jig blanks

[trapper2000]

i just got a  order of  ice jig blanks in and   am  busy  powder painting them....i get a  bunch then  cure them in a old  roaster oven .... i been using them  and  tiny hair  jigs  for years  any one  else   do up there  own  jigs?

[esox_xtm]

Decades worth trapper. Whatcha wanna know?

[trapper2000]

i been  doing it  for  years  myself   i  just thought it  would  be a  interesting threat  .........  hair  jigs  are  good in the  winter too i have  gone  to  120/th  i think   but  64th are  great  for  panfish

[filetandrelease]

 I Still tie hair jigs up 1/64 -5/8 oz

[esox_xtm]

Here's a few early ones for crappies.



Found out tying less is often more. Right now I can only get down to 1/64. Looking at another mold. Tied a bunch of "float n fly" stuff with "troll hair" too. Really effective on cold water bass. Often wondered if a smaller version would work on pannies thru the ice. I'll just add that to the project list...

[DR.SPECKLER]

Nice esox.ive got a few small jig molds and havent poured any of those small roundball jigs yet.i mainly pour 1/16th and 1/32 for steelhead.you might of got me motivated to pour some.

[KingPerch]

We have jig molds. Pour, powder paint and tie a bunch every year. Good pastime for the days we can’t get out.

[trapper2000]

these are 1/32 i carry  for open water  panfish .....






my  ice  jigs  are  bananna  jigs  ants  dots rockers tiny hair  i  also ty a lot of  weighted  flies i use  ice fishing i enjoy it and my jig boxes are fun and i can still afford a coffee ....w3ell i could  have a couple years ago

[filetandrelease]

 
 Here’s a few

[62&done]

You guys are making me crazy. I always have ideas of what I am looking for in the tackle shop and seem to find some if early in the season but there is always a few that are not there.  I've never tried making my own other than repainting some with leftover house paint or some other crap but they never turn out the way I want.
      I should try this sometime  Are there kits to start with ?

[hangemhigh]

Ok this is new to me ... when you say jig blanks are you saying that they are just unpainted and you paint them and add the feathers or whatever, or are you actually pouring a liquid into a mold ??  And what is powder paint ?  Thanks !

[62&done]

Ok this is new to me ... when you say jig blanks are you saying that they are just unpainted and you paint them and add the feathers or whatever, or are you actually pouring a liquid into a mold ??  And what is powder paint ?  Thanks !

  X2

[DR.SPECKLER]

I buy the hooks,then pour lead into a mold in the style lure i want to make.powder paint is just that powder.you heat up the lead part of the jig and quickly dip it into the powder and it turns shiny.then you oven bake them to get a rock hard finish.then tie feathers if required.i powder paint then add dots or eyes with a nail dotting tool.its a great hobby.i do lots of jigs for steelhead.

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

I tie ice flies, hence the name. Had a business going for 6 years but it burned me out.  Here's one that sold a bunch.

[DR.SPECKLER]

I tie ice flies, hence the name. Had a business going for 6 years but it burned me out.  Here's one that sold a bunch.

that looks great!

[filetandrelease]

that looks great!

X2 , 

[hangemhigh]

I buy the hooks,then pour lead into a mold in the style lure i want to make.powder paint is just that powder.you heat up the lead part of the jig and quickly dip it into the powder and it turns shiny.then you oven bake them to get a rock hard finish.then tie feathers if required.i powder paint then add dots or eyes with a nail dotting tool.its a great hobby.i do lots of jigs for steelhead.

Thanks for the info - those look great - sounds like more work that I want to do though  - hahaha.  Great hobby though - glad you enjoy it !!

[hangemhigh]

I tie ice flies, hence the name. Had a business going for 6 years but it burned me out.  Here's one that sold a bunch.

Looks like that would catch all day !  Nice .....

[esox_xtm]

Ok this is new to me ... when you say jig blanks are you saying that they are just unpainted and you paint them and add the feathers or whatever, or are you actually pouring a liquid into a mold ??  And what is powder paint ?  Thanks !

