tholmes Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 This is exactly what I was planning on doing but I ended up working full time instead. By the sounds of it, I'll be buying jig heads and adding the skirts. Where do I buy these jig heads for $0.60 that someone mentioned? Don't let a little thing like a job stop you from pursuing jig making. I've been working full time since 1970 and still found time to make jigs. there's always evenings and weekends. What I generally do is to take a Saturday afternoon and pour a bunch of heads and the another afternoon to powder coat them. After those steps are done, it's pretty easy to find an hour or so here and there to put the skirts on and glue in a weedguard. Since I'm working for myself, there's no deadlines or quotas to meet, I can do it as I please. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siebert Outdoors Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I would buy the heads made and build the skirts for them. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User rippin-lips Posted January 17, 2015 Super User Share Posted January 17, 2015 I order pre made jig heads from Mike ^^^ Siebert Outdoors and then purchase skirts from fishing skirts.com That allows me to make a few in different sizes and head styles but the same pattern. Also have some extra skirts to use on a punch hub when I need to go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User SirSnookalot Posted January 17, 2015 Super User Share Posted January 17, 2015 Once I purchased a vise and tying equipment the cost to make my jigs isn't too much. I buy my materials from a fly shop in Boca just 20 minutes away but they ship free or did last time I ordered. I am not real good at making them but they catch fish and that's the bottom line. Most of my jig heads are from Walmart, I have yet to have any problems even with snook and tarpon but usually use store bought unless I'm out, BPS hot lips are my favorite. My jigs are primarily used for peacock bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEnnis Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 Can you save money, Yes. Will you save money, probably not. I am a bean counter so I ran some numbers. At Bass Pro Shops Football jigs cost $3.49 each, Swim jigs $4.29 and Flipping jigs $4.99. If you buy 10 that is $34.90, $42.90 or $49.90 respectively. If you buy your jig heads from a lure parts supplier like Lure Parts Online, and use wire to tie on the skirts, Painted Football jigs cost $6.70 for 5, Swim $2.60 for 3 and Flipping 4.89 for three in 3/8 oz. Then you need three skirt strips at $3.70 for 10. This makes the total for each jig Football $2.45, Swim $1.98 and Flipping $2.74. If you make 10 that is $24.50, $19.77 and $27.40 respectively. You are saving money. But remember every jig head or skirt strip you are not using is wasted money. Now lets look at pouring your jig heads. A do-it mold will cost you $38.50. 100 hooks $22.50. 1 lb lead, enough for 42 jigs, $2.99. Powder paint 6.99. Jig skirts $3.70 for 10. Total cost to make 10 jigs is $82.53, 20 jigs is $93.63, 30 jigs is $104.73, 40 jigs is $115.83 and 50 jigs is $129.92. Notice that this does not include the cost of something to melt the lead with, pour the lead with or harden the powder paint. Even without these costs you do not break-even until you make at least 30 jigs of the same style and same color vs when purchasing your jig heads already painted. You do not break-even until you have made 50 jigs of the same style and color. You also have to have someplace to pour your jig heads (not in the house!). Which makes pouring them in the winter rather hard. But how many of us fish just one jig head and jig color? That is where you start losing money. Buying more molds, different hooks, additional paint, and multiple colors/styles of jig skirt strips. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User waymont Posted February 1, 2020 Super User Share Posted February 1, 2020 TW sells Boss jig heads. They are great designs and a great deal. I made about 40 swim jigs last year, in a few different sizes and patterns. During the Black Friday sale heads and skirts (basically whole jigs) were about $2.20 a piece. Can’t get much cheaper than that. Boss heads have great Mustad hooks, and nice weed guards. If you’re not looking to pour and paint this is a good option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MittenMouth Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 On 1/15/2015 at 8:02 PM, Robert Riley said: Is it worth the investment? I was looking into doing it over winter break, but I got a job instead haha. Are the jigs you make going to be on par with the ones you buy and still be cost effective? I really have no knowledge on the matter. I'd figure that most people just make their own to keep themselves busy and have custom colors. I looked at this since I fish jigs a ton- ultimately I looked at how many I go through a season and decided not to. The true factor here was I couldn’t find a jig I liked- after searching through a ton of options I finally found a good company so I’ll stick with them for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PourMyOwn Posted February 1, 2020 Share Posted February 1, 2020 I started 25 years ago with zero desire to ever sell a jig. In 1995 a guy in New Hampshire couldn't just drive to a bass tackle shop and get a jig made with premium components. Nowadays it really wouldn't be worth it to start pouring with all of the resources there are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted February 1, 2020 Super User Share Posted February 1, 2020 5 year old thread it must still be winter. I designed and made my single cavity jig mold back in 1971, 49 years ago how time flies. How do you put a price on a jig that has caught hundreds of DD bass including all 5 of my largest bass. Several years ago one of my hair jigs tied by the late Doug "Skinny" Harris of Texas sold at auction for $200 for a fund raiser. The value in making your own lures comes in the pride you get catching fish on them. If you factor in the your time, cost of premium hooks @$35/100, lead, skirt materials and labor to paint and put the jigs together it's less expensive to buy a good jig from reputable company like Siebert Outdoors a site sponsor. Tom 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbirdsley Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 I like it as a hobby gives me somthing to do in the winter. Like they say in the reloading world you don’t save money you just can shot more. Same with jigs you don’t save money making them you just get more for the same money. I enjoy catching fish