Hair Jig Problems 2025
Preytorien reply :
So I've been experimenting with using hair jigs, especially in my local shallow river for smallmouth.
My problem is that when I use them, and I can see them in the water, they're not flared out, there's no "pulsing" of the hairs, the hairs are just all clumped up, in a straight tail.
Is this the way they're supposed to look? I'm not familiar with them, so any advice is appreciated.
00 mod reply :
What kind of hair are you using? Some hair is hollow in the middle(buck tail) while others are not. makes a difference in the flare.
Jeff
Preytorien reply :
Oh man, I'm not sure. They're Arkie brand jigs from Wal-mart. I know, not the best but I didn't want to spend a lot until I knew I'd actually use them from time to time.
bowhunter63 reply :
In the winter when i float and fly,The jig never really flares out.Usally put a little dope on the jig for scenting.I use Punisher and Bass pro brand.Work pretty good in cold water.
Paul Roberts reply :
"Hair" can mean any number of things. Beyond the manipulations you make, what hair jigs offer in terms of triggers are speed (they tend to able to be fished slow), and the wake (water moved) they make. Bucktail is great for both bc of its buoyancy. "Craft hair" is quite soft so it can move in the water and being a synthetic offers more and brighter color choices. If you are fixed on material's movement, you need really soft hair such as rabbit or, the best, marabou feathers. A heavier jighead also allows the material to move more when you pop, jig, or shake. Otherwise, the addition of a trailer is what gives the movement.
Bottom line I guess is, hair jigs work great, esp in colder water, bc they can be fished slowly, and if tied fairly bulky, can pull a meaty wake -which bass always appreciate.
If you want movement in the jig materials as a trigger, and it can be helpful at times -esp when the fish don't have all that much get-up-and-go- try a marabou jig with a pork strip (pre-softened). I tied my own marabou jigs, fished with a pork trailer -the Uncle Josh' "Spinning Strip". It was killer.
smalljaw67 reply :
I tie a lot of hair jigs and I use a lot of different material and anglers not familiar with them have a difficult time understanding of exactly what the "action" is. On a bucktail jig, there really isn't a lot of movement, what makes bucktail work so well, especially in cold water, is that when it gets wet it makes a perfect small minnow profile and while there is a little movement, it is very subtle and that perfectly mimics the movement of minnows in cold water. Marabou will compress when wet and it gets very thin in the water when it is moving but when you stop it the hair will expand and move but it has to be tied properly for that to happen. Craft fur has a very fluid like movement, and so does rabbit hair, the craft fur will compress into a minnow shape like bucktail when it is moving but when you stop it it will wave back and forth in the water very life like but in extreme cold like 34 degree water, it may have too much movement. Hair jigs work any time of year but the reason they work in cold water is because they have a subtle movement and that is more natural. Fish are cold blooded and when they get cold it isn't the same as us getting cold, their muscles that allow them to swim can onlt move a little bit and it is the very reason flat sided craks work well in cold water as the tighter action is more natural as that is the movement the fish are seeing. So, when you are fishing a hair jig don't expect it to have a real dramatic action, instead it will be the opposite, a very subtle type action as the main drawing feature is the profile with action being the triggering aspect of the bait.
travis23 reply :
On 10/14/2015 at 2:22 AM, smalljaw67 said:I tie a lot of hair jigs and I use a lot of different material and anglers not familiar with them have a difficult time understanding of exactly what the "action" is. On a bucktail jig, there really isn't a lot of movement, what makes bucktail work so well, especially in cold water, is that when it gets wet it makes a perfect small minnow profile and while there is a little movement, it is very subtle and that perfectly mimics the movement of minnows in cold water. Marabou will compress when wet and it gets very thin in the water when it is moving but when you stop it the hair will expand and move but it has to be tied properly for that to happen. Craft fur has a very fluid like movement, and so does rabbit hair, the craft fur will compress into a minnow shape like bucktail when it is moving but when you stop it it will wave back and forth in the water very life like but in extreme cold like 34 degree water, it may have too much movement. Hair jigs work any time of year but the reason they work in cold water is because they have a subtle movement and that is more natural. Fish are cold blooded and when they get cold it isn't the same as us getting cold, their muscles that allow them to swim can onlt move a little bit and it is the very reason flat sided craks work well in cold water as the tighter action is more natural as that is the movement the fish are seeing. So, when you are fishing a hair jig don't expect it to have a real dramatic action, instead it will be the opposite, a very subtle type action as the main drawing feature is the profile with action being the triggering aspect of the bait.
travis23 reply :
Messed up the first post. Smalljaw...I watch you tie all the time, and they look fantastic! Do you use a trailer more times than not? For dragging, not swimming.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 10/14/2015 at 4:06 AM, travis23 said:Messed up the first post. Smalljaw...I watch you tie all the time, and they look fantastic! Do you use a trailer more times than not? For dragging, not swimming.
