Homemade Jitterbug?

[bigredxlt]

Has anyone here made their own jitterbug? If so post them up

I have been thinking about making my own because these new ones are junk compared to how they used make them.

[BIG M]

I've never made one but from the looks of the bait it should be too difficult.   May take a couple of baits to get the weight position correct so it sits right in the water.   Yellow pine would be a good wood for that bait, at least in my mind.

[BIG M]

Take a look at this pic, this is what I would use as a guide to build a jitter bug style of bait.   I would not use that style of hook hangers and would have the tail hanger mounted in the tail of the bait.   The ballast weight would need to be located in the back 1/2 of the bait inmo so the bait would have a slight tail down attitude in the water.   This is the trial error part of the build for me.

I would try 3/4 thick pine first and build a semi round bait.   Now I will have to order some bibs and give this one a try, thanks    I hope there is a little info here to help you get started.

[Bigbarge50]

What is wrong with new jitterbugs?  I do not own any, all mine are over 10 years old..... So what is different now? 

I would love a jitterstick return.... had a black one that tore it up after dark. 

[SKTprodigy]

The old black jitterbugs after dark are lights out!

[bigredxlt]

What is wrong with new jitterbugs? I do not own any, all mine are over 10 years old..... So what is different now?

The problem with the new ones is the quality. The hooks dont move freely due to the cheap construction, and the bills are riveted on at ridiculous angles. I have one where the bill is attached at 45 degree angle.

[bear7625]

Al Lemire, on the east coast, has started his own bait co. He makes a wooden bait similar to a Jitterbug called a Sea Fly. He also sells them in kits or you can buy just the wobble plates if you prefer.

lemiresplugworks.com

[BDM]

I agree with bigredxlt, some of the hooks seem to be in a bind and get stuck off to the side, and i have also seen the bills mis-aligned. I believe they are made in China now, for what it's worth. I would buy the hound out of them and Hula Poppers too if they would make them in the USA again.

[Stasher1]

The problem with the new ones is the quality. The hooks dont move freely due to the cheap construction, and the bills are riveted on at ridiculous angles. I have one where the bill is attached at 45 degree angle.

There was a thread about this problem a couple years ago, and there were actually people insisting that's how the bills are supposed to be. : I got rid of all but one of my Jitterbugs, and I had to redrill the holes for the bill on that one to make it straight.

If I ever lose this one, I'm just going to buy the components and build my own. I don't see how it could come out any worse than what's being sold right now.

[bigredxlt]

Thankfully a family friend of mine who gave up fishing due to illness (not thankfull for that part) gave me a 4 original jitterbugs made in the US OF A! I lucked out because I love these things. Now I just need to get my hands on one of those jitterstick things, or just make one if I can get my lazy a$$ around to it

[Blues19]

my mom has found tackle boxes at garage sales and i have gotten 3 from those. All old, along with all the other things in them.

[Baitmaker]

Outside of just wanting to make your own, older Jitterbugs are a dime a dozen if you look around long enough. Every dusty tackle box you'll find seems to have a few in it. Check out the "Ending Soonest" listings on E-Bay on a regular basis and you can get them cheap from people who don't set a minimum reserve price. Even some of the rare colors don't seem to fetch very much money. 

Just realized how old this thread was. DUH! My bad