Ideas thread for saving $

[Larry Francis]

Well, Captain Lou started this idea in my head, so I am gonna roll with it. Post your money saving Ideas for everyone to see.
I can list 2 I can think of right off hand.

1, When using a punching hook that has a bait keeper. Put a O ring from your wacky worm rigger on the bait about 1/4 to 3/8 from the top of your plastic worm or Beaver or craw or what, ever. Run the hook point just inside the Oring and the keeper will rest against the O ring and keep the plastic up on the hook and make your plastics last longer.

2, When using a Fluke or Swim Bait after you run the hook through the head put a bobber stopper on it and it will stay up much longer. This will make you use a lot of bobber stoppers but it will increase your hook up ratio as well.

3, I added another. This one works but not as well as the bobber stopper. After putting your Fluke on the hook get a short piece of 25lb mono and push it through the head of the Fluke or Swim Bait, making sure it goes through the eye of the hook. Trim both sides with nail clippers to keep it from snagging weeds.

[Eric-Maine]

I started making my own jigs years ago. I fished a 1/2 arkie jig most of the time if I was fishing wood it would not be unusual to break off 6 or more in a day of fishing. Instead of wrecking a spot or beating up on your boat and trolling motor and the lost time going into retrieve it ......just break it off and tie on another.
For me this money saving tip quickly escalated. I have 20 or more molds now and a stockpile hooks and lure parts. Not sure break even is even possible at this point. Lol
One thing I found though, in the boat, I keep a selection of skirts in one box and put them on the jig head as needed rather than making them up ahead. Heads are all either green pumpkin or black. 
I pour a lot of drop shot weights, fine wire football heads, nose hook jigs, Midwest finesse......eventually I will save money. Something to do anyway.

Something I started to do again lately is to glue swim baits and spider grubs to the heads. Years ago I gave up on super glue, the tube was always hard  or I would glue my fat fingers together. Carlson's fishing glue is much more user friendly. Both baits last much longer with the glue.

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[fishingram24]

Since I primarily fish spinner baits and plastics, reuse some of the plastics as trailers. Cut in half, lizards and trick worms work great as trailers as well as UV speed worm. Also second the use of glue as well, been doing that for years.

[Larry Francis]

I started making my own jigs years ago. I fished a 1/2 arkie jig most of the time if I was fishing wood it would not be unusual to break off 6 or more in a day of fishing. Instead of wrecking a spot or beating up on your boat and trolling motor and the lost time going into retrieve it ......just break it off and tie on another.
For me this money saving tip quickly escalated. I have 20 or more molds now and a stockpile hooks and lure parts. Not sure break even is even possible at this point. Lol
One thing I found though, in the boat, I keep a selection of skirts in one box and put them on the jig head as needed rather than making them up ahead. Heads are all either green pumpkin or black. 
I pour a lot of drop shot weights, fine wire football heads, nose hook jigs, Midwest finesse......eventually I will save money. Something to do anyway.

Something I started to do again lately is to glue swim baits and spider grubs to the heads. Years ago I gave up on super glue, the tube was always hard  or I would glue my fat fingers together. Carlson's fishing glue is much more user friendly. Both baits last much longer with the glue.

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I did some of this when I was tournament fishing years ago up north. I used the Yamamoto double tailed Hula Grub so much I started making my own Jigs for them. I still have hundreds today.

[Capt. BassinLou]

  Good thread Larry, thank you! 

[Oldfart9999]

Carry a lighter with you, with practice you can reshape a worn out head on a worm, fluke, lizard, whatever. You can also join 2 or pieces together.
Rodney

[Larry Francis]

Good thread Larry, thank you! 

Your Idea I just played on it. 

[Larry Francis]

Carry a lighter with you, with practice you can reshape a worn out head on a worm, fluke, lizard, whatever. You can also join 2 or pieces together.
Rodney

This works great until you get that hot plastic stuck to your finger and burning you and you start cussing and fall outta the boat. But then the burning stops and your have a good worm again!


Ok, so I dramatized that a bit but you know it could happen. 