I let the fish tell me when I need to use a trailer but I tend to use a trailer when the water first gets into hair jig range and for me it is the low 50s. If the water is 52 degrees and I can't get a reaction bite, I will use a rabbit hair jig I tie called a "creeper jig" that I make specifically to use with a chunk style trailer. When the water is in the mid to upper 40s then I will often use a bucktail jig with skirt material strands tied on it and I won't use a trailer, the silicone skirt material will provide just a little more movement and bulk without having to incorporate a trailer. When the water is in the low 40s to upper 30s the only trailer I'll use is tied on the jig and it is almost always a rabbit strip tail, it adds very little bulk and it will provide me some action if I needed it but not too much. The lower 30s is a time when the hair is used plain, I use bucktail or marabou, that is it and no trailer. As for dragging and swimming, it depends on the type of water and the mood of the fish, the way we drag is just slowly reel with the rod pointed right at the bait and it is only one or two cranks and then stop for a bit. We will drag it of give a slow lift and drop depending on what the fish want and what kind of jig, for example is I use a rabbit hair craw jig tied on a football head, well that jig is one I use with a drag or hop bottom presentation while a small 1/6oz or 3/32oz marabou jig will be slowly swam along the bottom with a few pauses during the retrieve but it depends on the mood of the fish and I'll usually start based on the weather conditions like warming or cooling trends.
kickerfish1 reply :
On 10/14/2015 at 2:22 AM, smalljaw67 said:I tie a lot of hair jigs and I use a lot of different material and anglers not familiar with them have a difficult time understanding of exactly what the "action" is. On a bucktail jig, there really isn't a lot of movement, what makes bucktail work so well, especially in cold water, is that when it gets wet it makes a perfect small minnow profile and while there is a little movement, it is very subtle and that perfectly mimics the movement of minnows in cold water. Marabou will compress when wet and it gets very thin in the water when it is moving but when you stop it the hair will expand and move but it has to be tied properly for that to happen. Craft fur has a very fluid like movement, and so does rabbit hair, the craft fur will compress into a minnow shape like bucktail when it is moving but when you stop it it will wave back and forth in the water very life like but in extreme cold like 34 degree water, it may have too much movement. Hair jigs work any time of year but the reason they work in cold water is because they have a subtle movement and that is more natural. Fish are cold blooded and when they get cold it isn't the same as us getting cold, their muscles that allow them to swim can onlt move a little bit and it is the very reason flat sided craks work well in cold water as the tighter action is more natural as that is the movement the fish are seeing. So, when you are fishing a hair jig don't expect it to have a real dramatic action, instead it will be the opposite, a very subtle type action as the main drawing feature is the profile with action being the triggering aspect of the bait.
This man knows hairjigs and materials!
travis23 reply :
Yes he has it down! Last year I bought some, and when I used a trailer the hair clumped together. Especially when I used a small pork trailer that I cut to fit. I guess they are just completely different looks from normal jigs. I thought I was doing something wrong. Thanks Smalljaw!
Will Wetline reply :
Watch this video:
At 5:57 you will see how little action or "flair" bucktail has. This is what's wanted by chilled-out smallies swimming in water that's in the 40ºs to low 50ºs. Slow and subtle is your effective presentation.
WRB reply :
For the sake of keeping it simple let's focus on bucktail deer hair jigs, the most common type when using a hair jig. Contrary to what has been previously stated, hair should have movement. Hair ins't living rubber that has a lot of movement, it will swim and flare out depending on a lot of factors. How tight the hair is tied onto the jig affects how it will flare and the shape of the jig collar can affect the shape of the hair after tying it.
