Ice Fishing Jigs

Ice Fishing Jigs

By Ben Leal

There is nothing more satisfying than creating something all on your own, taking it out and using it with success. Quite honestly folks, we could be talking just about anything. Farmers for example often create special tools out of necessity. At times the only one that knows about it is the farmer him or herself. What makes the entire process worthwhile is one word…success.

I’ve been a fly-fishing fanatic since I returned back to mainland USA following my service in the U.S. Army. Every angler that I’ve talked to since then that ties his or her own flies talks about each fly with passion, and the light that shines in their eyes as they describe the fish they’ve caught tells the whole story. “I succeeded using my creation!” And in some cases these are one of kind creations, and maybe only one or two in existence.

Ice anglers are no different…”There’s nothing like hooking that fish on something that you’ve made with your own hands”, noted an angler on an Ice Fishing Facebook group I belong to. “Share that moment with someone and it becomes something very special”, added another.

Getting Started
So what does it take to make our own ice fishing jigs, or for that matter jigs in general. That really depends on you…the jig maker. And quite frankly the sky is the limit. There are a number of suppliers that will provide you with the equipment you need to make your own jigs. One company in particular is called Do-It Molds, and they reside in Denver, Iowa. They have 23 different molds for jigs alone! Any size and shape you can imagine. Everything from the micro jig on up to the heavier jigs you create for lake trout.

There is the basic round head jig from 1/16 oz. all the way up to 1/2 oz. Crappie, banana, bullet, darter, and flat sided jigs are just a few that are available. To go along with those jig molds you’re going to need hooks. Do a bit of research and find out which hooks will work for your application. There are hook kits available that have a sample set of hooks in varying sizes and shapes. This may be a good option for starting out.

However before you get to the hook and mold you’re going to need two things…lead melting equipment and the all important and most key ingredient…lead! For starters there are a variety of lead melting pots available on the market. Even mom’s old cast iron pot will work; assuming mom is willing to donate that pot for your jig making endeavors. Prices can range from reasonable at about $20 all the way up to a unit that will put a dent in your wallet at about $400.

Lead… the one and only thing that will make everything we’ve talked about so far work, right? There are several options for acquiring lead. You can visit your local auto shops where tires are changed and balance weights removed. These balance weights are not reused (in most cases) and can be melted and poured in to a mold. Another source are plumbing shops. They may have some lead that they will either give you or for a small fee sell the lead to you. The downside to using these sources is the quality of the lead and the amount of slag you have after melting the lead. Slag is the glass like product left over after lead has been separated from its raw ore.

Do-It Molds offers jig makers clean 99.9% pure soft lead. Using quality lead like this helps when you’re creating smaller jigs. The lead pours easily and evenly and will make a better jig in the long run. Lead can also be found for sale by doing a quick Google search on the computer.

There are several companies along with Do-It Molds that offer folks that want to get going a simple starter kit. These are pretty inexpensive and will give you the general idea of what it will take to create your own special jigs. Once you’ve mastered the basics you can move on up to specialty molds and as we’ve alluded to in the beginning, the sky’s the limit when it comes to making your own jigs.

Adding Color
As all anglers know, color plays an important role in the baits you use. We all go through the trouble of deciding which color the fish will be hitting on any given day. Some of us have favorite color combinations; for me it’s a pink jig head with a white plastic. Not because it’s special in the way I present it to the fish, but it’s been a combination that I’ve used with success on both open water and hard water situations. I have confidence in the two colors. So it goes with any bait you make for yourself, you’ll pick one of two colors that you have historically done well with.

One of the simplest ways to add color to your newly created jig heads is to use powder paint. There’re certainly a variety of colors available and can be combined to create your own custom color patterns. Most powder paints are applied by heating up your jig head and dipping the hot lead into the powder. One of the safest ways to do so without using an open flame is using a heat gun. Heat up your jig head, dip it in the color of choice, the powder will adhere to the jig. If it’s still a bit granular when you remove it from the powder, hit it with a bit more heat and you’ll smooth out the powder on your jig head.

You can apply two colors by simply deciding on what your base color will be, heating up your jig and dipping it in to the powder, then reheat and partially dip in a second color, and viola’ you have a perch colored jig! Finishing off the jigs in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes will bond the colors to the jig head giving you a durable finish.

Other Options
Let’s say that buying molds and lead and all the equipment you need is a bit cost prohibitive. Or maybe you’re just not sure that you’ll be saving a ton of money creating your own jigs. Though I don’t think that most anglers that are creating fishing lures of any kind are in it to make or save money, it’s all about putting something together and catching a fish with it!

There are a ton of videos on YouTube that will give you some great ideas on making inexpensive jigs using hooks and lead weights. There’s also a product called FIMO Modeling Clay. Their classic polymer clay, available in 24 different colors, can be molded to fit any homemade jig. Once you’re satisfied with the color combination or the creation you’ve made, it can be baked in a 265 degree oven for 30 min, creating a hard polymer bait.

The last option is your imagination. We are a creative creature us human beings and we can create a lot with very little. A gentleman that I’ve spoken to on many occasion and one whom many will recognize from YouTube videos is WillCFish…he created his own micro jig plastics simply by cutting off the tentacles of a tube jig! That one jig gave him a couple dozen or more plastics for ice fishing micro-jigs.

You can also purchase your own unpainted lead jig heads in any shape or size and then custom paint them with the aforementioned powder paints. The jig may not be your own pour, but you can experiment with colors or color combinations to create something that is unique. Powder paints are also transportable so you can create jigs on any of your fishing adventures as you go along. Just remember to have a heat source along with you.

This can also be a fun little project with the kids, especially when old man winter is paying us a cool visit and they need some indoor adventures. So get out there and create something unique, take it fishing and proudly hold that first fish up and say “I made that!” Tight lines all!