Literature about boolies

[Bucho]

Hi,

as some of you know I´m starting a jig crafting business and my core products will be boolie patterns. This stuff is absolutely new over here in Europe, and I expect legal action from larger companies who will steal the idea and have it patented for themselves just to shut me down and keep on selling whatever they used to sell.
At least thats what most of my friends tell me will happen. They advise me to get a patent, but I find that wrong. At first, its not my own invention to beginn with, and secondly I want to be copied (poorly)and get some jig tying started over here.

So, in order to deal with such troubles as quickly as possible, can anybody name me some literature or other publications around propeller jigs? The older the better! Vintage catalogues (pdf) for instance would be a blast!

Thanks!

 

[Hawnjigs]

I don't THINK you'll be trademark, copyright, or patent infringing, in fact Boolie designer Jigger John posted on JigCraft to share with others. The original COMMERCIAL version of the Boolie was probably the Northland Whistler jig, which was walleye specific with very limited size/hook options. Jigger John refined the shank propeller concept into a multi-species catching machine with considerably more research into appropriate jig heads, hooks, and ties for different applications.

As for copycats patenting a design as their own, well, can happen if the profit motive is sufficient to offset the cost of the patent process. I consider that a low possibility with the Boolie unless you become successful enuf to attract attention.

 

[AtticaFish]

I had never heard the term 'boolie' until JiggerJohn mentioned it here on the forum. Not even positive why it got the name of a boolie? There is a fly pattern out there that uses a propeller (for the life of me can't think of the name at the moment) that has been mentioned along with the prop jigs, but other than that and the Whistler jig.......... not too much i have ever found. Very few using the propellers.

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

AF, the fly version of the Boolie is called the "Pistol Pete". I used the Whistler jigs many years ago without much success. The boolie has been a good bait for me since I started tying and using them. I started making some bigger one's to try on the smallies here once the river's around here start to drop.

 

[LedHed]

Heard there was someone (on CDC) selling something very similar on their web site already.

Good luck on the venture Bucho - your tyes will sell themselves.

 

[redman]

Don't think that you will have any trouble over there from the people over here. I don't think they even know what a Mark or a Euro is. I would copyright the name. That will be the best protection if you are worried about that sort of thing. Just fill a niche in the market. Good Luck in your venture.

Redman

 

[Bucho]

Don't think that you will have any trouble over there from the people over here...

Thanks for the good wishes! The players across the big pond are the least of my concerns. European companies like Fladen have copied every north american lure in the book and gotten away with it. Europe is far, as you say, and the scandinavean market where they sell most of it is very small.

When it comes to jigs, however, you have to bear in mind that as for this moment, hair jig tying is not being practiced over here - at all! what I can learn from you guys, however, others can, too.

If I were in the place of a large tackle company, the idea of a few hundred guys crafting lures that leave everything behind that comes out of a mold, with just a few weeks of practice and a few hundred € worth of hardware in the cellar, depending on nothing but craft store merchandise and a few pounds of imported hooks and small parts, would not exactly comfort me. Its not about my turnover.

Also, its not about finding a niche - its about creating one, and in order to do that I have to squeeze in and push aside some of the guys who usually doen`t like to be pushed. I´ve met some or them in person and know what I speak of.

As for the branding - I will only use the technical term "Haarjig" wich can not be stolen without making it even more popular, and my full name. I think I own that one longer.

Anyhow, I can now name a source and give full credit to this forum so together with the european "whicky head" there should not be a problem a lawyer couldn´t fix. Thanks again!

 

[jiggerjohn]

Bucho, Good luck on your new venture -just ignor those "big companies" and enjoy your own creativity with your tying ; REAL anglers will seek out your quality!!

Heck, when I first put my Boolie together (name came from Hawnjigs,where his tip top quality tin heads &choice longer shank hooks really "MADE" this jig; Keith used the bunny tail & woolie-like front to call it a "boolie" !), I merely wanted a very small, easiest possible turning spinner to activate the thin rabbit tail and to work flawlessly on a straight dive down (originally for a slip float presentation). Who knew that it would outdo most jigs & any plain spinner on a horizontal retrieve as well?!

But it's the tail DRESSING that really defines the lure, with the touch of real wool (thanks, Red!!), flashing, and ultra thin rabbit strip. Actually ,not so much a spinner as it is a function of the creativity of the tier, and some guys on here have developed some amazing ties!! (commercial companies will never have this!!). My son, Sean, has developed the best Boolie I've yet seen in his "Bool Banshee" -sort of a colorful ,very active combo of Red's woolie jig with a longer rabbit tail, all done with perfect balance & thinness.

As far as history is concerned, way back in the 1930s there was a hair minnow with a half propeller called a "Weezel"; very popular & well done, but way too heavy (bait casting was the only game in that era). My own main incentive in making the ultralight Boolie (best at 1/24 oz) was the superb fly of famed Ozarks fly tier & angler, Fox Statler in his magnificent "Spinner 'd Minner" series. Fox used an on shaft easy turning spinner & neat,flash laden ties behind, but I found a propeller was way better for small jighook shanks. Anyway, I'm really interested in the new versions that YOU'LL be tying! Go get 'em !!

 

[Hawnjigs]

Dunno if this will help, but I have never heard of a home tackle crafting bizness that could brag about profitability, including mine. JiggerJohn mentioned that the designer of the renowned fish catching tool the Clouser minnow confided that as a bizness he's just getting by. I started casting lead free to make it available to others who had similar concerns about toxic lead, not as a $ making opportunity.

Most anyone can produce Boolies and even sell them, and eventually big tackle like Fladen and Pure Fishing might get involved. If you want to be a successful tackle entrepeneur, you might consider going to the source of jig components and looking for a factory to assemble them. Regardless, have fun making, selling, and most importantly using your creations. But be advised that if you call em "Boolies" JiggerJohn and I will pursue infringement action. Kidding...

 

[Hawnjigs]

Again, dunno if this will help, but maybe you could publicize a defining product name like "propeller jigs" to prove precedence if you're worried about being excluded by patent.

 

[Bucho]

Again, dunno if this will help, but maybe you could publicize a defining product name like "propeller jigs" to prove precedence if you're worried about being excluded by patent.

Sounds like a good idea, thanks!
Although - at the moment, being the only manufacturer of hairjigs in the country, I can throw infomercials into any forum i want and get away with it as I mention nothing but my given name and the product cathegory. That carries a beauty of its own in it...

As for the profits -in the total absence of competition I can charge 3-5€ (3.80-6.50$)for a jig no props. Everybody can craft jigs, thats right. Everybody in North America. You guys hopped out of that Mayflower with molds in your pockets, for good reasons.
Here, there are fly tyers who have no idea of pouring and powder painting, very few lead pourers who have no idea of tying or powder painting, and a well connected tackle industrie who likes to keep it that way. Should give me a head start.

BTW I just noticed the June´s showcase - what can I say, :notworthy: I feel very flattered in deed.

Hard to belive it was not before I stumbled over jig man´s belly spinner shown in march`s show case, that I even thought of crafting anything else than white bucktails and -same white- roundhead bunny zonkers.

I will not forget how that came :icon14: