Saving money tieing jigs

[myersoutdoors]

Im kinda playing around with the idea of tieing my own jigs for both crappie and bream. Just wanting to hear your side of the story when it comes to saving money. I have done a little math on it and it doesnt seam like you save that much money. It seems to me to be alot like re-loading your own shotgun shells. You do it more for enjoyment. Not to save money. Let me know if you guys are really saving that much money.

Thanks, Ryan

[flatfish46]

Not a bunch but you can become color specific to what the fish want and have better results.

[robbor]

Home made stuff usually cost more in the long run for the average joe. The benefit is in getting what you want, and variations or oddball items. If you are doing it purely from the standpoint of saving $$$, you wont. Also all of our time is worth something.

[smoothlures]

You can save money if you fish a lot and go through a lot of jigs and only tie a few different patterns. But most do it for the enjoyment and part of it is blowing a lot of money on new materials. :D

[LedHed]

Not saving money on lite stuff - maybe big stuff and saltwater. You can't put a price on;
Making jigs that nobody else can get.
The feeling you get when you catch a fish on something you made.
Teaching a kid to tie.

Also you determine the quality of materials and the jigs you make are made in America.

[macon123]

Flatfish is correct, you can be selective about color.....but also can be selective as to profile, exact sizes and action. Some materials move more than others. Some winter fishermen use stiffer materials such as bucktail that doesn't have so much action as mararou as the minnows are not moving as much in the colder waters. You also will have control over sheen and shine as well....just to mention a few of the positives.
Aside from spending a very pleasant time at the tyer's vise and helping you to pass the winters, it's a rewarding feeling every time you catch a nice on on your own creativity.

It's also a great way to boost your carma, when you send a friend a couple homemade jigs that work so well.

[TreednNC]

After you tie and go through about a hundred, it becomes cost efficient. I would start with a couple of key colors that work well for you at first. Just like anything initial investment is the biggie

[Uncle Grump]

I started tieing my own jigs, because I had purchased some jigs from a guy who was selling them for a $1.50 a pop, and I thought I can do that and save some $ too. That was the summer of 2006. And I won't say mine are as good as the tier I purchased from - but they are getting better and I am catching fish on what I tie.

But saving money? Hah!!!! Any money I hoped to save has long since been chewed up by the purchase of tools, molds, hooks, fur, feathers, tinsel, paint, etc.

The best part of tieing your own is when you are in a boat w/ some guys, and you are catching fish on jigs that only you have!

The worst part of tieing your own is when you are in a boat w/ some guys, and the fish are ignoring the stuff you spent time and money on, and you have to cry "uncle" and put on a store bought jig that any one can buy, cause that is what the fish want that day.

Been there - done that on both counts - as I'm sure all the other guys here have done/experienced.

UG

[skiptomylu]

IMHO you will never save money tying jigs as you will spend more in materials that you ever would just buying jigs so you better love tying because that is all you will get is an addiction and more money spent than you would ever suspect.

Skip

[wardsmit]

IMHO you will never save money tying jigs as you will spend more in materials that you ever would just buying jigs so you better love tying because that is all you will get is an addiction and more money spent than you would ever suspect.

Skip

I knew soon as this thread started, the consensus would be the same overall. You don't and won't save money. If you only use an average angler's quantity of jigs, it will be way more cost efficient to buy them any place of ur choice. It would be like trying to save money on fresh fish by catching them as opposed to buying them at the market. It is a chore to do out of passion, desire, and challenge and have the flexibility to have the color selection and sizes/shapes/, etc. that you require in your time on the water.imho.