DIY Jigs

On a cool November day in the early 2000s, a friend and I took off to Lake Jordan to fish below Mitchell Dam. He had been there before at that time of year and remembered catching some big spotted bass on a jig along the rocks while the water was running. It didn’t take long before we were hooked up with some big spots – when our baits weren’t hung in the rocks, that is. To get the bites, we had to let the bait wash along with short hops mixed in. Sometimes, the bait got hung in a crevice in the rocks, and the current was just too much to pop it free. I think we went through every jig we had between the two of us, but the fishing was so good, it was worth it. 

Jigs were somewhat expensive back then, and we all know what prices are like now. After that trip, I decided to try making my own jigs, thinking it would save money. I’d always have a steady supply at hand. The first versions were a little rough looking, but they still caught fish. Over time, I learned to be more consistent with the process; and since then, I’ve caught a lot of fish on jigs and other poured baits that I have made.