I’ve again been playing with some jigs from molds I’ve modified. All are light weight, and all intended for small plastic baits in skinny water but not the only application.
First one is a bullet or worm nose in 1/8 oz. I’m molding these on either stainless steel or black nickel hooks. Had to mod the mold so it would take the stainless hook.
I can pour 1/4 oz jigs with the same mold, but the size hooks I’m using don’t fit it very well. I have some 3/0 hooks that will fit, but they’re a bit larger than I need for these lighter weights.
Next is a Sparkie style, in 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 oz. I added a barb for small plastics. Always liked this style, particularly for fishing places with sand or gravel bottoms. In the past I’ve molded some of these with size 1 Gamakatsu 60 degree hooks & tied hair jigs with them for SM bass & have tied them for Pompano.
Also molding these with stainless or black nickel hooks.
I’m using size 1 or 1/0 in the black nickel, and the stainless hook is labelled a 2/0, but it’s about the size of the BN 1/0.
This third jig is molded with a Do It Snootie mold, and again in weights 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 oz. Also again, same stainless or black nickel jig hooks. The jig hooks I’m using are 60 degree bend hooks, so a little stouter than Aberdeen hooks. With such small hooks, the fiber weed guards are likely going to have to be trimmed after adding them, both for length & the number of fibers.
I’m molding with inserts & the weed guards will be epoxied in place. Only mods I had to make was grind some indents to allow for the smaller, shorter hooks and used a file to add barbs for the plastic baits.
Those are pretty bad ass! I bet it feels great to catch a fish on your own jig! I also like how the lead covers up the gap from the hook eye loop. Well done!
quote:I have a great source for lead and keep thinking one day I might pour my own weights and jig heads.
I started a lot of years ago & don’t regret it. Having a good source for lead is always a plus.
I can’t say I ever saved any money doing it, as I kept buying molds & adding to the collection, but I have enjoyed it & being able to make exactly what I want, rather than settling for what’s on the market is another plus.
I would be happy to give you any help getting going if you do ever decide to pour your own.
Something that feels as good as catching fish on a jighead you made yourself is the feeling you get when you lose one. I use the same hooks as some of the well known companies. The hooks cost me $0.13-$0.15 each when I buy 50 at a time. I’ve never paid more than $1 per pound for lead. The weight of a jighead is negligible when it comes to cost. I can make 128 1/8oz jigheads with less than a dollar of lead.
Those other jigheads cost about $1.50 each. I don’t cry when I lose my $0.15 jighead.
As far as sourcing lead, I get mine at a local metal recycler. I pay between $0.70-$0.90 per pound. They let me go thru their scrap piles. I look for sheets of flashing because its easy to manage.
Recycled bullet lead is good for pouring jigs. It’s usually a fairly soft lead. I’ve had spent bullets given to me a few times, and have also used other scrap lead & wheel weights. As long as any other metal in it is not too high in content, it all can be used for something. I’ve paid up to about $1.50 per pound for lead, but try not to go beyond that.
SSFiero, good looking jigs! Looks like you’ve also done mold mods. I’m sure it’s less costly per jig, but can’t say I’ve actually saved any money pouring my own, I’ve bought a lot of molds & supplies over the years, and probably could have bought many jigs & other fishing tackle for what I’ve spent. There is a lot of satisfaction catching fish on anything I’ve made, plus I can make things how I need them.