[Smallie_Stalker]

I started making my own jigs years ago. I fished a 1/2 arkie jig most of the time if I was fishing wood it would not be unusual to break off 6 or more in a day of fishing. Instead of wrecking a spot or beating up on your boat and trolling motor and the lost time going into retrieve it ......just break it off and tie on another.
For me this money saving tip quickly escalated. I have 20 or more molds now and a stockpile hooks and lure parts. Not sure break even is even possible at this point. Lol
One thing I found though, in the boat, I keep a selection of skirts in one box and put them on the jig head as needed rather than making them up ahead. Heads are all either green pumpkin or black. 
I pour a lot of drop shot weights, fine wire football heads, nose hook jigs, Midwest finesse......eventually I will save money. Something to do anyway.

Something I started to do again lately is to glue swim baits and spider grubs to the heads. Years ago I gave up on super glue, the tube was always hard  or I would glue my fat fingers together. Carlson's fishing glue is much more user friendly. Both baits last much longer with the glue.

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I did some of this when I was tournament fishing years ago up north. I used the Yamamoto double tailed Hula Grub so much I started making my own Jigs for them. I still have hundreds today.

Here's a money saving tip for those double tail grubs they are actually 3 baits in one.

1) Used as is (multiple ways to rig).
2) Cut off one tail ( and maybe the skirt and you've got a single tail grub).
3) Cut off both tails and you have an ika style bait or a solid body tube bait.

The twin tail grub is a staple for many northern anglers especially the smallmouth chasers like myself. My favorites are the Yamamoto Hula Grub and the Chompers Twin Tail Skirted Grub.

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[Larry Francis]

I started making my own jigs years ago. I fished a 1/2 arkie jig most of the time if I was fishing wood it would not be unusual to break off 6 or more in a day of fishing. Instead of wrecking a spot or beating up on your boat and trolling motor and the lost time going into retrieve it ......just break it off and tie on another.
For me this money saving tip quickly escalated. I have 20 or more molds now and a stockpile hooks and lure parts. Not sure break even is even possible at this point. Lol
One thing I found though, in the boat, I keep a selection of skirts in one box and put them on the jig head as needed rather than making them up ahead. Heads are all either green pumpkin or black. 
I pour a lot of drop shot weights, fine wire football heads, nose hook jigs, Midwest finesse......eventually I will save money. Something to do anyway.

Something I started to do again lately is to glue swim baits and spider grubs to the heads. Years ago I gave up on super glue, the tube was always hard  or I would glue my fat fingers together. Carlson's fishing glue is much more user friendly. Both baits last much longer with the glue.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

I did some of this when I was tournament fishing years ago up north. I used the Yamamoto double tailed Hula Grub so much I started making my own Jigs for them. I still have hundreds today.

Here's a money saving tip for those double tail grubs they are actually 3 baits in one.

1) Used as is (multiple ways to rig).
2) Cut off one tail ( and maybe the skirt and you've got a single tail grub).
3) Cut off both tails and you have an ika style bait or a solid body tube bait.

The twin tail grub is a staple for many northern anglers especially the smallmouth chasers like myself. My favorites are the Yamamoto Hula Grub and the Chompers Twin Tail Skirted Grub.

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In Florida you cannot even buy them! Tubes are rare as well.

[Pat Dilling]

Following up on the glue idea.  I have found that Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel is great for keeping plastics on jigheads, or even bare hooks.  It can be used very precisely.  Works especially well with elaztec.  I had one day where I caught 18 fish on the same TRD and jighead before I finally snagged and lost it.  I pre-rig a bunch and put them back in the bag.

[Larry Francis]

Following up on the glue idea.  I have found that Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel is great for keeping plastics on jigheads, or even bare hooks.  It can be used very precisely.  Works especially well with elaztec.  I had one day where I caught 18 fish on the same TRD and jighead before I finally snagged and lost it.  I pre-rig a bunch and put them back in the bag.

This does work but I always seem to have the glue tube/bottle glued shut by the second or third use. Ideas around that?

[Eric-Maine]

Following up on the glue idea.  I have found that Loctite Super Glue Ultra Gel is great for keeping plastics on jigheads, or even bare hooks.  It can be used very precisely.  Works especially well with elaztec.  I had one day where I caught 18 fish on the same TRD and jighead before I finally snagged and lost it.  I pre-rig a bunch and put them back in the bag.

This does work but I always seem to have the glue tube/bottle glued shut by the second or third use. Ideas around that?

I have found Carlson Fishing glue to be user friendly on baits unlike household super glues. You do not have to pre rig at home.

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