The Jig is................!

[Dale Hemphill]

I hope this is the appropriate place to ask this ?. I reviewed all the forum's description's about subject's, so,. I seem to be drawn to metal bait's (of the vintage persuasion). They seem to be sort of like the middle child of fish bait collectibles. Not near the info available as there is on the vintage plugs,namely, the big 6. Even worse appear's to be info relating to vintage jigs. I have a few older vintage (40's - early 50"s) but have as to yet find any reference material that could help me to I.D. If anyone that reads this web may know of any, I would appreciate hearing from you.Thank you, Dale ... P.S. I guess theoretically jigs are a type of metal bait, but they still don't seem to be identified.

[john elder]

Hi, Dale...You'll get alot more play about lures over on Joes Old Lures.com where all the lureheads hang out. However, there are collectors that have lures amongst the reels over here, so maybe you'll get some leads.

About the best book i've seen for EARLY metal is Arlan Carter's book, but it won't be much help for post-1920 tackle. The Pflueger book is good for Pfl baits and they made a lot of them. however, most are readily ID'd since they were pretty proud of their name. The old Karl White has quite a few metal baits mixed amongst the other lures...not sure about the new one...haven't looked (lots of complaints about mis-IDs in that three volume set, so I've been told). Murphy and Edmisten's second edition also has a pretty nice section on metal...really great pics. Hope this might be a start for you.

[Dale Hemphill]

John, thanks much for your response. I've been to the site you suggested but had a response to a ? which was asked.I'm a stickler to the antique label (100 yrs.) and expressed my view on how it has been inapropriately shortened over the yrs. . Not at anyone but an honest view. Apparently that didn't go over to well. So I've thought it best to move on from those boy's. But I'm rambling on here. Thanks again John, Dale

[john elder]

Well, there's a bit more testosterone poisoning over there and a few of them go off before thinking it all out, but there are lots of good folks too...and a ton of invisible folks that never post, but often will email posters with their thoughts and help. Just turn on your filters, don't get into fire fights, and keep posting. In the meantime, get hold of Carter's book...as a fellow who loves the "real" antiques, you'll love that book!

[Reel Geezer]

Dale, I think that jigs are not widely collected is because they are all so similar. Granted that many lures are similar, but not quite like jigs. I'm sure they are among the oldest lures and should probably be studied. Glen Evans, who was right down the road from here, made a tremendous variety of jigs.

And boy do they catch fish! I love jig fishing.

[Dale Hemphill]

Geezer,thank you for your point of view on my ? about the subject of jigs. Your correct about very little varience, I try to look simple, two contrasting colors. Two favorites I have,brilliant red head about the diameter of a 20 ga. punkin' ball with a full bright yellow tail, hiding the hook. Tail looks to be from deer tail. Just a nice piece to sit back and admire. The second has a head about pea size, but has opposing eyes painted on that glare at you (red on white) . Body is black. Anyway's,thank you for sharing about my ?. Thanks, Dale

[SWIM JIG]

jump usa email the Volks, they are in battle Ground WA. their email is ( ) they raise turtles and they deal in the older jigs and other Tackle, ie reels, rids etc! they generaly have somthing listed on ebay and are nice people to do business with! col. Milton lorens aka swim jig of Amherst ohio ()

[Teal]

There ARE some collectible jigs out there. Florida Fishing Tackle Barracuda jigs are popular, especially in their original packaging. H.A. Whittemore sold a saltwater jig on cards in the 1940s and 1950s that also is a nice find. Pt. Jude Tackle jigs are rare items too. Occasionally, saltwater jigs from some of the bigger trade houses show up--Abbey & Imbrie and Ed. K. Tryon "Kingfisher"--come to mind. And ice fishing jigs known as "Spider" and "Airplane" jigs from mom-and-pop stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan also are a neat collectible. Japanese bone and lead jigs have a long history of being imported here, and make for a neat display.

Jigs, particularly saltwater ones, are very undervalued and underappreciated items. They can be found in almost all of the earliest tackle catalogs dating from the 1870s onward, they were made in a wide variety of styles by a large number makers, most of whom we don't know anything about. Literally tons and tons of jigs were made in kitchens and basements. Others were small makers like this:

broken ... 0204079133

I thought whoever bought that got a real bargain.

Collect what you like. If you decide to collect jigs, look on the bright side: you won't have a lot of competition, and you'll be blazing a path for others to follow.

-- Dr. Todd

[john elder]

It looks like there is quite a wide range of baits that might be considered "jigs"...how is the term best defined?

[Dale Hemphill]

Dr Todd, Swim Jig, Thanks once more for your sharing. This morning is chemo day and then I'm off to my place of therapy. I have a friend who own's a second hand store. Very theraputic for me. Each trip there is a new adventure. He has so much old fishing tackle there, but you must be willing to dig.That adds to the excitement. You don't know what you'll dicover till you uncover it! I picked up a Thommen Record spinning reel there last week! It was as stiff as a week old road-killed nutria,but a good cleaning, lubing, and a drop or two of oil, and the reel is in EX+ condition.Spins like a top now. Thanks again, Dale

[Teal]

Nice find Dale. Neat real and should be able to clean it up nicely.

John, I guess I'll take a shot at defining a jig: Any weighted fishing lure in which the action is imparted solely by the fisherman.

Thus a "jig" can be made of lead, bone, shells, etc. as long as it is intended to be fished in a jigging style.

-- Dr. Todd