with lures that I make. Nearest place that sells bass jigs is 45 minutes away. I really hate making that trip for jigs. if order online they may not reach me in time to fish again. I also dislike ordering things I have not used before. So I have a constant un ending supply. last year I caught my personal beat large mouth on Arkie I poured. Now the pbj skirt was pre made that I bought on eBay ( sometimes I make my own skirts. some times I buy them pre made). For a trailer a summer craw rage tail made these up last week. Some will turned into chatter baits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigander Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 I'm not interested in pouring my own so I just buy heads I like from companies or do custom orders from guys working out of their garage. But I do really enjoy tying my own skirts. I have optimized colors, weights, and styles for the lakes I fish most often. And if I think I need something odd to handle a unique situation, I can just make it. Where this hobby really comes into it's own for me is being able to make tackle that I can't buy off the shelf. So to me, it isn't about saving money, rather it's about spending my money on jigs that are as perfectly paired to my style, preferences, and waters as possible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Scoggins Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 On 1/16/2015 at 6:53 PM, Siebert Outdoors said: I would buy the heads made and build the skirts for them. I've been doing that for awhile now and just recently started buying them unpainted from @Siebert Outdoors. It goes a long way occupying my time during the winter months. Problem is I never use all the jigs I paint and tie so I end up giving them to family and friends who fish. Yep, there are a few on the other side of the globe who have used and like your Dredge jigs, Mike. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loochy88 Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 My argument to the"is it worth it" question isn't based on how long it takes to break even. What I think is most important is knowing that the jig on your line didn't cost 7.50. That really plays into where you're willing to throw it, and ultimately, how many fish you'll catch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Munkin Posted March 25, 2020 Super User Share Posted March 25, 2020 Since I fish and lose a lot of jigs it is worth it to me. My record is 26 finesse jigs lost in one day which would have hurt if I wasn't making them myself. Allen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detroit1 Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 You can't call losing 26 jigs in one day if the sack got bounced out of the boat..? I don't even own 26 jigs, that would wipe me out. ? By the way, Allen, how is that roto - mold (soft plastics) working for you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbirdsley Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 On 2/8/2020 at 10:57 AM, Harold Scoggins said: I've been doing that for awhile now and just recently started buying them unpainted from @Siebert Outdoors. It goes a long way occupying my time during the winter months. Problem is I never use all the jigs I paint and tie so I end up giving them to family and friends who fish. Yep, there are a few on the other side of the globe who have used and like your Dredge jigs, Mike. This is the point I am at right now. I have way more jigs than I know what to do with. I’ve got people who wound buy some but, I think I’m just going to start giving them away. I don’t really want to start selling jigs. I just have a feeling if I get into that’s all I will be doing and then it feels like a job. The margins aren't that good any how for jigs . Have to sell a lot jigs to make real money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Munkin Posted March 30, 2020 Super User Share Posted March 30, 2020 On 3/28/2020 at 10:07 AM, detroit1 said: You can't call losing 26 jigs in one day if the sack got bounced out of the boat..? I don't even own 26 jigs, that would wipe me out. ? By the way, Allen, how is that roto - mold (soft plastics) working for you ? Let me know if you need any as I have about 200 spares right now. As for my luremaking garage it has been but on hold due to an friends injury. Allen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Sam Posted March 30, 2020 Super User Share Posted March 30, 2020 The jigs I throw are hand made by a gentleman in Virginia. He creates skirts with the colors that have proven to have positive results on specific bodies of water. If you make your own jigs don't do it with the goal of saving money. You do it for the satisfaction of the finished product and how it works better than mass produced jigs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User fishballer06 Posted March 30, 2020 Super User Share Posted March 30, 2020 Costs aside - there is no feeling that can be replicated like that of catching a fish on a bait/jig that you made entirely yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User roadwarrior Posted March 30, 2020 Super User Share Posted March 30, 2020 You will NOT save any money, but it might be fun to build your own. I buy ALL my jigs from Siebert Outdoors and go through lot on a given day and maybe 100 a year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Scoggins Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 14 hours ago, roadwarrior said: I buy ALL my jigs from Siebert Outdoors X2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hawk Basser Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 To me, it is totally worth it. It's a ton of fun, and as mentioned it's very satisfying to catch some fish on your own baits. I have the Do-It Poison Tail mold, that jig head is pretty versatile IMO. If I want, I can make my own vibrating jigs, but I haven't bought the components for that yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigander Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 It also depends what you're making. I do the whole buy the heads and tie them myself thing. I tied up 10 preacher jigs this winter as opposed to paying $10+ a piece for good ones online. I have maybe $25 in materials into them so I saved $75 and now I have a lot of extra bucktail for other projects. I tend to be drawn to the expensive ($6-10) regular jigs anyway, so tying my own equivalents does save me money and helps pass the winter. That reminds me, I have a small box of Siebert Outdoors swim jig heads that still need tying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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