Considering Making My Own Jigs

[bassaddict375]

For about a year I have been reading the very informational posts and learned alot and started pouring my own worms, BIG THANKS, working out great. I've been considering getting into making my own jigs but I'm sure if I can justify it. I fish one to two times a week for bass at our weekly tournament with a partner about 7 months a year. We both use plastics and jigs about every trip, but were tired of paying high prices at the big guys store. Other than the pure joy of making a bait and catching something on it. What would be the initial investment, the best approach without recreating the wheel and would it be worth the time? Any and all thoughts are greatly appreciated, thanks.

[cadman]

Well this is a tough one as always. It is always beneficial to pour your own, but it takes a lot of trial and error to get to the point of making good jigs. Along with that comes cost and frustration.

Cost of components:

Lee IV Melting Pot………..$60.00

Molds for casting………….$35-$40 each

Lead……………………….Free if you can get it or about $2 per lb.

Hook for each size and each mold………..depends on who you buy from and what brand…...in 100 count.

Powder paint about……….$5/2 oz per color.

**Gate shears……………..$7.00

Hanging trays for jigs……..You can make your own.

Toaster oven to cure painted jigs……………….$30-$40

Safety Glasses…………….$5.00

Face Shield……………..…$10.00

Skirts for jigs about 50 cents for a full skirt

Misc………………..Leather gloves, long sleeve shirt, plenty of clean space.

Learning curve to pour……………..practice makes perfect

Learning curve to paint…………….practice makes perfect

** You can always just break off sprue and not polish jigs. Do you want a nice looking jig or do you want a jig to fish. I’m sure the fish don’t care.

Also all these prices are ball park prices. If you look around at garage sales or get it free that much better.

I’m sure other will chime in on things that I forgot.

[smalljaw]

I'm with cadman on what he said and about the only thing I can really add is if you are doing it just with the thought of saving money then you're better off just buying jigs unless you're losing 2 dozen or more a season. You can cut down the costs slightly by using a melter that uses a small ladle to pour but that takes a while to get used to and a bottom pour furnace is really consistant, if you are going to use Mustad hooks, figure around 15 dollars per 100 depending on type and you'll be even more cost efficient if you make your own skirts but then you'll have an added start up expense of buying material and collars, as you can tell there is alot more to it than what most people think. A good ball park figure for a set up to make like 50 jigs would be around 200 bucks.