I need professional help!!

[Brian_Reeves]

Hey guys.  Y'all are in the know and I have no idea where to really start looking without wasting good ole hard earned money, so I'm looking for books and/or videos on tacklemaking.  

Specifically, I'm looking into pouring my own jigs and tying skirts.  I'm also interested in possibly starting to build a few custom rods for myself, so any recommended books or videos would be a big help.

Also, where is a place where I can find GOOD molds for ball head jigs that I can put EWG Gammie or Owner hooks?  And where in the bleep do you find hydrosilk in the standard jig colors?  I did a search and only found them in traditional spinnerbait colors and bright colors, not the browns, greens, blacks, and blues that I'd need?

Last question, where do you buy hooks for jigs?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks tons!  

[Bassboy15]

Have a look around here....

www.barlowstackle.com

I don't know much but I hope this helps

[David P]

Most fishing stores sell the proper hooks, but also the hooks depend on the type of mold you get. Barlows has some of the molds, and on the mold it will tell you the type of hook recommended and size for each mold.

You want a football head or just a plain round jig head?

Barlows has a lot of different types of skirts and some very nice colors as well.

Not sure about books and videos though.

[Munkin]

Hey guys. Y'all are in the know and I have no idea where to really start looking without wasting good ole hard earned money, so I'm looking for books and/or videos on tacklemaking.

Specifically, I'm looking into pouring my own jigs and tying skirts. I'm also interested in possibly starting to build a few custom rods for myself, so any recommended books or videos would be a big help.

Also, where is a place where I can find GOOD molds for ball head jigs that I can put EWG Gammie or Owner hooks? And where in the bleep do you find hydrosilk in the standard jig colors? I did a search and only found them in traditional spinnerbait colors and bright colors, not the browns, greens, blacks, and blues that I'd need?

Last question, where do you buy hooks for jigs?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks tons!

Let me answer these questions as best as I can?

Books- There is one on tacklemaking called the complete book of tacklemaking or something? I have a copy that you can borrow just pay for the shipping.

Rods- I am just getting ready to start so I am not much help.

Molds- Do-It molds from Barlows work well and can be easily modified to accept any hooks with a dremel.

Hydrosilk skirts check with Earthworm77 at micromunch tackle he has them in natural colors and he had some made for me in pumkinseed so get with him.

I make my own jigs and spinnerbaits but I am starting to work on rods and crankbaits.

Allen

[Brian_Reeves]

I'm looking to start building a collection of preferrably books to use in the future.  I'm VERY picky with my lures and tackle and so far I haven't found anything that hits the grand slam quite like I want it.  Munkin, if you could just PM the title of the book, I'll go on amazon and get it.  Usually I like to draw in books, make references, and do a lot of research based off of stuff I read, so I really don't feel like borrowing is best  I'd hate to lose to a bad habit and draw something in your book lol.  

I'll check barlows again.  I know I wasn't really pleased with what I've seen from other sites, maybe that one has what I'm looking for.  As for hooks, still debating a few things.  Vertical or horizontal ties, what bends in the hook, and trailer keeper system.  A bunch to consider still, but I have an idea of what I want.  I'm going with a ball jighead because it covers the most bases and I can make it do anything I want it to do.

Thanks for the input and if you could get me some titles, greatly appreciated.  Thanks guys

[Vyron]

I buy most of my stuff from stamina and barlows

For quality molds :

http://www.shawncollinscustoms.com/

Also check this forum:

http://tackleunderground.com/  

[Munkin]

Forgot hooks? www.captainhooksdiscountwarehouse.com is the cheapest place I have found to get hooks.

Allen

[Siebert Outdoors]

I buy most of my stuff from stamina and barlows

Also check this forum:

http://tackleunderground.com/

Save your money on the books for bass jigs.   Its not difficult at all.  Very simple.  You can learn everything you need to know from here and Tackleunderground.

Any questions on jigs I will be more then willing to help.

As for the hydrosilk.  Never seen it but on earthworm77's site.  Its one thing I can not find.

Do it molds are probably the best for the money.  Shawncollins makes good ones from everyones recommendations (I've never used him)  but custom are usually $$.  Do its are about 30 bucks.

As far as material.  Almost everything I get now comes from Barlows.  Some comes from Janns and stamina.

[dampeoples]

The advice given on the tacklemaking books is right on, you should save your money. The Complete Book of Tacklemaking that was mentioned is a bit dated, and most everything in the book can be found online if you spend the time to look. However, it is convienent that it has a lot of information in one place, no need for an internet connection, and you can take it to the workbench. Look in the used book section of Amazon.

On the jig, your questions, or parameters of each jig are not really an option if you choose to go with a Do-It mold, as they typically only offer one style of jig, as in no choice between flat or straight eye, trailer keeper, etc. The Barlow's site does list alternate hooks for most of the Do-It molds, however. The old style molds all call for an Eagle Claw, while the newer are Mustad. Most have alternate hooks, if it's not listed on the Barlow's site, email Do-It, they've always been extemely helpful to me.

That being said, if you want a specific jig a specific way that is not offered from Do-It, I must recommend Shawn Collins, most of my molds are from him, and you won't find a finer mold anywhere, but you'll be able to get about 5 Do-It molds for the price, it's all in what you want to do with it, it's money well spent if you use the mold the rest of your life!  Plus, the aggravation of pouring in a stock mold isn't an issue, I've never had to smoke any but one of Shawn's molds, and that's my fault, he told me what I wanted wouldn't pour correctly 100% of the time

For Hydrosilk, there was a guy selling them pretty cheap, not seen him around for a while, but his site it www.mymomisbecky.com , might see if he has any left.

If you have more specific questions, let 'r rip

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I think your grand slam is right here,...the internet.

There are rod building forums, tacklemaking forums, etc

I don't think there is anything better than having the guys that have been doing it for years telling you first hand how to do it and answer questions as you go along.  

Have you done some in depth searching, by project?

[Brian_Reeves]

I haven't had much time to research the how-to stuff.  I'd like to get a few books because I'm an idiot and pictures help lol

I have settled on a jig mold, hook, and fiberguard and am looking for skirt colors, skirt tying steps, and things of that nature.  I'll be able to figure it out completely when I get home next month.  40 days of leave sure will be nice lol

[Munkin]

Do you get any additional leave for doing a combat tour?

Allen

[Brian_Reeves]

yes.  This is my second tour.  For 2nd timers, they are giving us 28 free days of leave.  What that means is it is not counted against our 'vacation time,' which is limited to how many years you serve.  I have 65 days saved up and 28 free days...so yeah....LOTS of fishing...I mean freakin lots

[Munkin]

I thought that you could only carry 60 days leave? I guess the command is making exceptions to the rules. Usually I was in the hole with leave Glad to see when you post because I know what it means when they shut off your internet access.

Allen

[Guest Wiimote_Angler]

www.jannsnetcraft.com

http://www.luremaking.com/

http://www.lurecraft.com/

http://thelmdfg.com/ - This one is a site for a lure making magazine.