Jig Producers

Have heard of some big name custom jig producers stopping production and closing up shop. Seems there is demand, what is the issue? I know time putting everything together is tedious, renting space or owning a production facility is costly, and quality control can sink a ship if you’re not there all the time or doing it yourself. Anybody talked to any of these folks or know what the issue is? Gonna be hard to find quality products here soon other than mass produced stuff.


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Who is closing?

Russell Gates aka Gates Custom Jigs is quitting the Jig business. Going to fish more instead of work all the time. I guess he’s Retiring opposed to going out of business.


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If you produce a good quality product it's hard tedious work. Usually a 1 or 2 person operation. Absolutely no profit margin in it. People want a quality product at Walmart prices. To much hand work involved to make a living at it without working 7 days a week 20 hours a day. I make enough a year to shake my head in wonder at some of the prices these guys sell their product for. I know what supplies cost and I see guys selling jigs for the price per hundred that I pay for 100 hooks and I know they can't buy them that much cheaper than I can. Then you have electricity, lead and paint without labor. Plus bladed baits involves more parts and added labor.

The biggest problem in the tackle industry right now is getting hooks.......they are hard to get right now no matter who the hook manufacturer is. When you do find them there is a quota or limit on quanity.....plus the prices are jacked up on them. Pico finally got some hooks on order yesterday.....a lot of tackle manufactures are having trouble getting them. May have something to do with sanctions etc on imports.

Government Reg's,non lead,Mustad jig hooks #2 black/nickle 121.00 dollars a thousand,"12 cents a piece,got to have more money coming in "paying bills",than going out,Wal-mart,Ebay putting small bait shops,small shops, out of business!!,Lots of DIY jig makers, Good times for the DIY jig maker.Our TWOCENTS. Ordered 1000 matzo # 4 jighooks,supplier was out,The most used jig hook #4 out of stock in January!!! Whats wrong with this picture!!

What is the deal with ponyheads being sold? I know blakemore holds the patent, but have had folks say they CAN sell them, legally.


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With a license from Blakemore you can tie jigs on their head and re sell....i only know of two people with such a license ....both are c.c members.
Blakemore has a trade mark not a patient the way i understand it.

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The last time I bought, hooks were $5 per 100, had to buy 5,000 to get the price down to $4 per hundred. 10,000 would bring the price down to $3.75 per hundred. I could buy unpainted jigheads for $6 to 7 per 100. Using these small molds they have to be the right temp and the lead has to be mixed just right or get a few that have to be cast again.
At a Nashville, TN boat show there was a guy sat up with a small table with 100 count bags of jigheads $6 and 7 depending on size. We got to talking, he had a spin cast machine and could cast 200 at a time. Same size for all of them. It took over an hour to load the hooks by hand and secure the mold. Had to heat the mold and lead before the cast. He wasn't making any money just a hobby that was taking away from his fishing time. I picked out a few bags and was figuring out the total in my head when he gave me a price. When I got to the house I figured I got the small heads for $4.50 and the large for $5 per hundred. We had a free pass for the next day and planned to buy more, he or his table weren't there.

You cant do that now.....almost impossible to find number 4s. We were looking for a lot more than 10,000 also. Got what we could get coming.

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Originally Posted by MO' MONEY

What is the deal with ponyheads being sold? I know blakemore holds the patent, but have had folks say they CAN sell them, legally.


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When they bought out the original designer of the pony head, they trade marked the design of the head. Unlike a patent a trademark never ends. They jumped out and got cease and desist orders on a lot of mom and pop tackle shops that were selling them. Took one guy to court who decided to fight them and bankrupted him. No one has the right to make and sell them that I know of. There may be one because I know they are sold and they have never stopped them. But most who tell you they can legally just haven’t been caught. There are people who make and sell them but keep it real low key. You will see them on eBay once in awhile but they don’t stay there very long. Blakemore has a pretty good network of folks that monitor that stuff all the time.

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Originally Posted by MO' MONEY

Have heard of some big name custom jig producers stopping production and closing up shop. Seems there is demand, what is the issue? I know time putting everything together is tedious, renting space or owning a production facility is costly, and quality control can sink a ship if you’re not there all the time or doing it yourself. Anybody talked to any of these folks or know what the issue is? Gonna be hard to find quality products here soon other than mass produced stuff.


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We can tye any kind of crappie jig you want !!!

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You can make pony heads and give them away all day long. If someone wants to pay postage thats ok too.

Hate to see gates retire he makes some beautiful artwork

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Originally Posted by satdoc1

You can make pony heads and give them away all day long. If someone wants to pay postage thats ok too.

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Postage well paid also!


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So where does a fella go to order some like Russell Gates made? I was just about to order some Purple, Pink, Chartruese and Red heads that had that little willow blade on it. I wanted a 1/16 oz head with a smaller type hook.