08-18-2003, 12:08 PM
[cool]Didn't get out to play this weekend. Besides finishing up with the details, after the loss in the family last week, I was not sure I would be able to find any gas. We had a pipeline break between Phoenix and Tucson early in the week and suddenly gas prices shot to to $2 a gallon. The "GOOD NEWS" is that you can't find any to buy. see the link.
[url "http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0818gasshortage18.html"]http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0818gasshortage18.html[/url]
So, I made a jillion jigs, getting ready for prime fishing just ahead. While I was putting one batch together, I decided to make a pic of the steps involved, and a written guideline to go along with it. see the two attachments below.
Also, several folks have wondered just how much money you can save by making your own. When I look around my "tackletorium", I am tempted to tell them to buy their jigs, if they REALLY want to save money.
But, once you are "tooled up" and have the basic supplies, you really can save money on a jig by jig basis. With too much time on my hands, I did a cost analysis of what it takes to turn out a finished jig. My guestimate is that it takes about 5-7 minutes total time, and material costs of just under 10 cents for a regular dressed and painted jig.
Roadrunners are more complex, with the spinner and split ring assembly...and more costly in materials. My estimate is about 10 minutes and 16-20 cents for a Roadrunner...depending on size and style of hooks, type of paint and number of steps (base color, main color, eyes, epoxy coat, etc), type and amount of body materials and tail, and the size and type of spinner blade. There is a wide range in costs on blades.
My feeling is that the cost savings are only a small part of the benefits of making your own stuff. Besides being a good therapy, to keep you from "jumping off your tackle box" when you are housebound, it is the best way to make sure you have the right balance of lure types, sizes, colors and actions when you hit the water.
If you buy commercially made jigs, you are limited to what they make and sell. If you buy a 1/6 oz. jig, it will come with a size six or four hook. A 1/4 oz. jig will have a size 1/0 hook...or whatever that manufacturer thinks is right. But, if you want to fish large plastics on light heads, you are out of luck if you try to find a large hook on a light head. Or, if you want to deep jig a small lure, you need a heavier head on a small hook. Good luck.
Many of my most effective jigs are based upon being able to present just the right combinations of sizes, weights and colors...for the prevailing conditions and the species targeted.
Not only that...it's funner than heck "smokin'' all the other yo yos fishing with "store bought" goodies.
[signature]
[url "http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0818gasshortage18.html"]http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0818gasshortage18.html[/url]
So, I made a jillion jigs, getting ready for prime fishing just ahead. While I was putting one batch together, I decided to make a pic of the steps involved, and a written guideline to go along with it. see the two attachments below.
Also, several folks have wondered just how much money you can save by making your own. When I look around my "tackletorium", I am tempted to tell them to buy their jigs, if they REALLY want to save money.
But, once you are "tooled up" and have the basic supplies, you really can save money on a jig by jig basis. With too much time on my hands, I did a cost analysis of what it takes to turn out a finished jig. My guestimate is that it takes about 5-7 minutes total time, and material costs of just under 10 cents for a regular dressed and painted jig.
Roadrunners are more complex, with the spinner and split ring assembly...and more costly in materials. My estimate is about 10 minutes and 16-20 cents for a Roadrunner...depending on size and style of hooks, type of paint and number of steps (base color, main color, eyes, epoxy coat, etc), type and amount of body materials and tail, and the size and type of spinner blade. There is a wide range in costs on blades.
My feeling is that the cost savings are only a small part of the benefits of making your own stuff. Besides being a good therapy, to keep you from "jumping off your tackle box" when you are housebound, it is the best way to make sure you have the right balance of lure types, sizes, colors and actions when you hit the water.
If you buy commercially made jigs, you are limited to what they make and sell. If you buy a 1/6 oz. jig, it will come with a size six or four hook. A 1/4 oz. jig will have a size 1/0 hook...or whatever that manufacturer thinks is right. But, if you want to fish large plastics on light heads, you are out of luck if you try to find a large hook on a light head. Or, if you want to deep jig a small lure, you need a heavier head on a small hook. Good luck.
Many of my most effective jigs are based upon being able to present just the right combinations of sizes, weights and colors...for the prevailing conditions and the species targeted.
Not only that...it's funner than heck "smokin'' all the other yo yos fishing with "store bought" goodies.
[signature]