Considering making and selling jigs, any suggestions

[Bronson]

I've been making my own jigs for a couple of years and I'm considering doing it as a sideline. I know this is no way to get rich and this is not my intent but I would like to be able to do enough where it pays for itself and my fishing trips.

What are some of the tax advantages you could get by making an selling your own baits? Can you write off fishing trips where you advertise and sell baits?

Where would I need to go to get more information on this? What's the best way to develp new customers?

Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

[waxnslabs]

I don't sell mine, but know people that do and they aren't able to do very much fishing. If you love to fish, you may not want to take it on. On the other hand if you only go a few times here and there it would suit you perfectly.

[snake River]

it depends on how big you want to get if you're just wanting to sell a few off the site here. You have no problems. Just stay small you do not have any tax advantages. If you get too big. You'll have to pay excise tax. I do not make any profit on what I do, that's for sure. Everything is more a hobby and that's the way I think of it. One good thing about doing this for a sideline is you will make a lot of friends and you will meet a lot of interesting people. I can't say enough about the people on here that have bought my stuff. Most of the customers. Here are super nice guys and they are great to work with, but if you do go ahead you will have something to enjoy the rest of your life. I can't think of a better way of enjoyment as you probably know, I've been doing this for many years and still have not got tired of messing with jigs. Good luck to you. If you go ahead and sell some of your stuff. That sure that you post some of your stuff on here so we can see what you have.

[revtoby]

Just an expensive hobby that can pay for itself if you don't get carried away... I've been selling for about 6 months and havnt caught up with what I've spent yet.

[PA_Slabs]

Just an expensive hobby that can pay for itself if you don't get carried away... I've been selling for about 6 months and havnt caught up with what I've spent yet.

I bought 3 rooster saddles to tie up an order of wooly jiggers (wooly bugger on a jig head). I'll do cartwheels the day I recoup those $$$ spent.

[RonDon]

Fishing..... What's that????

[shipahoy41]

This is an expensive hobby / business. You will fill your cabinets with materials and jig heads in order to meet the myriad of options your customers demand. It can be very difficult competing with major sporting goods stores and the millions of jig tiers on the net. It is difficult to recoup the monies you spend on materials and make a decent profit because you are always reinventing in your business.

Having said all that it is fun and worthwhile fishing with your own jigs. For every Grizzly jig company there are millions struggling to maintain an even keel. Have fun though.

[smoothlures]

First make sure you really, really enjoy it. Sitting at the tying bench for hours on end sometimes tying the same exact pattern can get tedious. Second don't expect to make anything. Third make sure everything you'll sell is going to hold up to 50-100+ fish.

[Bronson]

Guys, thanks for the advice. I haven't tried tying yet but figure I'll eventually get around to it for my own needs. Have already sunk about $4,000 in molds, melting pot, hooks, lead, and powder paints, etc. and find there is always something else I want done a different way. I do a few shakey head jigs for bass as well.

I don't plan on trying to make it a big money maker but would love to recover my investment in time and effort and pay my jig making and fishing expenses. I almost always run into someone at the lake who is struggling and toss them a few jigs. Thought I might make up some business cards and tell them if they like them, they can give me a call.

Thanks for the help.

[eriksat1]

Like someone said, if you like doing it now, then make it into a business, you will most likely soon not enjoy it anymore. It will be work. I was a fishing guide for about 5 years and quit. It turned into work, and I did not enjoy fishing as much anymore. Now that it is not a job I love fishing once again. I thought I would save a few bucks making my own jigs, but after spending about $200 so far on molds, tools, vise, paint, materials, etc. I doubt I will ever come close to break even. But the main thing is I can make what I want and not be at the mercy of whatever the store has to offer. If I want a round head 1/32 oz with a pink head and yellow marabou 1-1/2 " long I make it, I could spend a tank of gas driving around looking for them and still not find any store that has them.