How to Make a Fishing Jig

John Merwin of Field and Stream Magazine declares the jig to be the world's best lure. Jigs are effective against a wide variety of fish and can be used in almost any situation. The basic jig consists of a metal head and a "body" of feathers, rubber, bucktail hair or synthetic fibers. Anglers can save a little money--and have a lot of fun--by making their own jigs.

Things You'll Need

• Lead (if making molded jig heads) Heat source (if making molded jig heads) Jig mold (if making molded jig heads) Pan (if making molded jig heads) Vise Hook Body material (feathers, rubber, bucktail hair or synthetic fibers) Thread Scissors Waterproof glue or nail polish

Instructions

Making Lead Jig Heads (skip if using preformed jig hooks)

1. Place the fishhooks in the jig head mold. These molds can be purchased from most outdoor suppliers or can be made at home using plaster of paris.

2. Melt the lead in the pan and pour it into the jig-head mold. Let the lead cool.

3. Remove the the newly formed jig hooks from the mold. Trim away any excess lead from the jig head.

Making the Body of the Jig

1. Close the vise tightly around the bend of the fishhook. Leave both the shank and the point of the hook exposed.

2. Wrap the thread around the hook several times at the point where the hook shank meets the jig head. Apply a few drops of glue or nail polish to the wrappings.

3. Take a small amount of the material that you will use for the body of the jig and lay it flat against the hook shank with the topmost portion of the material brushing the bottom of the jig head. Wrap the thread over the topmost portion of the material two to three times and apply a few more drops of glue or nail polish to the wrappings. Repeat until the body of the jig is formed to your satisfaction.

4. Wrap the thread four to six times around the topmost portion of the body material and apply a final coat of glue or nail polish to the thread. Cut away any excess thread and let the glue or nail polish dry for at least an hour before using the jig.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also make your own weighted jig hook by affixing a split shot weight directly behind the eye of the hook. Bucktail fibers can be too coarse for smaller jigs. The shape and size of a jig head affects the sink-rate and action of the jig. Outdoor recreation companies offer jig-head molds in a variety of shapes and sizes.

• Molten lead is very hot and must be handled with care!

References

• Field and Steam, King Lure, John Merwin, June 2009