Testing the water

[Bucho]

Hi,

this is my first tie that I put on e-bay in order to find out how people will respond to it. 1/8th shads with 2/0 Matzuo sickles. Its far from perfect but I think I can get away with it. At the same time, after all that testing and experimenting, I realised its the first time I made a series of more than 3 jigs in the exact same manner... thought that would bore me out but found that it offers a satisfaction of its own.

Advertised it to be used as saltwater party boat teasers - where I know they`ll work great - or as a light, castable umbrella rig gang.

 

[Pepop]

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[Jig Man]

:icon14::icon14:

 

[Fatman]

Nice ties Bucho!!! you should have no problems selling those!! Got a guy at work who found out I tied bucktails and asked me to make some up as he can't find them anywhere. I usually don't tie for sale but he's going to trade me a 10 lb. block of pure lead for it!!!!!!!! Can't turn that one down!!!

 

[StumpHunter]

Very nice looking jig, good luck.

 

[Squeakyboatcaptain]

Nice ties Bucho!! Somebody will buy them.... I'm sure

 

[Squall Line]

Nice ties Bucho!!! you should have no problems selling those!! Got a guy at work who found out I tied bucktails and asked me to make some up as he can't find them anywhere. I usually don't tie for sale but he's going to trade me a 10 lb. block of pure lead for it!!!!!!!! Can't turn that one down!!!

I'd make him cut the lead up ~~ a 10 lb block will be real hard to deal with.

 

[Fatman]

Came in two chunks - I'll just use a propane torch and then into the pot!!

 

[Bucho]

Thanks!
I just accepted a deal on ebay over 10kg of pure lead, allthough its 3,5€ a kg compared to 2,5€ for scrap lead. I find it worthwile, as it is cut down to nice round 200gr (8oz?) chunks, free of slag and reliefs me of burning the dirt attached, a smokey business that one day might bring the neighbours up against me. Not to speak of eventual enclosures that might cause deflagration. I`ve read the lead pouring thread...

 

[smalljaw]

Very nice!!!! Tying the same pattern over and over and keeping them close to original shows expertise, I make jigs for a guy that can tie but he will make 10 jigs of the same pattern and they all look different so I make them for him. Being able to do that will help with selling as if there is a style that guys like, you'll have to make more, good job on those.

 

[Fatman]

This is the lead I got for the jigs

Side view

 

[AtticaFish]

Bucho - Very nice and clean thread-neck ties. Sounds like you made a sale on them quick too. Throw some propeller jigs up there and you can charge twice as much!

 

[Bucho]

So the e-bay auction ran out last night at 3.50€ for all 5 of them. Only 50 clicks, 4 observers and 3 bids from 2 bidders in 10 days.
Looks like the water is - bloody cold. As I expected, the marked for hair jigs is just as big as I make it, and at the moment it is non-existing - over here.

.. Throw some propeller jigs up there and you can charge twice as much!

Definetely. The hair/spinnner combination is a killer that everybody, even a novice to the matter, can succeed with and word will spread in the long run. I`ve had friends and fishing mates looking at them, beeing asked for an honest opinion, and they were usually mumbling something about 5-7€ a piece. Thats what a decent hand crafted tube fly or pike streamer sells for.
There´s yet a lot of work to be done - mostly outside the workshop.

 

[Fatman]

Try handing a few hair jigs out on the water, people start catching fish with them they're going to want more. Look right here on the board - rabbit zonker strips - not everyone jumped to get them and tie them up!! But now they are. Might take longer for them to take off.

 

[Hawnjigs]

With high purity lead, if you add around 4% tin by weight to the melt it will retard surface corrosion. Cheap source is scrap solder, tho I suggest avoiding any kind of flux core, especially acid. Of course painting will make that unnecessary.

 

[Fatman]

Great tip Hawn!!!

 

[Bucho]

A little tin also helps with the flow and makes the alloy much harder. I have spoken to a canal angler however who prefers very soft, pure lead for his plain football heads because it leaves him a fighting chance to safe his lure when snagged between the rocks.

 

[Fatman]

I normally use a mix of 2 parts tire weight to 1 part pure - I have no problem pouring down to 1/32nd with it, and have poured more than a few 1/48 ponys with it.