The Cat's Out Of The Bag! 2024
CJ reply :
I'm sure many of you have known about bucktail jigs but I myself just got on board! I was throwing the Prayer jig by Cumberland Pro but stock has dried up around here so I started making my own. Plus I made a giant version around 7 in. long! Big fish catcher! I guess this should go in the tackle making section but I was wondering who all has had success with them and what presentations have worked best? I like to reel it and kill it!
Montanaro reply :
Looks good
HoosierHawgs reply :
Do you fish it with a trailer? I've never fished hair jigs before... What weight are you using?
CJ reply :
On 6/22/2015 at 9:26 AM, jakob1010 said:Do you fish it with a trailer? I've never fished hair jigs before... What weight are you using?
The hackle feathers serve as a trailer. They have a subtle kick with just a straight retrieve. I've been throwing 5/8, 3/4, and 1 oz. pending on depth and wind. 5/8 for 8-10 fow, 3/4 for 10-16 fow, and 1 oz. up to 25 fow. On windy days I may go a little heavier. I also use heavier ones if the fish are off the side of the ledge to keep better contact and to get a more vertical fall.
dead end canal reply :
Cool! Looks a lot like a fly fisherman's Lefty's Deceiver.
papajoe222 reply :
I use hair and feather jigs a lot during the pre and post ice periods, but they're rarely over 3/16oz. I tied up a bunch over the winter, some with feathers and hair, and haven't used them yet as I was on the DL until May. Until I started experimenting with smaller tubes, they were also used for a finess presentation. I use basically two retrieves, the one you mention and what I call hip-hopping it through the water column. It's basically a yo-yo swimming retrieve. If they're looking for something more verticle, I switch to a BitsyBug and a smally chunk.
Jeff H reply :
Ain't that what KVD was throwing at Bassfest?
CJ reply :
On 6/22/2015 at 11:57 AM, Jeff H said:Ain't that what KVD was throwing at Bassfest?
YUP. So was Edwin Evers and a lot of the elites.
Jrob78 reply :
It's also what Jacob Wheeler won last years Bassfest on, in part at least. If the one pictured is one you made, nice job, it looks great!
BASSPATROL247 reply :
I love hair jigs for smallies..
smalljaw67 reply :
The thing with that type of hair jig is you have to have the right kind of water. The only time you see or hear of pros throwing the hair jig is when they are on the Tennessee river lakes and there is good reason. They have deep ledges and other structure and most importantly, water with high visibility, it is water where they also use magnum size spoons which isn't something you are going to use on a lot of other bodies of water. I've been tying all kinds of hair jigs for a long time, most are for ice out/cold water conditions but I do make a few larger ones for swimming with a grub trailer and that isn't as effective when the water is in the 70s and higher. The thing that is hard about tying the jigs the pros are using is finding the right buck tail, there are only a few sources for it, for those that don't know, those jigs are long, most are over 7" and you heed hair that is at least 6" long, I had 2 suppliers of this stuff and they are no longer selling, I'm guessing big manufacturers have got all the supply now as there weren't many to begin with as the tails come from specially farmed deer with massive tails. The tails are expensive, I've paid $20 for a tail that had 5" to 7" long hair and you can see it in the price of some of these jigs, and if you do some research and dig around, you'll see some guys are using jigs tied with a synthetic hair, it is a material called imitation Yak Hair or fur, it comes in a bundle and it 20" in length, this is really good stuff. The way you use it is to tie it in first as the base to set the length, then tie in the long hackle feathers and then tie in shorter buck tail over top, the yak will give you length, the feathers will provide tail action, and the buck tail will provide a minnow or baitfish like profile and then you add in whatever kind of flash you want, flashabou and/or Krystal flash and then you have a hair jig that will get them big fish to bite.
CeeJay reply :
I like to fish the hair jigs as part of "float n fly" rigs...with a small, sensitive, pear-shaped float, just big enough to suspend the jig. I let the current take it downstream with occasional twitches. Then I swim it back.
Also works extremely well with some wind when the water's nice and choppy.