I'm guessing the OP bought unpainted (blank) jig heads. Pretty commonly available from lure component vendors and eBay in lots of styles and weights. Lotsa guys dive into the jig thing whole hog, buy hooks, scavenge lead and buy a mold(s) to pour their own. That's me.

I like the ability to customize jig parameters. A 1/16 oz. jig with a #2 hook is a killer early spring walleye jig. Pretty tough to find that small a jig with that size hook. Unless you know me  It's also possible to mod molds to either do double duty (like a big bucktail mold can also pour giant spinnerbaits) or add features like plastic keepers, weed guards, keel weights or spinners. I've got around 2 dozen assorted molds, most bought lightly used as great deals at eBay or yard sales. Even found a Do-It "Erie Dearie" mold which was in production only a short time until the real Erie Dearie folks made 'em stop.

I'm not beyond buying unpainted stuff. Here's a few rocker minnow type spoons I painted and holo taped a few:

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

It's a lot of fun doing your own thing, but don't expect it to save you any money   

[62&done]

some really nice looking stuff here guys    show us more!

[hangemhigh]

I'm guessing the OP bought unpainted (blank) jig heads. Pretty commonly available from lure component vendors and eBay in lots of styles and weights. Lotsa guys dive into the jig thing whole hog, buy hooks, scavenge lead and buy a mold(s) to pour their own. That's me.

I like the ability to customize jig parameters. A 1/16 oz. jig with a #2 hook is a killer early spring walleye jig. Pretty tough to find that small a jig with that size hook. Unless you know me  It's also possible to mod molds to either do double duty (like a big bucktail mold can also pour giant spinnerbaits) or add features like plastic keepers, weed guards, keel weights or spinners. I've got around 2 dozen assorted molds, most bought lightly used as great deals at eBay or yard sales. Even found a Do-It "Erie Dearie" mold which was in production only a short time until the real Erie Dearie folks made 'em stop.

I'm not beyond buying unpainted stuff. Here's a few rocker minnow type spoons I painted and holo taped a few:

Those are beauties too - are those made out of lead as well  ??

[Hijinks]

i just got a  order of  ice jig blanks in and   am  busy  powder painting them....i get a  bunch then  cure them in a old  roaster oven .... i been using them  and  tiny hair  jigs  for years  any one  else   do up there  own  jigs?

Absolutely not. For the extra $.25 they’re done already and you’re lucky to use 10 throughout the season.

[filetandrelease]

  Some people enjoy make their own

[trapper2000]

Absolutely not. For the extra $.25 they’re done already and you’re lucky to use 10 throughout the season.

i actually never said how  much money  i spend or saved on   doing my own jigs ........you must learn to read  what someone  writes and  not  what you think they write .....

now truth is  i  buy  ants  tear drops and   bananna jigs  about  25  cents a  plank  i'm still using powder paint i  bought   15 years ago...so final cost  maybe  40 cents?  bait shop   most ice  jigs are a  buck or two .... and  like  fly tying i like  catching  fish off my own   stuff ....just a part of the  fishing expience to me....

[Hijinks]

i actually never said how  much money  i spend or saved on   doing my own jigs ........you must learn to read  what someone  writes and  not  what you think they write .....

now truth is  i  buy  ants  tear drops and   bananna jigs  about  25  cents a  plank  i'm still using powder paint i  bought   15 years ago...so final cost  maybe  40 cents?  bait shop   most ice  jigs are a  buck or two .... and  like  fly tying i like  catching  fish off my own   stuff ....just a part of the  fishing expience to me....

Great point. Keep up the good work.

[theTUGistheDRUG]

I tie ice flies, hence the name. Had a business going for 6 years but it burned me out.  Here's one that sold a bunch.

Wow, that is money.  I would buy a few. 

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

Wow, that is money.  I would buy a few. 

If I wasn't worn out after doing about 5,000 flies over the last 4 years, I'd send you in the proper direction.

[theTUGistheDRUG]

I hear ya.  I make some saltwater bucktails and tog jigs.  I basically make them for myself and can easily see how it would get old very quickly.  Then factor in the teeny tiny size of those ice flies and my batch size would likely be about 2 per session before getting frustrated haha.

Very nice work though!