If you could only pick one

[The_Bear]

Hey everyone, 

I have an opportunity to get some lead melting equipment and a bunch of lead for free, and I’ve been thinking about getting into making my own jigs. 
 

Unfortunately right now I only have room in the budget for one Do-it mold, some hooks, some skirts, weed guards, powder paint, etc.  My question to you is if you could only have one jig to fish and have some success what would it be? My thought is to get the Arkie style mold so I can make some assorted size and color Arkie heads. Would this be a good plan? I was also considering the Ball Head mold because I’ve heard people preferring those over the Arkie style. 
 

Also as far as colors I was planning on  black/blue, green pumpkin, and maybe some brown jigs. Do you think those colors would afford me some reasonable success? 

[Jig Man]

Of the two you listed ArkIe would be my choice.  However I  prefer the football jig over the ones listed.  I recommend fishing skirts and Captain Hooks for supplies.  Also Harbor Freight carries cheap powder paint.  Good luck.

[The_Bear]

Out of curiosity, why the football head over the others? I have been looking at the fishing skirts website and I love a lot of the colors. 

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

The arkie works for both rock and wood, but the football shines in rock. The arkie for wood.

 

My most productive color is green pumpkin/brown, straight brown or straight GP.

 

Get teflon pins, you'll thank me later!

[cadman]

I guess if I would pick only one jig, my preference would be the Arkie jig. You can swim it, drag it, bounce it and hop it along the lake bottom. My go to colors are black/blue, green pumpkin and brown, and sometimes white. You have a PM 

[HaydenS]

I'd go with the ballhead mold.  My favorite style jig.  You can do anything with it!

[Munkin]

What do you currently use that's factory? My first mold was a round ball because of the number of Eakins jigs I was losing. 

 

Allen 

[Jig Man]

4 hours ago, The_Bear said:

Out of curiosity, why the football head over the others? I have been looking at the fishing skirts website and I love a lot of the colors. 

I got tired of giving my jigs to Bull Shoals Lake so I sold my Arkie and bought a football mold.  I lose a lot fewer of them.

[The_Bear]

Thank you to everyone for the replies! I appreciate it a ton, this forum is great! 
 

I think I’m going to go with the Arkie mold to start, I’m sure I will add to the collection at some point. 

[Black Hawk Basser]

I really like the poisontail mold, but I think I'd rather go with the Arkie.

[Bdnoble84]

Ive only used the poisontail, but i love it.

[Munkin]

Don't worry about which one you you get because by this time next year you will have 11 more molds.

 

Allen

[Bdnoble84]

Its not the mold cost that kills you, its how fast the hooks add up.

[Munkin]

Buy them by the thousands and they are cheaper. 

 

Allen 

[Bluebasser86]

I try and pick molds that can use the same hooks also. Then I don't have to buy as many different types of hooks. 

[Bdnoble84]

Life goals Allen, Life goals

[Munkin]

 

I think my molds have been mating producing more molds. 

 

Allen 

 

[Bdnoble84]

Ok, now thats life goals!

[Bluebasser86]

I've got about 4 1,000 packs of hooks to go along with a couple 3,700's full of jig hooks. It still never seems like I have the ones I need. 

[Munkin]

Over 100k hooks in the garage and I just had to order 3 more.

 

Allen

[Bdnoble84]

Its so funny (or sad). Im completely hobby right now, but every time i go to start a batch of something, i realize im going to be out of a material. At this point i have all my hooks and wires (thanks munkin) but now im going to need to order skirts and hair. Its alays something. Cant imagine the overhead you all deal with.