How To Get Into Making Jigs

[pwahmy]

Hey guys, first off want to start by saying I appreciate you taking the time to read this and help me out, you guys are great! Now into the topic, jig making. I'm talking standard arkie heads, football heads, finesse jigs. I always have wanted to start making my own because I'm kind of picky on colors that I like. The only problem is I've never known how to get started or where to start. If any of you could help me out on where to start in this process and equipment I'll need feel free to reply! Thanks guys!

 

 

[Molay1292]

There are a lot of different options dependent upon how involved you want to become.  You can pour your own jigs and that requires some equipment, molds, and materials, or you can purchase the heads already poured and add your weed guards, powder paint and skirting.   You need to make some decisions up front about the amount of money you want to spend to pursue this interest, the hobby is not terribly expensive but it like all other hobbies certainly has some cost associated with it.

 

Take some time to think about it and provide a little more information, it will certainly help with being able to provide you a detailed answer to your question.

[Brayberry]

Be sure it's what you want to do.  When I started I probably sent $800+ initially.  Lee Production Pot, Molds, Powder Paint, Weedguards, Weedguard Pins, Skirt Tabs, Lead, Wire, Rattles, Bands, etc.  It'd probably be cheaper to buy the unpainted jigheads from someone, then paint them yourself, and add a skirt of your choosing, or even painted heads.  

 

I've been making heads and such for quite a while and it's a learning process when you start.  It's not as easy as it seems.  It takes a lot of practice to consistently pour a perfect head, without getting incomplete pours.  

 

Buying unpainted jigheads, you can get them as low as $.50 each in bulk, or painted heads around $.80 each in bulk, and it'd be a better way to start.  Once you master that, then start thinking about pouring your own.  

[smalljaw67]

I've been doing it for close to 20 years, it is a fun hobby but it can get expensive so if you are looking to save money it isn't going to happen right away. You got excellent advice already and the only thing I'll add is that if you want to go ahead and get into it, go over to tackle underground and post in the wire bait section, you get detailed answers from guy of all levels. I think Braberry gave you a great option, if you aren't sure you are going to like doing it, you can jigs already poured and painted or unpainted and try your hand at it before investing in a melting pot and molds.

[MFBAB]

Disclaimer: I am nowhere near a pro at jig making, I just started doing a lot of my own stuff within the last 3-5 years. 

If I'd spent the same amount of money on new lures as I did tacklemaking stuff, I'd probably have gotten a lifetime supply, which I probably already had one or two of before I started making stuff anyway if I'm being honest  

And if I spent all of my spare time actually fishing instead of making lures or looking at fishing forums, etc...well, I'd probably catch more fish too!!

It's just all part of one big hobby for me, so it's supposed to cost money, right? 

 

If you haven't already, get yourself a Do-It catalog and a Janns Netcraft catalog. 

There are many others, but if you get these and read through them a little, you will start to get a better understanding of all of the parts that are required for the various jigs. 

 

There are lots of articles out there as well, the Do-It site has many, and a Google search will turn up a lot more. 

And YouTube is definitely your friend!!  There are dozens and dozens of good videos on pouring/painting all sorts of jigs there. 

As mentioned above, there are other tackle making forums too.  Join up on a couple of them and use the search feature.

 

And as said above, there is a learning curve.  You won't start out making perfect jigs, but in my experience most of what you'll make is definitely "fishable". 

[cadman]

Pm me, your e-mail, and I will give you all the tutorials you need to get started, if that's what you want to do. Just remember, it's expensive to start-up, you will need a lot of practice to get proficient at it. If this is what you really want to get into, then it make a good winter hobby. Just remember to be very vigilant and safe, as lead is very hot and can cause severe burns.

[Jig Man]

Take a look at lead, lead pot, goggles, hooks, weed guard, molds, paints, skirt material, etc.  See how much the start up costs are then decide if or not you want to take the plunge.

 

There are some guys on this site (Cadman, and Mike at Seibert outdoors come to mind and maybe smalljaw)  who would probably sell you heads (painted, unpainted, with or without weed guard).  Then you can get some skirt material and make some jigs. 

[Felix77]

FWIW I started off by buying jig heads unpainted from Cadman.  Then went shopping for paint, skirts and weedguards to make these my own.  Had a ton of fun doing that alone.

 

I did venture into pouring but found that I poured so many jig heads that I could open up my own shop ... LOL

[Bruce424]

FWIW I started off by buying jig heads unpainted Then went shopping for paint, skirts and weedguards to make these my own. Had a ton of fun doing that alone.

Same here. Buying and installing stiffer weedguards for arkie heads was the reason. Customizing your own jigs gives you alot more confidence I think. Check out fishingskirts.com, jannsnetcraft.com or lureparts.com for all the equipment ya need.

[pwahmy]

FWIW I started off by buying jig heads unpainted Then went shopping for paint, skirts and weedguards to make these my own. Had a ton of fun doing that alone.

Same here. Buying and installing stiffer weedguards for arkie heads was the reason. Customizing your own jigs gives you alot more confidence I think. Check out fishingskirts.com, jannsnetcraft.com or lureparts.com for all the equipment ya need.

Thanks for the advice I appreciate it. Tight lines brother!

[Lendiesel22]

I am putting together 45 jigs for the upcoming season. I got some heads from a BR members, and contacted Mike at Siebert for weedguards. I got my top 3 choices for paint and selected my skirt material.  I am having way too much fun assembling my own combinations! I cant wait to fish these jigs. That said I have no interest in pouring the heads. I am not doing it to save money. I am doing it bc I want to tie on exactly what I want, not something close off the rack. Being confident in your baits is huge on the water. I am happy to let the masters do the pouring so I can assemble something that I think is special and that will give me great confidence in the finished product. 

[ethan-333]

if you like fishing jigs and other lead head baits. id go for it and buy a lead pot and molds. itll pay for itself if you use it enough.

i spent about 500 dollars got a lead pot. some lead. pins. hooks. weedguards. several colors of powder paint. and a ton of skirts. along with a brush jig mold and a punch skirt mold. i still want to get a football head. shaky jead. and swim jig mold. but thatll be later 

if you fish a lot it can save some money overtime

[roadwarrior]

Well, making you own jigs can be fun and rewarding, but I think most would agree that it probably won't actually save you any money.

 

[ww2farmer]

The simplest way to get into making jigs is to buy heads that are pre-made in a style you want (grass, swim, finesse, etc...) and then buy some pre-made skirts, and simply put them together in a combination you want. Boss makes great DIY components with excellent hooks that meet almost every need. The next step is buying bulk skirt material, bands, and the skirt making tool to make your own skirts in exactly the colors you want.

This is where jig making started for me, and likely where it will end. I am not set up for pouring heads, and have no desire to get into it.

This is also IMHO the most economical way as well. On a per unit cost, the most expensive jig I put together is roughly $2.50 per jig (Boss Invader heads @ $5.99/per 3, and Boss Skirts @ $3.49/per 5). Most store bought jigs of any decent quality START at $3 + and get up to $4-$6 pretty quickly.

Another example of the bang for the buck you get with the Boss stuff.........the finesse flipping jigs I put together using their heads/skirts cost me $1.95 each............The only store bought jig in that price range are the SK Bitsy Flips, and while OK..........the Boss stuff is head and shoulders better quality for the same money.

[roadwarrior]

Good point and of course, you are right.  I was thinking from the ground up, pouring your own heads and such.

[Lendiesel22]

I have thrown together some that I can not wait to fish for just over half the cost of off the rack. The lower cost is good, but the color combinations is what does it for me. My color choices everytime I pick one up. With everything out there to make it easy on the non pourer why not?

[CJ]

 

On 12/15/2015 at 9:44 PM, pwahmy said:

Hey guys, first off want to start by saying I appreciate you taking the time to read this and help me out, you guys are great! Now into the topic, jig making. I'm talking standard arkie heads, football heads, finesse jigs. I always have wanted to start making my own because I'm kind of picky on colors that I like. The only problem is I've never known how to get started or where to start. If any of you could help me out on where to start in this process and equipment I'll need feel free to reply! Thanks guys!

I have a bunch of spare heads I don't need. PM me, you can have them if I have anything you want.