There are many reasons to make your own jigs. Not only is it a very inexpensive way to make a lure that will catch just about any fish, but by making your own you can keep your tackle box stuffed with different productive jigs and you won’t be as worried about loosing them. This can help encourage you to fish closer to productive cover and allows you to put your jigs where the fish are.
There are different ways to approach tying your own jig. You can start off by melting lead to cast your own jigs or you can buy unfinished jig heads which are much easier and safer.
1) Pick a jig head and hook that will match the type of fish your are targeting. In this example you can make a jig that will catch inshore and fresh water fish up to about 10 lb (4.5 kg).
2) Before painting your jig, it is best if you dip it into a little bit of vinegar which will help to make the paint stick.
3) Now it's time to get creative and pick a color you want to paint your jig. Any non-water based paint will work, but some paints might be more durable than others. Apply the paint in multiple thin layers for the best results.
4) After the paint has dried, it is time to make a tail for your jig. In this example you will make two different tails. One will be a small soft plastic lure which you just slide onto the jig, and the other will require you to tie on some deer hair.
5) In order to tie on the hair you will need to either use some sort of vise to hold the jig or you can just hold the jig with one hand and start by wrapping some thread around the base of the jig head. After you make a few wraps of thread, start tying on the hair in small clumps. Keep adding hair until you have tied hair all the way around the hook.
6) Finish by tying a few half hitches around the jig, and cut the thread close to the jig. You can finish the jig by applying a thin layer of nail polish to the threads which will prevent them from coming unwrapped.
