy"

 

swim jigs

1/4 and 1/2

2 colors, white and chartruse and a bluegill color

can throw it anywhere, and will work in/around grass

 

shakeyheads

3 sizes

1/8, 1/4, 3/8 (can switch for 1/2)

I like mega strike, and owner

 

 

This is a lot to buy. Build up over time, this time of year I would focus on getting some football jigs and swim jigs, maybe a pack or two of shakeys. As the water cools you will throw the fottballs more than anything........ going in to next spring/summer you can build/expand as needed or wanted.

Don't go blow a bunch of money on stuff you may or may not like. Try and experiment first, so you know what you like..... then make the 200 jig order.

that's just my opinion, others may vary.

[kickerfish1]

48 isn't much. I have somewhere close to 500 jigs from about 20 manufacturers though the bulk are siebert and northstar.

I would keep the color selection simple to about 5 colors and the jig design and weight up to you depending upon waters fished. If you fish during varying water temps say 40° up to high 70s and various water clarity color and profile will be key. For cold-water scenarios I like finesse jigs and hair jigs. When fishing wood I like a brush jig or alien head. When lakes are weed choked I do well on flip and swim styles or bullet finesse jigs. Rock bottom and rip rap I like football jigs.

[sarcazmo]

48 jigs is nothing... I think my frist order from Northstar was around that.

 

I'd take a look @ *** lures nujigs as well.  I've just started ordering bare heads and adding skirts myself.  If you buy skirts you'll notice an amazing similarity to the skirts some companies use... I'm sure they're ordered from the same source.

 

3/8oz seems to be the sweet spot for me.  

 

Tying your own skirt really lets you customize them exactly how you want as far as bulky profile etc.