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I'm thinking about getting into tying. Something to keep me occupied when it's too cold or too wet to be fishing. Not taking into account the price of the tools...what would be my approximate cost (hooks and materials) to make regular crappie jigs like electric chicken, marabou, etc.
In other words...can I make 20 jigs for less than I could buy them at BPS or the like?
I've watched youtube video and it doesn't look that hard to make a basic jig that I can catch a fish on....or is it? :confused:
yes you can make jigs ALOT cheaper than they would be if you went out and bought them + you can make whatever color combo. you can imagine.
Minus the tools, i mean you can get a 2.00 card of chenille that will last anywhere between 20-40 jigs depending on size and style of jig, you can buy 100 jig heads for a little over 10.00, some thread for a buck, and a bag of hackle for 1.50 that will last you a while
go to Jannsnetcraft.com and look around in the "fly tying" section. they have great prices and a large selection. you can get jig heads from Nightprowler here on the forum.
I sell jigheads also check out the swap area where we sell stuff from...Mine are cheaper than most. But not cheapily made. In the past 2mths i have made over 25000 heads for guys here at crappie.com as well as people all over the US from my website....I also sell handtied jigs from 1/80-1/4oz...My jigs have also been tournament tested and used for some of the local tournaments to a few of the bigger named tournaments. I have made a few of the guys that are plastic fisherman to jig fisherman.
Sounds like fun. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't going to cost me $20 to make $5 worth of jigs! I've heard it's better to spend a little more on a good vise and cramic bobbin to start than just the cheep kit stuff...?
i use the same bobbin i bought 5 years ago... The only thing i would pay decent money for is the vise. I have 1 bobbin 1 pair of scissors, and exacto knife for close cutting...and head cement
Gator Bait be forwarned this jig tying is addictive. It is more powerfull than any spirit or opiate that can be taken. I am terrible addicted and have been for over 40 years. The only saving grace is that I can make crappie jigs alot cheaper than any one I can buy. I have boxes and bags even a big chest of drawers that are full of tying material. We have buckets of lead of every kind and type. and molds, Hooks and assorted lure making assorceries.
But my wife says she would rather have me out in the shop working on my jigs than out in some Beer Joint getting into trouble. And so would I. As far as gettin in at the entry level. as little as $40 and as much as you feel you can afford or want to spend. That $40 bucks will make you your first 40 jigs. That will be 1 dollar apiece. The next 100 or so the price will drop to under 50 cents. Some of us have made a business out of this hobby. Some a lifestyle, It fun Not harmfull and you have a great sense of accomplishment when you catch a fish off a jig that you have made.
Redman
when it comes to vices, you get what you pay for.
if you really dont want to spend that much right off the bat you can get this vice Super II Fly Tying Vise, fly tying tools its the best 20.00 vice i have used.
there is a sticky in this forum of a list of starting materials and tools. you might check it out
I don't personally think anyone gets into this thinking they will spend what they end up spending. Like Redman said this is very addictive and just to do what your asking now is one thing, but it's another once it gets it's hooks in you. I am not sure there are many things out there to do that simply just keeps growing and growing. I can't say what you will spend, but with tools and all I can't imagine it costing less to tie your own. If you just get low end tools and materials you start with, maybe so, but I doubt it will stay like that. The more you make the more you want to make and the more colors and styles you want to try and anyone that tells you different than that I think is not telling you what they spend tying.
Now I carried it a lot farther than most for sure, but still it's not a hobby that is free from growing and being addicted to tying. I spend about all I take in on new materials and I do sell a good many jigs. About as many as possible for my physical body will let me. I stay something like 3-4 weeks behind of orders and it's been that was for over 2 years now.
I keep threatening to quit selling, but I can't even do that, but if I did I would still spend way more than what jigs would cost me if I bought them. That is really not what this is about at all and if you think that is all you will do then I say you will tie a few and quit. If not you will spend more than you would buying them.
Just my opinion of course,
Skip
I have stopped buying from Jann's Netcraft because of their shipping prices. I got an order that weighed 4 oz. and was charged $8.25. I called and complained and was told in so many words "tough". I do most of my shopping on E Bay and if done right most of it is free shipping or reasonable combined shipping rates. If you shop around on the internet under fly tying materials you can find better quality and better pricing else where.
[QUOTE=Gator Bait;1369413]I'm thinking about getting into tying. Something to keep me occupied when it's too cold or too wet to be fishing. Not taking into account the price of the tools...what would be my approximate cost (hooks and materials) to make regular crappie jigs like electric chicken, marabou, etc.
:D $729,841.92 if you don't get carried away. But you will. Have fun. And you will. Nothing like catching with something you created.
Jig tying is theraputic. There are many stickies at the top of the forum to help you. Be judicious in what you buy and what beginning materials. You cannot get jigs like these tiers do at Walmart. Listen to what they tell you and spend some time reading threads on this forum. Have fun. It will be worth it the first time you catch a fish on your jigs.
Going to BPS in the morning to see what they have. Will probably come back with a sack....
if you get into tying jigs. You will be getting used to this famous word UPS becomes on a regular basis. I hope your wife loves you truly because she might be saying you love those feathers more than you love me . Yes, it's very addictive. I think skip and me both can vouch for that.
She will say they are too cutie to fish with. So I had better make several of each so I can have some to fish with. What was the first jig you tied? Do you still have it?Quote:
Originally Posted by snake River
http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/DSC00311.jpg
http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/a...9/DSC00312.jpg
Here is where I ended up after not wanting to pay somebody 2.50 a jig. I would suppose I could have bought a lifetime supply of his jigs and still been money ahead.
But the fun and the friendships I have struck up that I have made since taking up this hobby are to me priceless.
OMG! hays47, do you get therapy for that addiction?
Gator you really need to check out Crazy Angler for materials and all the other guys who sell jig heads, these guys take good care of the folks here, and you'll find almost any kind of jighead you could want or have made for you.
And yeah tying is WAY addicting, I have the jig tying bug, fly tying bug, jig making bug, spinner making bug and have been told by the wife I WILL NOT get into the plastics pouring bug LOL
Have fun and don't irritate the wife too much.
the thing about JNC shipping is they do it on price and not on wieght
That is what happened to me. This is a day of the computer and I placed the order on line. The computer should know exactly what the weight is on every item in the catalog. That is why I will never order from them again. You can go to Gander Mountain and every order is free shipping. Other companies have a flat rate of 2.00 per order. And most all of the companies I buy from have free shipping or will do combined shipping on items which makes the total order very reasonable with shipping cost.
Be sure and check out Crazy Angler too for supplies.
Nothing can replace the feeling of that first THUMP on a jig you made yourself...well except the next one and the next one...
and the one after that
I know what you mean and I will echo that 100%. The longest journey starts with just a single step. Grizzly jig company started with just one little jig. My garage used to hold two cars. Now even though I stopped selling jigs, my tying station and materials take up one side.Quote:
Originally Posted by hays47
Beautiful work shop. Love the roll top desk.
also love that desk.