Why I make my own jigs

[Fridays86]

Each of us have a reason for making our own jigs, my story may not be much different from the next but I wanted to share. When I wa in college a friend of mine invited me to go fishing at the dam of Lake Proctor, near Comanche, Texas. Really good lake in the heart of Texas. I had never been vertical jig fishing for crappie before, just minnow fishing in ponds and local lakes where I grew up like Ray Roberts. First trip I did not catch anything but watched a man bring in fish after fish. So we went to Walmart that night and loaded up on jig heads and tube baits. Went back the next day and managed 8 keepers. I was hooked! I began fishing there every weekend during the winter for years to come. Of course there were regulars there every weekend and one of these men took me under his wing and started to share with me how to jig for crappie. His name was Lee from Brownwood, Texas. He was there every weekend! Very soon I started catching more fish with each trip under his guidance. During these trips I noticed another man who caught fish just as easily as Lee. He was using something different. His own jigs! Now these two men seem to be arch rivals, especially from how Lee world talk about him. They both would catch their limits almost every time I saw them. Seemed to be a nonverbal competition between the two men. I am a competitive person myself. So I wanted to know more! A couple years passed and we had to fish at another lake near by because the keepers had disappeared from Proctor. We began fishing a public dock at Lake Leon near Eastland, Texas which I fish to this day. That other man that tied his own jigs was there also, his name H.M. Chance. Again he would catch more than anyone else on the dock. So I wanting that same advantage began buying jigs from Mr. Chance. Still did not help catch what he was but I continued to buy, buy, buy! After a period of time I figured out that for the money I spent with him I could have very easily bought what I needed to do it myself. SO made the drive to bass pro and got what I thought I needed to start. Low and behold the first time I sat down to tie I did not have a bobbin. Makes it hard to make a jig!. So everything got put up in a box for another time in my life. That time came during the summer of 2002. I had began my professional career coaching and teaching in a small school in northwest Texas. Summer came and I needed something to do. Got the box out, ordered a few more things(a bobbin) and began this journey. My jigs do not look the same as Mr. Chance's but I do tie some things like his. I have a box full of his jigs that I have kept so I can look back at what he did. I have not fished with anything other than what I make since starting in 2001. Both of the men I have talked about inspired me to be a better fisherman, but better yet they inspired me to share with others what I have learned. Crappie fishing kept me in college to begin with and probably kept me there longer than I supposed to but I would not trade those experiences for anything. I will share Mr. Chances jig on the jig pictures thread to show you what he tied like. I hope that one day I have shared enough to some young fisherman that they feel the same way that I feel about those two men who shared so much with me.

Share your story if it moves you!
Patrick Corcoran

[skeetbum]

A very good read, thanks for taking the time to share it with us. My internal motor runs pretty quick and I’ve worked with my hands since my early days in Cub Scouts. Having joined CDC early in my crappie fishing experience I had noticed others using hand ties. Winter came around and I spoke interest in looking up a vise and some supplies. A member named Tommy Minton contacted me and said that he had several vises and he would like to send me two to try, no money involved yet, and if I liked them we would agree on a price or I could return them. With a little apprehension I agreed and a few days later they arrived. One was the Renzetti I tie on now and the other was a Danvise that a friend bought. From there it’s been a downhill trip with almost everyone helping me along somehow. I fish certain ways with nothing but hand ties and catch as much or more than others, share some now and then, and always look for a new idea to try. I’ve also enjoyed some time tying with friends across a table, sharing ideas and techniques and a good lunch when we were done. A trip I wouldn’t change for anything.

[SpeckledSlab]

Very good, thanks.

[Fridays86]

Thank you Skeet and thank you for sharing!

[Grainraiser]

I bought a cheap vise and some cheap chenille around 8 years ago and tied maybe 10 jigs. They were not very good so I put everything away and forgot about it. Once my son went off to college I found I had time to start fishing again. I saw how many used handties and like Skeetbum I older gentlemen sold me his Renzetti and Danvise at a yard sale because I told him I was a crappie fisherman and that I would tie with them. I bought some hackle and new age chenille and never turned back. I had to learn how to beef up my jigs because my local lake has alot of white bass they will destroy a jig pretty quick. It's a hobby I really enjoy. I have also started pouring plastics because I find it enjoyable also. I have more baits than one can use in a lifetime but I get joy out giving them away at the ramp. Nothing like catching fish from your own creation.

[Fridays86]

Nothing like it is exactly right.

[Mike1234]

Nice read. Thanks for sharing


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[SuperDave336]

These are good stories. Mine is simple..... I just wanna be like SK and Skip!

I love looking at the beautiful jigs everyone makes. I view a Facebook site ( I know shame on me ) that is nothing but hand tied crappie jigs and the beautiful creations some make. I LOVED looking at Skips website when it was up and the many many amazing works of art he has tied over the years! Watching SK cut hackle and tie jigs on YouTube and create the color and style he wanted and the slabs he caught with them was it for me. That was the final push I needed to decide this was something I wanted to do as well. I contacted Skip and began sending him my paychecks....lol. I'm now well supplied with materials and always looking for more.. addicted yes! My biggest problem is no space or time at home to dive in the way I want to. Otherwise I would be doing something every night. To me it is very relaxing, enjoying and a creative outlet that I need. Then when you catch that slab with your tied jig hanging out of its mouth you smile as big as the fish!

[trypman1]

A great post, I have hundreds of my hand ties and the number keeps growing. I love to make them and use only my jigs and spinners. It's a wonderful hobby.

[Takeum]

I grew up on the ocean so the only things I ever tied were striped bass jigs and trout flies from time to time,,,,Scottie's, aka trypman1 taught me that hand ties and artificals will out - fish minnows 2/1 if done correctly,,,,, So my thanks goes out to Scottie, my crappie mentor, and proving that you can catch more fish with stuff you make and get more satisfaction then just spending money on minnows,,,, thank you Scottie for teaching me the ropes about what a true crappie fishing is all about....