I plan on starting a small business this winter producing jigs, plastics, and some spinnerbaits. I have a few questions about some potential legal issues. First is for jigs; I plan on making 1/4 oz and below for crappie as well as 1/2 oz for some bass, so if I use eagle claw hooks and VMC hooks, am I allowed to sell them in my jigs, or is that not allowed? Also if I use a mold for plastics from Jann's, is it okay to sell those baits also? I should probably contact the companies to make sure, but any help on this subject would be appreciated. If there is already a thread with this topic, the link would be a very good answer also. Thank you!

 

As far as jigs go, you can use any hook you want in any mold that will accept them. At one point I even called Do-It mold company to ask them if I can call my jigs "Poison Tails and Snootie" and there was no problem with that either. Do-It was very accommodating. Any and all other jigs like football, ball, arky , are all generic terms. However if you feel more comfortable, it is always proper to call and ask. It is just reassurance for your own piece of mind. If you need help with making jigs feel free to e-mail me or I can call you and help you out getting started.

As far as jigs go, you can use any hook you want in any mold that will accept them. At one point I even called Do-It mold company to ask them if I can call my jigs "Poison Tails and Snootie" and there was no problem with that either. Do-It was very accommodating. Any and all other jigs like football, ball, arky , are all generic terms. However if you feel more comfortable, it is always proper to call and ask. It is just reassurance for your own piece of mind. If you need help with making jigs feel free to e-mail me or I can call you and help you out getting started.

 

Thank you, with a long winter coming up, I'm expecting to be putting a lot of hours in to prepare for the spring. 

You can use any lead or plastics mold and call them whatever you want.

 

Paying taxes and fishing bait tax (10% I think) are another story for a legal business.

Jigs are fine. Any patent would have long since expired if they ever had one to begin with. Now soft plastic baits could be another story and it doesn't matter if you bought the mold from Janns or lurecratf etc. If the bait is infringing then your liable. Realistically the chances are very slim that anything would come of it but you asked. I do know some baits have been protected and defended like beavers. It is not difficult to design your own bait and make molds. It is also much more rewarding. Plus when you make the same type of baits that everybody else makes you will soon learn that is difficult to make a satisfactory profit in a flooded market.

Good luck on your business!