J and S Custom Jigs, Walford, IA (2026)

06/17/2026

Good morning!

Lots of rain again today…. A lot! No walk for Copper this morning. Maybe later when this all moves through. It’s hard to work on jigs if he hasn’t had his walk but I’ll try.

Yesterday, I posted a new Glass Fry Logo I was playing around with. I received a few messages saying an all black version would be awesome to see. I’ll make a few up soon while I’m working on others. I’ll share what it looks like. It got me thinking about how cool a black eye with gold accents would look. Might have to work on these for a future 3D Custom Eye.

WAITING LIST UPDATE!

I shipped 20 orders yesterday from the NEW batch of Glass Fry. I sent more text messages out this morning to folks on the list. I’m trying to send messages every other day. This allows me time to pack orders and continue to work on jigs. A little every day adds up!

NEW PATTERN

I also did a lot of base paint work yesterday. I’m working on a New Color Way. This one is a Glow Clown pattern. Red, chartreuse and white. I’m waiting for my Custom eyes I designed to show up before I move forward with these. My goal is to give you a New pattern every Batch.

About all for today!

06/16/2026

WAITING LIST INFORMATION!!!

This is for all you New to J and S folks.

First off, I only post to my J and S Custom Jigs page. I do not Share my posts usually. If you came across my work it must have been Shared by someone or Facebook recommended it to you.

Second, I am communicating with people that took advantage of the WAITING LIST prior to when I stopped taking names. I am not TEASING people. I’m just updating people on the WAITING LIST. It also shows people that I’m working as much as I can on getting through the List.

Third, the list grew to 600 people. That’s 2400 Glass Fry with Limiting the quantity to 4 jigs. I stopped taking names because people don’t seem to realize how long it will take me to make 2400 Glass Fry. I’m a one man show and it takes time to craft these things. I also work a fulltime job and have 3 kids.

Fourth, I will not be adding to or reopening the WAITING LIST. I can’t continue to do business this way. I have a new business plan that will be going into effect later this year. Probably around November.

Fifth, how do I get some Glass Fry? More than likely you won’t be able to get them until fall. I will spend all of summer at least trying to fill WAITING LIST orders. I do put a few out from time to time on the website. I just do it silently. No post or announcement. Reward for those that check in.

Lastly, if you want to really understand what’s going on with J and S go look back at old posts and get educated. This is not a typical business. My work is in very high demand and I have limited time to make them. This is not Amazon and it never will be.

I am dedicated to producing something at a higher level than mass production can do. On the day you finally get a few in your hands you will truly appreciate what I do and you will understand. I will never compromise my work. It takes as long as it takes. If you WANT IT AND YOU WANT IT NOW!!! This is not the place for you.

Thank you!

06/15/2026

WAITING LIST ROUND 2!

I finished up the Glow Perch Fry this weekend and I’m ready to start the second round of messages to the WAITING LIST today. You will be choosing from Royal Assassins and Glow Perch Fry.

I will also be offering a $5.00 discount on Glass Fry orders if you add a Gruv Micro Box to the order. The Gruv Micro Box is $19.95. While they last!

I have 400 Glass Fry in this batch.

Here we go!

06/10/2026

Glow Perch Fry are Drunk!

Alcohol 🍺 bath done! I’ll get the Glow Perch Fry racked and ready for Final Clear Coat tomorrow. Friday I’ll clean the hook eyes and start messaging people on the WAITING LIST.

I’ll be sending out more messages for Baby Gills and Golden Eyes later today to folks on the Waiting List.

It’s weird getting older. I got a call last week from an old friend. She told me an old girl friend from my twenties that I seriously dated for over 4 years had passed away. I’ve lost 4 people that have been in my life in the last year. I don’t think of myself as old but the reminders that life is getting shorter are more constant. I’m in my head a lot when it comes to my life. It can be annoying. These things always get me thinking. It’s definitely motivation.

06/08/2026

Lots of rain!

We got a lot of rain really fast over the last few hours. Took me awhile to get out with Copper today. Had to wait for a window between the rains. Fished for 30 minutes. Caught a few gills including this tall stud! 9.5” long 6” tall with the fins up. Looked massive in the water. Thought I hooked a Unicorn.

I messaged more people over the weekend on the Waiting List. It continues to feel like a waste of time. I’ll keep going for now though. I wrapped up the Glow Perch Fry this morning. I started cleaning hook eyes and prepping for an alcohol bath. Then I’ll prep for clear coat.

I’ve decided to start messaging people on the Waiting List with the New Batch before I run out of the Baby Gill and Golden Eye. I’ll just keep doing both until it’s complete.

What’s the problem with the Waiting List?
The biggest issue is people want what they want. People want specific patterns. Patterns I may not make before I discontinue the Waiting List. My mistake was I should have done this for first time buyers only. This isn’t how this was intended to go. I plan to give this some thought and probably make a video about how I will transition from the Waiting List into the new business model later this fall. 600 people @ 4 jigs each is 2400 jigs. If I make 2400 jigs and people still pass, I feel I’ve done enough. I have a ways to go still so we aren’t close to done yet.
We will discuss this more another day.