CJ reply :
On 6/22/2015 at 8:34 PM, smalljaw67 said:The thing with that type of hair jig is you have to have the right kind of water. The only time you see or hear of pros throwing the hair jig is when they are on the Tennessee river lakes and there is good reason. They have deep ledges and other structure and most importantly, water with high visibility, it is water where they also use magnum size spoons which isn't something you are going to use on a lot of other bodies of water. I've been tying all kinds of hair jigs for a long time, most are for ice out/cold water conditions but I do make a few larger ones for swimming with a grub trailer and that isn't as effective when the water is in the 70s and higher. The thing that is hard about tying the jigs the pros are using is finding the right buck tail, there are only a few sources for it, for those that don't know, those jigs are long, most are over 7" and you heed hair that is at least 6" long, I had 2 suppliers of this stuff and they are no longer selling, I'm guessing big manufacturers have got all the supply now as there weren't many to begin with as the tails come from specially farmed deer with massive tails. The tails are expensive, I've paid $20 for a tail that had 5" to 7" long hair and you can see it in the price of some of these jigs, and if you do some research and dig around, you'll see some guys are using jigs tied with a synthetic hair, it is a material called imitation Yak Hair or fur, it comes in a bundle and it 20" in length, this is really good stuff. The way you use it is to tie it in first as the base to set the length, then tie in the long hackle feathers and then tie in shorter buck tail over top, the yak will give you length, the feathers will provide tail action, and the buck tail will provide a minnow or baitfish like profile and then you add in whatever kind of flash you want, flashabou and/or Krystal flash and then you have a hair jig that will get them big fish to bite.
I use only real bucktail. I guess I'm lucky cause I got some really nice ones with long hairs(5-6 in.) I tied the lure in the pic, it measures a little over 7 in.
The thing with these jigs are that I wouldn't call the technique "finesse" at all. If anybody watches Bassfest, you will see it's more of a power technique and it's deadly.
CeeJay reply :
That's a beautiful jig you tied. Great job.
CJ reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 8:31 AM, CeeJay said:That's a beautiful jig you tied. Great job.
Thanks! I'm really addicted to tying now. I've weighed in two 20+ LB. bags recently on jigs I've tied. Haven't won but been in the money. It's still extra special to do well on your own lure. I make them from pouring the head to finish. I made a huge order for hooks and other stuff today so everybody that wants can give them a try. I'm also tying some that will be downsized for other types of water. I saw that Mann's had the copyright on the original Preacher Jig. They were 14.99 at BPS. Ridiculous! They didn't really have enough bucktail to hold a good profile once wet.
HoosierHawgs reply :
I could probably slay Bass where I fish with a 7 inch hair jig. The bass where I fish feed on shad, anywhere from 1-15". Those 12-15" shad are what big momma (7lbs is the biggest to come out of the reservoir) is feeding on. Catch em good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, lipless baits, and in cold water, jerkbaits. I hardly ever finesse fish, and I can see a big 7" hair matching a shad. I would probably have to tone the weight down as the water I fish is mostly shallow (10' or so probably being the deepest) , but there are a few "ledges" off the edges of flats, right near the main creek channel. I may have to try some out as I'd be interested in what they can do... If you plan on tying extra jigs, I may just have to try one.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 10:15 AM, CJ said:Thanks! I'm really addicted to tying now. I've weighed in two 20+ LB. bags recently on jigs I've tied. Haven't won but been in the money. It's still extra special to do well on your own lure. I make them from pouring the head to finish. I made a huge order for hooks and other stuff today so everybody that wants can give them a try. I'm also tying some that will be downsized for other types of water. I saw that Mann's had the copyright on the original Preacher Jig. They were 14.99 at BPS. Ridiculous! They didn't really have enough bucktail to hold a good profile once wet.
What mold and hook combination are you using? That tends to be another problem with the large hair jigs, finding the right hook, I've made them using 60 degree hooks but really haven't found a 90 degree that can hold up to heavy line.
CJ reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 7:34 PM, smalljaw67 said:What mold and hook combination are you using? That tends to be another problem with the large hair jigs, finding the right hook, I've made them using 60 degree hooks but really haven't found a 90 degree that can hold up to heavy line.
Teardrop mold with a collar and a 32786 Mustad. I also have the the Poison Tail mold. I cut the pins off flush with the mold to eliminate the brush guard. I think this head swims better and sits upright on the bottom. It takes a 32886 Mustad. Most of the bucktail jigs I've seen have a small lightwire hook. My partner and I have noticed we lost some fish on smaller hooks but the heavier ones will get them in the boat.
Nice_Bass reply :
god I would love some of those 7''ers!
smalljaw67 reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 10:25 PM, CJ said:Teardrop mold with a collar and a 32786 Mustad. I also have the the Poison Tail mold. I cut the pins off flush with the mold to eliminate the brush guard. I think this head swims better and sits upright on the bottom. It takes a 32886 Mustad. Most of the bucktail jigs I've seen have a small lightwire hook. My partner and I have noticed we lost some fish on smaller hooks but the heavier ones will get them in the boat.
