How you got into this?

[azslabber]

This looks like a long read session,will get back to ya all in a bit,lol.Boy,do I have a story to tell.

[hays47]

Grandpa and Dad had me fishing when I was all of 3 with a special cane pole fashioned by Grandpa Hays. Other side of family Grandpa Price was a champion trout fisheerman.
Paternal side of Family the Hays was all about meat fishing. You went fishing to put something on the table. Maternal the Price side of family was from Pennsylvania and fishing was more of a sport.

Was fly fishing by the time I was 12 years old and started to make my own lures then. Of course my crude attempts were ugly. In spite of that I actually caught a few fish on them. Always poured my own sinkers and that lead to jigheads. For years all I did with jigheads was tip them with bait. I really can't remember when I started to actually tie something on the jigs. But tying flies is where I got my actual tying start.

Once I retired in 2007 I went hog wild tying jigs . Thanks to a lot of guys on here that showed what you could accomplish. From a very modest begining I have to grown to what looks like a commercial operation. Yet I have never sold a jig to anyone.

Just recently got into the jig swap thing and I heartily recommend them to someone who hasn't tried a swap yet.

[Pup]

Tied my first fly at age 5. Fly fished a few western trout streams and Missouri Trout Parks before my teens. Tied flies to fly fish for Indiana bluegill while in high school.

Got the itch to tie again about six years ago. Went to a jig tying class/demo sponsored by the Indiana Smallmouth web site and, well, here I am.

My mother is a very good artist. Dad and friends are very good anglers.

I don't catch many fish or paint very well, so I tie jigs to make up for those inadequacies.

[shipahoy41]

Wanted to bump this just cause there are so many new guys and gals popping in to the board. Hope to hear some more stories.

Glad you bumped it Attica. There are some great stories being told. Everyone should tie a jig at least once in their life. Then when they catch a fish on it they can dance a jig.:D

[skeetbum]

Fishing since age 4, I've carried this fishing bug for almost 50 years now. I've paid too many retirement checks to the tackle industry. My internal motor runs pretty quick, and I can't just sit and watch the tube. Thru the winter months I go nuts with nothing to do. In '08 I played with target rifles and reloading my own for accuracy. Did well with that with the help of an extremely educated teacher who answered all my questions and walked me thru the learning process. Came to shoot 5 bullet groups at 100yds that were the size of your pinky fingernail. Cloverleafs, a few were 3 holes. One day I looked at all the stuff, while sitting in the shed, in the cold cuz explosives don't belong in the house, and said to myself"for what?" There's only so much you can do with that stuff, and it just wasn't gittin it. I'm also a guy who likes to stay in touch with his buds, and my phone hasn't rang once from those other guys in over a year. Guess they got to know me. The idea bounced around in my head for a few months, I was already on C.C and started watching this site. I've always worked with my hands so it wasn't a far reach to make the plunge to begin. I made a thread stating that I was going to sell my reloading gear and buy a vise. 1Perchjerker ( Thank You Forever, Tommy) sent me a couple of vises to try, and you all know the rest. I have found a pastime that preoccupies me, in mind and body, as much as fishing itself. I have found friends that are always helpful, positive, and generally great guys. The satisfaction of taking fish with baits you've created, and those taken by friends with your jigs, is the best. Teaching is another plus that just comes with the territory. But this has also created a problem. I've got boxes of plastics and store bought jigs that I mostly just carry around. I'm so busy testing and using my own that they get no play. I got enough "stuff" so I guess I'm going to have a clearance sale and get rid of some of it. Maybe fish it in the trees, won't last long there. I'll do this for many years to come and owe everyone that has given me a leg up a giant vote of thanks. The wife likes havin me around a bit more instead of going to play at the range all the time. Got a Fly rod a few months back so I'll get to re-visit something I'd put down years ago. And the lessons go on......

[gabulldog]

this has been great reading
my dad had me out fishing since i was 2 he allways poured his own jigs and sinkers and made a jig i would neaver post on here was so bad looking but it worked my dad wasnt a rich man so he would buy thread for 5 cent a spool and take 30 or so peices about 11/2 inches long and make a jig out of it the funny part is they worked very well when i was about 10 he would pay me to make them for him like a buck for 50 or so
when i was 15 i went to take hunter saftly and the place it was at sold fly tying stuff and he was like ill get you one buck tail and lets see what you can make well after that he didnt fish with thread jigs anymore
funny part about it i didnt buy a vise till 3 years ago for all tho's years i use a table vice that was only like 3 inches long was my dads when he was young and i have it today along with the old molds from the 50's he had if he could only see the jigs i make today just dam this site jumped my skill so much over the years i owe all of you a big thanks