Time to get ready for work.

06/07/2026

It’s a work day!

It’s HOT and HUMID and I HATE IT!
It’s jig making weather! I’m gonna wrap up Glassing the Glow Perch today. Tomorrow before work I’ll get them Drunk in Alcohol and ready for clear coat.

I’d say by the end of next week I’ll be shipping these and Royal Assassins to people on the Waiting List. I am not accepting any more people on the Waiting List. I will have jigs stealth dropping on the website from time to time but later this Fall is going to be when the business will change and buying will be different. If you are interested in jigs and are not on the WAITING LIST check back later this Fall. I have a large Waiting List and I’m committed to getting through it. I’m sorry I’m not accepting additional orders at this time.

Thank you for your patience!

06/06/2026

Halfway!

I hit the halfway point on the next batch of Glow Perch Glass Fry yesterday. I’m up and going today. Took Copper for his run and burned some cardboard. Packed a few orders from yesterday’s Waiting List messaging. It’s official, I have runout of the 1/32 Round Bend Baby Gill. I will continue messaging the Waiting List this weekend. Still have a ways to go on getting through the first batch of Baby Gill and Golden Eye.

Next week I will start offering the next batch of Glow Perch Fry and Royal Assassin Fry to the Waiting List. Hope you folks are ready! Love seeing people get what they’ve been waiting so patiently for.

Feeling really good about progress of things.
Keep it ROLLING!

Have an awesome weekend!

06/05/2026

Good session today.

Glassed more Glow Perch Fry today. I’m set up well for wrapping them up this weekend. I stopped at noon to send a few more Waiting List messages out for Baby Gill and Golden Eye.

I have a some other things I’m working on for the upcoming Ice Season. I have a new spoon design I want to try and have ready. This is a tungsten spoon. It won’t be groundbreaking but you all know I like to fish my own creations if I can. Of course I plan to offer it to you guys.

I also want to bring more tied options in to the fold with more quantity. The Misfit Maggots have been popular. I’d like to expand on those and have them more frequently. I have a couple of other ideas I’m playing with as well. Have to see how summer goes. I work on jigs a lot during the summer months. I’m not a fan of heat and humidity. Air conditioning and Jigs is my goto!

You might be thinking WHY? Travis you can’t make enough Glass Fry as it stands? Why add more? I’ve thought about this as well. 3 things come to mind.
1. I need some variety as a creative person. It gets old doing the same jig over and over. I just need it mentally.
2. As a business I need to have some diversity. What happens to the business in a couple years if the popularity of the Glass Fry Drops off? I need other avenues that can help protect against that.
3. If I retire early I need a full line up to offer. Supporting myself and family financially in early retirement is a goal. I need to work in that direction to set things up prior to retirement. Getting upfront development and mold costs out of the way while I’m still working is essential. I’ll make it no secret… I don’t like the culture at the place I work. I gotta say if all large manufacturing in the United States is like where I work, we are in BIG trouble.

I’m encouraged by my progress on things the last month. I feel a rhythm 🎵 I think is sustainable. My distain for my work environment at my real job is also highly motivating.😁

Back to the Waiting List!

Have a great Friday!

06/04/2026

Busy morning!

Lots of running around today. Got up and put a load of laundry in. Grabbed some coffee and took Copper for his morning walk. Got home and went to town. Picked up printer toner for the laser printer. Dropped the 07 Tahoe off for an oil change and flush and replace fluid in the transmission. Got home and watered plants and fed the kids lunch. Got set up for Glassing.

I managed to get 30 Glow Perch done before I had to head back to town to pick up the Tahoe. Tomorrow I’ll shoot for a minimum of 60 before work. Hope to finish up close the total batch this weekend. Clear coat next week.

I will send out a few more Waiting list messages between now and next Monday for the Baby Gill and Golden Eye. I want to finish those off before I start messaging about the next 2 jig options. I’d guess late next week I’ll be messaging about Royal Assassins and Glow Perch Fry.

Keep it moving! Copper stuck his nose in for a sniff when I took the picture today. Always willing to help!😁

06/03/2026

Tungsten Glass Fry Update!

Work stalled out on the Tungsten Base Jigs for the Glass Fry over the last couple of months. I tried working with a different manufacturer and just didn’t like the fit. Communication was really good but the product they delivered to me wasn’t consistent enough. I approached an old manufacturer that I’ve worked with in the past. Communication has always been spotty with them but the work they do is second to none. It always takes awhile to get things moving with them.

Last night movement started to happen. They are working on the design to get hook placement corrected. They will then make prototype samples for me to review. This will take more time and add to the cost. I feel it’s critical to getting things just right. Once the design is set it’s good to go! I don’t want to make a mass production mold that isn’t right.

So, I have no doubt that they will get this done and it will be perfect. This bait has been my legacy up to this point and I won’t deliver anything but perfection. The goal is to have tungsten in time for the upcoming ICE season.

J and S Custom Jigs

06/17/2026

06/16/2026

06/15/2026

06/10/2026

06/08/2026

06/07/2026

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share