Pouring your Own Jigs AND HEAT SHRINK TUBE!?!?

Hello all you jig makers out there,

I was interested in making my own jigs like football, banana, and shakey head. I was looking around and doing research about obtaining the necessary supplies needed for this. The process itself is pretty straight forward and I think it would be a great way to customize the bait, but hopefully save some money in the long run. I am not wanting to turn this into a business, just be able to provide myself and close friends/family members with some jigs.

I was just looking for advice from people who are currently pouring their own jigs and what you feel about the process...like is it even worth it?

Thank you again and look forward to seeing what people think about this.

I also had a question when it comes to adding skirts to jigs...I know there are the skirt collars and you can of course tie on the skirts, but has anyone thought of or used Heat Shrink Tubing??? In my mind I was thinking that you could get 1/4" tubing, then cut it to 1/4" lengths. Then use something similar to a skirt making tool to have the skirt material placed through the tube. Put the assembled skirt on the jig, then heat the tubing up so that it grips tight onto the neck of the jig. When you want to replace the skirt you can just use an exacto knife to cut off the tubing. I was just thinking that it would be more secure than a skirt collar, but easier to change than a skirt that was tied on.

I is only cheaper after you tie several hundred as the cost to get in can easily get to $200. My suggestion is to buy some pre molded heads either painted or unpainted and some skirt material. Assemble some jigs and see how you like it.

I don't think your shrink tubing will work. I believe you will melt the skirt while you are trying to shrink the tube.

Go to www.tackleunderground.com and read some of the good info in the wire baits section.

Thank you for the input and advice. I will take a look into the pre-molded heads and weight out the cost. If I bought everything new such as the melting pot and molds, then $200 is the amount I came up to...I have found used melting pots and molds for a reasonable price and got the cost down to just about $120. I think the shrink tubing might work out since it doesn't require a lot of heat or an extended exposure to heat to shrink the tubing. When I get around to trying it out, I will let yall know

Hey I make quite a bit of jigs, I sell some of them Ive learned in the past few years of making jigs that using copper wire to tie the skirts on the jig is better and easier once you get the hang of it. I like the idea of the heat shrink tubing but I just don't think it will be durable enough to hold the skirts on the jig, I know it gets kinda tight but I don't think it would get tight enough. I wrap wire around the skirt 3 times and then twist it real good and cut it off, and u want to do this before u install weed guards, much easier. I lay 2.5 or 3 skirt tabs on table, set jig on top of them, then slide the wire under everything then start wrapping. Give it a try and let me know how it works.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/12063859/Re:_Few_jigs_I_made#Post12063859
Here is some ive done, let me know if u need anything

Thank you so much for the responses. I think I am going to buy some unpainted jigs and try coloring them and then making some skirts. I like the idea of the copper wire for tying on the skirts, I am going to give the heat shrink tubing a try just for kicks

Well, I have put in an order from Fishingskirts.com for some unpainted jig heads, paint, and skirt making tools/material. I will give this a try and see what I can come up with It should all hopefully arrive by the end of this week.

I'd like to see some pics of jigs with that heat shrink on them.

Will Do! I plan on doing one tonight! I received the order yesterday and did six test jigs just so I could get the hang of it. I also made two punch skirts.





Here is a little experiment I did and tried a dual color jig

Alright folks, I went and did the experiment. Heat shrink tubing does actually work! I would say that I may not use it as a permanent solution, but it deffinately works! The flame didn't burn the skirt and shrunk the tube just fine. I used white tubing so that you can see what the tube looks like. Hope y'all like it.

OK. Thanks. I'll have to say that I am really surprised. I figured the skirt would get melted but I was also thinking about a heat gun which is what I use with heat shrink tube.

Exceptional out of the box thinking. WTG.

Thank you Dayne, I can understand your thinking about the heat gun. It would definitely melt the skirt, but I just used a bic lighter and moved the flame around the tube. It does hold the skirt to the jig and I think would be a decent alternative to skirt rings or tying the skirt on...but I would preferably use the skirt ring or tying.

The skirt rings are ok if you don't store the jig for very long as they tend to rot. Some small zip ties, some floral wire, galvanized wire or copper wire will do a permanent job and keep the jigs ready to go for years.

Oh yea, that will be my next thing to try. I do want to have a tie vise so it will be easier to assemble the jig. They sell one at Cabelas for like $20 that looks like it will do me good. I like the idea of using wire vs thread...or I know people use old braid line as well...just string it up on a bobbin and your set to go.

Made up some jigs for Papa@fork, hopefully we can try these bad boys out soon.

Nice looking jigs they man.

It takes a pretty good vice to hold a bass jig well. My orvis fly tying vice doesn't work well for them. I just use a 3" bench vice. I make a lot of jigs with living rubber and you have to pull it out and cut it off to get the strands.

Thank you, It has been a fun experience that was easier than I thought it would be. I don't think I will be pouring jigs any time soon, but I like the ability to custom color and add custom skirts. Thank you for the advice on the bench vise. I think it would be more cost effective to find one of those than a fly tie vise. I haven't started working with the rolls of living rubber just yet. The rubber I have been using is in the 6" tabs. It works well for now.

I would think silicone rubber skirts would not be melted by a heat gun. Latex rubber skirts would probably melt!

I like the use of a lighter/open flame just because you have a smaller heat source that can be concentrated where you want it. with a heat gun, you have a larger heat source that is focused on more than just the heat shrink tubing.