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Handcrafted Fishing Tackle for Pan Fish, Perch & Crappie
Hand poured jigs, hand tied jigs and flies, and soft plastic baits, built for the ice and warm weather alike. Made in Michigan by a lifelong angler with over 30 years of bait making experience.
Hand Poured & Hand Tied
Every jig head is poured by hand. Every jig and fly is tied by hand. No mass production, just craftsmanship.
Michigan Made
Designed, molded, painted, and checked for quality right here in Battle Creek, Michigan by a lifelong angler.
Checked Twice Before Shipping
Every Vbaits product is inspected for defects and quality twice before it gets packed and shipped to your door.
Ice & Warm Water Ready
From hard water jigs and spoons to warm weather pan fish tackle, we have got you covered year round.
Featured Products
Hand poured jigs, hand tied jigs and flies, and soft baits built for real fishing.
Hand Poured Lead Jig Heads
Premium hand-poured lead jig heads in multiple sizes from 1/128 oz up to 1/4 oz. Available plain or custom painted. Long shank, short shank, and standard hook styles. Every jig is inspected for defects before it ships.
Ice Fishing Jigs & Spoons
Handmade ice fishing jigs and spoons in multiple sizes, colors, and shapes. Includes tungsten alloy options for deeper water. Custom painting available. Built for pan fish, perch, and crappie through the ice.
Hand Tied Pan Fish Jigs
Classic hand tied jigs built for bluegill, sunfish, and pan fish. Available in proven color patterns including blue/white, purple/green, and natural earth tones. Tied on various jig head styles with your choice of hook length.
Hand Tied Crappie Jigs
Specialty crappie jigs tied for deep water and suspended fish. Tungsten alloy heads available for fast drops. Glow material options for low light fishing. Tied on various hook styles to match your preference.
What We Make
From tiny 1/128 oz ice jigs to custom painted jig heads, every piece is made or tied by hand in our Michigan workshop.
Lead Jig Heads
Hand poured in sizes from 1/128 oz up to 1/4 oz. Plain or painted. Long, short, and standard hook styles. New molds added often.
Ice Jigs & Spoons
Multiple sizes, colors, shapes, and tungsten alloys. Custom painted options. Built for pan fish, perch, and crappie through the ice.
Hand Tied Jigs
Pan fish and crappie jigs in proven color patterns. Tied on various jig head styles with your choice of hook length.
Hand Tied Flies
Custom orders including the local favorite black ant on a pre-rigged casting bubble. Perfect for bluegill with no live bait needed.
Soft Plastic Baits
Designed and molded in-house. Multiple shapes and action profiles for pan fish, bass, and crappie.
Tungsten Alloy Jigs
Deep water jigs with tungsten powder mixed into lead for extra weight in a compact profile. Glow material options available.
We also carry sinkers and lead anchors for local area customers. Shipping on heavy lead is expensive, contact us for local pickup options.
Special Colors & Short-Run Drops
Custom colors, seasonal specials, and one-off experiments. These patterns do not last, once they are gone, they are gone.
How It Works
From design to your tackle box, every step is handled with care by a maker who fishes.
Designed & Molded
Every bait is designed by James with real fishing experience. Jig heads are poured by hand into custom molds.
Painted & Tied
Jig heads are painted by hand. Jigs and flies are tied with proven color patterns and quality materials.
Quality Checked
Every product is inspected twice for defects before packing. Defective lead is discarded at the shop.
Shipped to You
Orders are packed locally in Battle Creek and shipped straight to your door, ready for the water.
Built by a Lifelong Angler
James Sheehy has been passionate about fishing since kindergarten, over 40 years ago. He has caught all but one known fish species native to Michigan, most on baits he made himself. His trophy catches include an 8 lb largemouth bass, a 24 lb steelhead, a 2.8 lb crappie, a 2.3 lb perch, and 8 trophy-class pan fish.
Vbaits started as a bait making hobby roughly 30 years ago. James went so far as studying insects and food sources above and below the water. Every product is designed, molded, painted, and checked for quality twice before shipping.
Read the Full StoryOutdoor Wedding Ceremonies
James is licensed to perform wedding ceremonies in the state of Michigan. He has officiated on the hard water, at boat launches, and even a mile back in the woods at a couple's sentimental site.
Only $100 for the ceremony. Travel expenses such as gasoline are added separately. Ceremonies must be confirmed at least two weeks in advance, and James ensures all state licenses are in order before the big day.
What to Know
- Licensed in the state of Michigan
- Outdoor ceremonies preferred: hard water, woods, boat launches
- $100 ceremony fee
- Gas/travel expenses added separately
- Minimum 2 weeks advance notice required
- State marriage licenses must be in order
- Privacy respected, no ceremony photos displayed
Get Notified When New Colors Drop
Limited runs, new jig molds, and seasonal specials sell out fast. Join the list and be the first to know when fresh tackle hits the shop.