Never trim the hair ends off, they should be soft and natural taper. Oil or grease from attractants can mat the hair, like using Vaseline on your hair. Hair should clean, so wash it in warm water with Dawn or Joy very mild unscented shampoo, blow dry with cool air.
Most off the shelf hair jigs are tied incorrectly, using too much thread over too long an area, hair should be tied tight using a narrower thread collar length about 1/8-31/6" long, not 1/4-3/8 length of thread collar. The tight shorter thread collar allows the hair to flare out. To enhance the hair flare use your soft plastic trailer or a piece of finesse worm and slide it up under the hair tight against the jig collar, this pushes out the hair.
Try looking at the hair jig in your sink filled with water and tied onto line. It should have some movement when little motion and should flare out when the jig falls and it's the bottom.
I use 7/16 oz jig with 5/0 hook, the hair is about 2 1/2- 3" long, with 3" to 4" pork trailers, big hair jigs for big bass.
Tom
everythingthatswims reply :
Spro bucktails
WRB reply :
On 10/15/2015 at 2:08 AM, everythingthatswims said:Spro bucktails
Craft hair!
travis23 reply :
What about using them when conditions are just tough? When the water is 65 and below (like now) Or stained water? I know they are more of a clear water lure, but have you had success in stained water? There is only a cpl lakes around here with clear water and they are about an hr or two away.
WRB reply :
The original jig & pig dates back into the 30's, black was and still is the most propular combination in the southern states or anywhere off color water is the norm.
Tom
smalljaw67 reply :
On 10/16/2015 at 12:25 AM, travis23 said:What about using them when conditions are just tough? When the water is 65 and below (like now) Or stained water? I know they are more of a clear water lure, but have you had success in stained water? There is only a cpl lakes around here with clear water and they are about an hr or two away.
The only type of hair jig I've had success with in stained water was a 3/8oz arky style that I tied with black bucktail with a black/blue flake Zoom super chunk trailer but that was in 58 degree water but I'm sure it would work in higher water temps. With my being a Northern angler, most of my hair jig fishing is done with smaller baits 1/4oz and under as it is a cold weather staple, the exception is the arkie jig I mentioned previously I make that to use when we have mid Fall cold fronts when the water temp starts dipping into the 50s and dark colors work in stained water but stained meaning 1 foot of visibility, anything less I'd opt for something that moves water a little bit better.
Paul Roberts reply :
On 10/16/2015 at 12:25 AM, travis23 said:What about using them when conditions are just tough? When the water is 65 and below (like now) Or stained water? I know they are more of a clear water lure, but have you had success in stained water? There is only a cpl lakes around here with clear water and they are about an hr or two away.
Good question. I too, like smalljaws, would like something with more action if its really turbid. I have done well in pea-soup water with bucktail keel streamers in the past -they pull a nice wake- but that's been fishing up in the shallows and up near the surface.
Some waters I've been fishing lately have become turbid post-flood (siltation with carp activity, and phytoplankton blooms). These waters are mildly turbid (~18" visibility), but enough to put the fish close to cover. I've been catching some fish with large curly-tail grubs and thumper-tail swimbaits but thought I'd tie up some some dense bulky bucktail jigs (fished with action trailers) for the wake they can push. Will let you know how it pans out.
Here's one:
Will Wetline reply :
That jig illustrates master craftsmanship, Mr. Roberts.
Paul Roberts reply :
Thanks Will. 
(I'm more hack than master though. Lucky fish are easier to please than fisherman, and that I'm not a pro tier.)
travis23 reply :
I didn't mean to jack the post, but I do appreciate your feedback guys!
Ginosocalbass reply :
Use buck tail and rabbit fur zonkers.. That will get you a better action.
OkobojiEagle reply :
There is a difference in hair characteristic of individual bucktails, the hair can be very straight to quite wavy/kinky. I prefer the very wavy/kinky hair to tie with. Also, I prefer to tie a rabbit zonker strip tail with the hair facing down as this provides a less exaggerated flair when being fished.
oe
iabass8 reply :
On 10/16/2015 at 5:34 AM, Will Wetline said:That jig illustrates master craftsmanship, Mr. Roberts.
Beautiful craftsman ship, sir.
Munkin reply :
In cold (33-40 degree F) water nothing works better than bear hair IMO.
Allen
OkobojiEagle reply :
Think "Charlie Brewer slider fishing"...
oe
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