There are so many great jigs on the market, but sometimes making your own is the way to go. Doing this allows you to customize everything from the size, shape, skirt color and type of hook. Making my own jigs has become a new hobby for me. It allows me to have something just a little different and also stock up on things that I lose quite a bit of, saving some money in the process.
Safety Comes First
Melting a metal that is known to cause health problems takes some extra caution. Add to the fact that it is very hot, and safety becomes even more important. I melt and pour my lead in a well-ventilated area or outside and always have fans running to help move the air. I’ll also use caution and wear glasses and gloves.
Getting Started
Like everything else in fishing, you can get started with a limited supply of inexpensive equipment and really spend as much as you want to get the most tools for the job.
The basics are a few molds from Do-It Molds, skirt making material, jig hooks, a lead making pot and a supply of lead. Realistically to get started, you need less than $200 and you will be set up pretty well.
With jigs being around $4-6 each you can make this up pretty quickly in savings. The cost to make each jig is very minimal once you purchase the equipment to get started.
Pouring Process
The pouring process is fairly straightforward; melt the lead and then pour it slowly into the mold. Beforehand, you place the jig hook into the slot and you are ready to go. I would recommend watching some videos before to learn more about lead impurities and how to get clean pours.
Choosing Hooks and Molds
One thing I really like about making jigs is the ability to customize your hook. How many times have you picked up a jig and not liked either the brand or size of the hook? It happens to me all the time. You are also able to choose the type of line tie, whether it is a flat-eye, 90-degree or another style.
The Do-It Molds help show which Mustad hook it is meant for, but for the adventurous with a Dremel, you can make just about any hook fit. Once you start pouring you may also begin to notice more
Swinging Head Football Jig
The Swinging Head Football Jig mold is another of my favorites since I lose these all the time in the rocks. The mold fits the Mustad 38104 Big-Mouth Tube Hook perfectly due to the extra-wide bend. There are two different molds, one has cavities up to ½-oz. and the other has big sizes up to 1¼-oz.
One word of caution is that pouring these takes a little more patience and getting used to, as you have to place the hook on the clips that are molded into the head. These clips form the line tie and also the hook holder and have to be just right in the mold to pour properly.
Arky Jig Molds
The Arky Style mold with the double collar to secure your trailer. It fits the Mustad 32798 style hook with the turned eye to prevent snags. It comes in ¼- to ½-oz. cavities.
The Arky style head jig is one of my favorites because they work in all conditions. The mold I use most features the double collar, which also allows for the Mustad hook with the flat eye. That is one of the great things about jig making, you can basically customize your jig from the hook up.
Paint, Skirting and More
Now that you have poured your jigs, the fun begins. This is where you can customize the jig to your liking.
The paint options are endless and the skirting even more so. I would recommend getting a fluid bed to evenly coat the jig with powder coat paint. Also a skirting tool with plenty of skirt tabs and rubber collars is a must.
Another customization tool that is often overlooked is the size, color and stiffness of a weedguard. To me, this is a vital part of each jig and I like being able to adjust this on different types of jigs. After the jigs have been poured, painted and baked to harden the paint it is time to add the weedguard.
Epoxy works great and using a metal pin to hold the hole open when you pour and paint keeps the hole open for the weedguard to fit snugly afterwards and not become melted while baking your painted jigs.
Getting into tackle making is a fun way to make some of your favorite tackle. If you are looking for something a little different than what you are finding on the shelves, grab a mold, some lead and make your own. The possibilities are endless and you will save money in the long run.
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