I can't believe how they have gone through the roof in the past couple of years. Some I've seen $5.00 to $8.00.

In my case, that's a lure that stands about a 75% chance of not even making it back to the boat. But I fish them

because they are extremely effective. Fortunately for me, I already have plenty that I have accumulated over 

the years, so I don't have to pay those exorbitant prices. Just a personal gripe.

Hootie

 

Me too . I use buy jigs 12 to a card .   Those jigs were better than todays jigs because they got just as many bites and were affordable .

I myself have been hoarding quality jigs over the years also. I will not have to pay that kind price for a very long time. I remember bass pro used to sell a standard jig for 88cents . And they caught fish

 

I bought Arkie jigs in 1982 for $0.69. Using a rate of inflation calculator, today's price should be $1.98.

Hootie

Price of hooks has been going up, especially quality hooks. The other thing is silicone, that went from being 6 to 8 cents per tab to 20 cents per tab and intricate pattern skirts cost as much as 27 cents. Large companies will get a price break but a lot of the good jigs are made by smaller places that don't have the buying power of a Strike King so you see higher prices.

Welcome to our economic disaster.  Higher wages and health care equals higher prices for EVERYTHING.  Get used to it, cause it isn't going away and going to get worse.  

I've wondered how much of this trend is real inflation (and fuel prices) or manufacturers seeing what anglers will actually pay to have the latest very high quality Japanese tackle. There are definite innovations, and quality increases in the mix there. But seeing old standard plastic plugs double in price has me wondering if this is in part what the market will bear.

2 hours ago, *Hootie said:

I bought Arkie jigs in 1982 for $0.69. Using a rate of inflation calculator, today's price should be $1.98.

Hootie

Pay the premium for the good ones and go swimming when you get snagged old man.  Aqua aerobics are  good for the bones.

Just now, iabass8 said:

Pay the premium for the good ones and go swimming when you get snagged old man. It's good for the bones.

Your bones, not mine....lol.

Hootie

Personally I have looked for deals. I have been a fan of Santone Jigs and the last 2 years I have picked up a bunch on TW's 25 days sale at very good prices.

Hooks are definitely part of things, as smalljaw67 mentions, esp in jigs. I have lots of those old heavy ironed, mega-barbed (lol), Mustads -which were the premium hooks back then. They worked if you knew how to use a hook file, and bent the barbs down a smidgen. But the argument for quality hooks in terms of steel, sharpness, and design is hard to argue against.

This is not all that's going on in lure prices, but it's part of the equation for jigs for sure.

2 hours ago, *Hootie said:

I bought Arkie jigs in 1982 for $0.69. Using a rate of inflation calculator, today's price should be $1.98.

Hootie

My Walmart carries Arkie jigs for $1.46, but they only have black and blue.

1 minute ago, bigbassin' said:

My Walmart carries Arkie jigs for $1.46, but they only have black and blue.

Thanks for the info. That's my color 90% of the time. Now, if only my Walmart has them. I will definitely have a look.

Hootie

I can't get too worked up about artificial bait prices.   The phrase "pay to play" comes to mind . . . 

4 minutes ago, Fishes in trees said:

I can't get too worked up about artificial bait prices.   The phrase "pay to play" comes to mind . . . 

I guess I'm thinking more along the line of "pay through the nose"....lol.

Hootie

In my line of work, I always tell my client's everything is about perspective. Depending on your perspective, your outlook can drastically change for the better. G Man says maintain "PMA" positive mental attitude and KVD says "remember, its all about the attitude." So let's flip our perspective here...now you have more reason than ever to buy MORE jigs to build a worthy cache. It is an investment, as  you are protecting yourself against raising jig prices. After all, its not like your going to stop fishing or stop fishing a big bite bait like the jig.

 See if that works on the wifey. 

Old people think everything is too expensive. "In my day"...

9 minutes ago, reason said:

Old people think everything is too expensive. "In my day"...

Probably because we're paying for it with our own money. Not Mommy and Daddy's money....lol.

Hootie

I agree, the prices are getting high. Everything is expensive that has to do with fishing. Firearms are the same way.

But take any weekend at the local lake and there are numerous fiberglass bass boats with everything probably costing 50K + and the average fishing pole/reel combo is $300.00  or more. So I guess $5.00 for a jig in perspective isn't going away but I hate to pay that price and I really hate it when I lose one.

I'm with the previous poster though, I have many packages of Arkies from walmart.

 

3 hours ago, *Hootie said:

I bought Arkie jigs in 1982 for $0.69. Using a rate of inflation calculator, today's price should be $1.98.

Hootie

I'm guessing MOST things were cheaper in 1982. I wouldn't know personally, seeing as I wasn't born until 7 years after that haha.

Still, I can't imagine paying 8$ for a jig either. Siebert has pretty d**n good prices especially considering the hand tied quality. I've been pleasantly surprised. 

Its not that old timers think everything is expensive . i bought jigs by the dozen because they didnt lighten my wallet  much . A dozen jigs today will lighten my wallet a lot .

1 hour ago, *Hootie said:

Probably because we're paying for it with our own money. Not Mommy and Daddy's money....lol.

Hootie

2 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

I've wondered how much of this trend is real inflation (and fuel prices) or manufacturers seeing what anglers will actually pay to have the latest very high quality Japanese tackle. There are definite innovations, and quality increases in the mix there. But seeing old standard plastic plugs double in price has me wondering if this is in part what the market will bear.

I side with this perspective.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if most price increases have more to do with how much money other anglers are willing to pay for tackle 

Don't forget about the price of lead...basically up 3X-8X beginning in 2004 compared to historical values

don't forget about Mike Siebert.... still making quality jigs at reasonable prices!