Winter fishing for crappie often dictates that anglers use a specific configuration of jigs, jig weights and presentations to put your bait in the strike zone. Often, the specific components to meet your needs aren’t always available at the local bait and tackle shop. That’s when any good ole’ southern angler heads to the garage.
Making your own crappie jigs can be a rewarding hobby, and it’s also a fun and productive way to pass time when winter weather just won’t permit you to get on the lake. By making your own tackle, you can create lures found nowhere else. It’s easy and inexpensive to make your own tackle, just follow these simple steps:
• What You’ll Need To Start: Melting equipment, either a lead furnace with pouring spout or a lead melting pot and ladle, appropriate safety gear, ample lead supply, and a well ventilated area.
• Position hooks inside the mold, after melting the lead to the appropriate temperature, pour the molten lead into the mold through the opening (gate).
• Once the lead has hardened and cooled to the touch, it is removed from the mold
• Remove the excess lead, or sprue, from the jig using a pair of gate shears. The sprue cut and any excess lead, called flashing, can be shaped or trimmed off using a flat knife blade.
• The jig is then dipped in metal paint primer. Some paints, such as vinyl or powder coating, do not require priming. After priming, color coats can be sprayed or dipped with enamel, epoxy, or automotive paints. Once dry, color accents, stick on eyes, or glitter can be applied. A final clear coat is then added for shine and durability.
• Dressing lures or jig bodies will require a tying vise and a spring wire bobbin. Bucktail, marabou, or a number of natural or synthetic materials are used for dressing lures. The dressing is trimmed with scissors and the thread wrapping is secured with clear cement.
For further instruction and to purchase materials for making your own tackle, check out www.do-itmolds.com.
Be the first to comment