Made of lead, tungsten, or tin, jigs and jig heads are weights which are molded onto special hooks. These hooks have long shanks to hold natural bait, soft bait, and materials that imitate bait that crappie are hungry for. Jigs and jig heads come in multitude of colors, styles, and sizes that are geared towards types of fish and specific fishing tactics.
When choosing or making your own jigs, keep in mind water currents, vegetation, clarity and depth of water, and the time of year. These are all conditions, combined with your lure choice, that determines whether you will have a good or bad day of fishing.
Here is a Crappie Fishing Resources Checklist
Jigs are intended to create a vertical body jerking motion, especially when fishing from a boat or when ice fishing. Other jigs and jig heads are made for float fishing or casting distance. So, when doing your crappie jig molds, you can decide which tactic you are going to be using and design the jig that best fits that need.
You can purchase crappie jigs and jig heads from most retail stores or bait and tackle shops. Or you can purchase crappie jig molds and make custom jigs. Most of the crappie jig molds are blank so you can take them to a tool and die shop and have them customized, before you pour the lead and create the lure. There are also starter kits available online that provide you with everything you will need to make your own crappie jig molds.
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There is one company that is prominent in the world of jig and jig head molds along with thousands of other items to keep your tackle box complete.
Do-it Corporation is a 55-year-old company that built its reputation by offering the highest quality molds; jigs, lures, and sinkers. They are one of the companies who offer a starter kit for those who want to make their own crappie jig molds. Their kit allows you to pour 7 different sizes of crappie jig molds and includes RHB-7-A, tapered barb collar and round jig head mold. Also included is 10 hooks, a 5-pound melting pot, 5 oz pouring ladle, and a DVD with step by step instructions.
The Do-it Corporation has over 700 jig, sinker, and lure molds along with a variety of blank molds. They also have a large selection of soft plastic lure molds. All the products are hand poured and tested to ensure they meet the company’s strict standards. Do-it works with other companies in the fishing industry to bring you quality finishing products such as wire inserts, buck tail, paint, and silicone skirts. Some of the other items that they offer; melting pots, ladles, lead ingots, and all the accessories that you need to personalize your crappie jig mold.
Some of the most popular Do-it crappie molds are listed below. They have all been given a 4.5 to 5-star review. Everyone who has purchased this brand highly recommends them to anyone looking to make their own crappie jig molds.
The most popular size of jig head for crappie is the 1/8 and 1/16 oz Do-it makes a mold for these here
For larger fish the Do-it Mold 3384 is a minnow head jig mold that uses hook size 32786BLN. There are four different sized cavities in this mold; ½, ¾, 1, and 1 ½ inches. You can use 4 hook sizes with this mold; 1/0 to 4/0. To top off the jig use 5/32” stick on eyes.
Do-it Bullet nose Jig Mold: 3 mold sizes; 2 ½, 3, and 4 oun<ces with a recommended hook size of 8/0.
Do-it Flutter Lure Mold has 2 cavities; 2 and 3 ounces. These are Saltwater compatible. Use stick on eye(s) and F2 or F3 wire forms. To finish/customize you can use reflective tape or paint.
Do-it CC-4-A Casting Spoon Lure Mold: 4 cavity sizes; ¼, ½, ¾, and 1 inch.
Do-it Round Jig with Tapered Barb Collar and 8 cavities. 4 are 1/8 ounce and 4 are ¼ ounce. These will produce the highest quality jig head with exceptional detail. For the 1/8 ounce use a 1/0 hook #2 or #1. For the ¼ ounce use a 1/0 hook #1.
Not only can you purchase the blank crappie jig molds there are also already made crappie jig molds that you can finish customizing. Such as the Do-it SHR-3-L Ultra Minnow Jig Mold and the Do-it JYS-4-A Banana Jig Mold.
One of the main components of making your own crappie jig mold is lead ingots. Each ingot weighs approximately 1 pound and is usually under $5. Make sure that when you are ready to pour your molds, you are wearing a mask and gloves to reduce the inhalation and lead contact. Once you are finished remembering to wash hands thoroughly before touching anything at all and clean up the area well.
Once you have your crappie jig or jig head molds completed, there are many ways that you can finish off and customize these besides just painting or using tape. You can tip them with a plastic grub, wax worm, minnow, or tube. You can also add on furry bodies and/or tails that are made with feathers.
Before we conclude this article, here are the basic tools needed and instructions to making your own crappie jig or jig head with a blank mold. First, I want to let you know that you must be extremely careful when doing this project. The lead is going to be 612 degrees, so make sure you are in a very well-ventilated area, as lead is hazardous to your health, and you don’t want to breath in any of it. Make sure you are wearing safety goggles and gloves as well. Some people who make their own jigs even opt to wear a mask, to make sure they do not breath in any of the lead.
Here is a list of the supplies that you will need:
The 9 basic steps are as follows:
Lead, Melting pot, Ladle, Jig mold, Jig hooks, Paint, Heat gun, Pliers
Make sure you are using a flat surface for the melting pot. Go ahead and plug it in.
Once the lead begins to melt, you can put the hook into the mold you are using
Place the mold under the melting pot and dispense the lead into the mold
Once cooled, slightly, open the mold and remove the jig
Use the pliers to remove any excess lead
Use the heat gun to slightly warm the jig or jig head so that the powdered paint
Dip the jig into the powder paint and shake off the excess. It will dry quickly
Apply weed guard and pick out the desired skirt or other accessory you want to use
Add the skirt to your crappie jig or jig head and voila, you are ready to fish
I hope you have been given all you desire on crappie jig molds. We are here to give you the most accurate information that we can provide through thorough research. Enjoy making your personalized crappie jigs and happy fishing.