Why I make my own jigs

[GrumpyLoomis]

The art of tying has mostly escaped me on the talent end. The folks here have taught me so much and thank you all. There is nothing like the thump on your own creation.

[BuckeyeFishing]

I started tying jigs about 20 years ago. I didn't crappie fish at the time but fished a lot for white bass and hybrid stripers. I wanted a jig that imitated an emerald shiner. I bought a cheap fly tying kit off of ebay and went to the local fly shop and bought some different kinds of flashabou. I poured my own 1/16th and 1/8th oz. jig heads and tied them up with straight flashabou, no chenille, no hackle, no marabou, just flashabou. I tied up a bunch of them with various colored heads. I slammed white bass and hybrids on them. I still have a few of those original jigs. I quit tying for a number of years, lost my stuff while moving. The last couple of years, I started to get into crappie fishing and about a year ago I got new tying equipment. I have started to pick up more and more tying material and have started to tie jigs again. I still make my own jig heads and plastic baits, so I have to fit in tying when I can.

[skeetbum]

The art of tying has mostly escaped me on the talent end. The folks here have taught me so much and thank you all. There is nothing like the thump on your own creation.

OOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!! You lie so bad!! I’ve seen your work and you do very nice work. Steve let that cat out of the bag a long time ago. Good being humble though. If memory serves, the colors that stand out are purple and cinnamon. Extra nice. When you catch the eye of another person that ties, you’ve done well.

[Fridays86]

The eye of the beholder! Which in the case is crappie. When I began dying feathers I had several questions and the answer I got back most of the time was "the fish will tell you." I bet they like your jigs Grumpy!

[skiptomylu]

Not to go too long, but a quick bit about my start. I was disabled due to back surgery in 1989, didn't even try fishing again for 4 years. After a few years my mother passed away and I got a little money from her. She had some in stocks so after a little while I got interested and did really well until 2000 when I had quintuple bypass surgery. This took all my enjoyment away, like just didn't want to. Had to force my self back to fishing, but the stock thing I lost the love I had for it and after a couple years of loosing I just closed my account and quit. Mind you I had been spending 10 to 12 hours a day on my computer that had two screens. Now I can not watch TV all day and with my back I can't fish all day every day, so somehow I decided to try tying a few treble hooks with feathers to go on a Pop-R. They looks like heck, lol! Anyway decided to give trying a try and bought a vise, but learning was not like no, we had no videos on YouTube, lol! Anyway it was harder, but I finally got there and had a lot of fun tying and talking about tying, helping others that wanted to learn. Anyway I started literally for something to do, lol!

Skip

[FurFlyin]

I dabbled in tying years ago, making mostly squirrel tail jigs for bream fishing. I decided to get some nicer supplies last year and gave it a go again. I tied a few and quit again. I started back up this fall and have really gotten into it. I started catching crappie on my ties and got confidence in them. I wish I had a dedicated tying station so I could leave my stuff out instead of having to pack it up and clean up the kitchen table when I tie. I'd tie more often if I had a space like that.

[skeetbum]

Not to go too long, but a quick bit about my start. I was disabled due to back surgery in 1989, didn't even try fishing again for 4 years. After a few years my mother passed away and I got a little money from her. She had some in stocks so after a little while I got interested and did really well until 2000 when I had quintuple bypass surgery. This took all my enjoyment away, like just didn't want to. Had to force my self back to fishing, but the stock thing I lost the love I had for it and after a couple years of loosing I just closed my account and quit. Mind you I had been spending 10 to 12 hours a day on my computer that had two screens. Now I can not watch TV all day and with my back I can't fish all day every day, so somehow I decided to try tying a few treble hooks with feathers to go on a Pop-R. They looks like heck, lol! Anyway decided to give trying a try and bought a vise, but learning was not like no, we had no videos on YouTube, lol! Anyway it was harder, but I finally got there and had a lot of fun tying and talking about tying, helping others that wanted to learn. Anyway I started literally for something to do, lol!

Skip

And all of us are glad you did Skip, you’re the man!

[Takeum]

I agree,,, skips a great guy to know in our tying world,,,,

[z520tom]

I know what you are talking about Skip. I've had 6 back surgeries in the last 8 years. Call myself titanium man. Tying jigs and flies gave me a opportunity to still be involved in fishing without long hours in the boat.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[skiptomylu]

Thank you guys!

Much appreciated Skeet, we have both been here a long time now, lol!

z520tom, I feel for you, after the first two back surgeries in 10 days, I was not letting anyone else in there unless absolutely necessary. When I got up after that 2nd one and the doc said lift your toes up and I couldn't, then walked with drop foot for several months until the nerve regenerated enough to let me walk normal. That scared the you know what out of me and set my mind up so there would be no retry on this unless some thing bad happened like one of the huge screws breaking, but that's it.

Skip