A video with JT Kenny is on you tube and he talks about using the light wire hook more often but he goes with a heavier hook option if he knows he is around big fish. I have the tear drop mold and I use the Owner 5319, I didn't know you could use a 60 degree hook in that mold. I use the 32786 with the Snootie mold, a lot of guys like it because it has a different look on the fall and it swims well when reeling it up off of the bottom. For a light wire version I use the Ultra Minnow, but I haven't tied any of those jigs in a while since the extra long buck tail is so hard to find. I'd suggest if you can find buck tail with 5.5" to 6" long hair to stock up, it won't be around long and if you can point me in the direction of that stuff I'd really, really appreciate it!!!
Montanaro reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 11:05 PM, Nice_Bass said:god I would love some of those 7''ers!
That's what she said
CJ reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 11:33 PM, smalljaw67 said:A video with JT Kenny is on you tube and he talks about using the light wire hook more often but he goes with a heavier hook option if he knows he is around big fish. I have the tear drop mold and I use the Owner 5319, I didn't know you could use a 60 degree hook in that mold. I use the 32786 with the Snootie mold, a lot of guys like it because it has a different look on the fall and it swims well when reeling it up off of the bottom. For a light wire version I use the Ultra Minnow, but I haven't tied any of those jigs in a while since the extra long buck tail is so hard to find. I'd suggest if you can find buck tail with 5.5" to 6" long hair to stock up, it won't be around long and if you can point me in the direction of that stuff I'd really, really appreciate it!!!
The Ultra Minnow swims decent but falls over on it's side on the bottom. I've caught many fish with big gizzard shad, little drum, and even small Asian carp tails hanging out of there mouth lately. Drums and gizzards feed on shellbeds. I really don't know but I feel part of the presentation is that jig needs to stand or lay straight up on the bottom(some bigger fish have picked it up while sitting on bottom). The reeling it up simulates a fleeing fish which engages the reaction from the big fish, kinda like you don't run from a mean dog instict. I don't feel it's a reaction strike though cause some fish will chase it all the way out to deeper water and to the boat on occasion.
roadwarrior reply :
Too cool!
Dogmatic reply :
Looks great, but I use hair jigs for cold weather and under a float(buy them from a local maker). It seems it might be effective, but expensive (7" versions) when there might be a better technique. Would bear hair work?
CeeJay reply :
On 6/24/2015 at 6:45 AM, Dogmatic said:Looks great, but I use hair jigs for cold weather and under a float(buy them from a local maker). It seems it might be effective, but expensive (7" versions) when there might be a better technique. Would bear hair work?
A lot of anglers believe bass will only strike hair jigs when it's cold, almost like a "last possible resort lure". I'm not really sure why that is though as that has not been my experience.
In the past I've caught a decent amount of largemouth with them fished under a float (or by swimming them) in the heat of summer on lakes.
Hair jigs are possibly the world's oldest artificial lure, and they work the same reason a large streamer works when fly fishing for bass. Very good imitations of bait fish but with a subtler action than plastic swimbaits.
roadwarrior reply :
We'll see...Maybe Siebert Outdoors could make a few.
kickerfish1 reply :
I checked with Mike a few years ago and he said he wasn't comfortable tying hair jigs. Perhaps things have changed since. I know it more costly and more time consuming.
roadwarrior reply :
Not available from Siebert Outdoors. Any other suggestions on where to have a few built?
Shanes7614 reply :
On 6/27/2015 at 3:51 PM, roadwarrior said:Not available from Siebert Outdoors. Any other suggestions on where to have a few built?
Sounds like a PM to Ck is in store. Lol
smalljaw67 reply :
On 6/24/2015 at 7:19 AM, CeeJay said:A lot of anglers believe bass will only strike hair jigs when it's cold, almost like a "last possible resort lure". I'm not really sure why that is though as that has not been my experience.
In the past I've caught a decent amount of largemouth with them fished under a float (or by swimming them) in the heat of summer on lakes.
Hair jigs are possibly the world's oldest artificial lure, and they work the same reason a large streamer works when fly fishing for bass. Very good imitations of bait fish but with a subtler action than plastic swimbaits.
What makes hair so good when it is cold is the subtle movement, it is very natural and you can't get that with plastic. Yes, plastic does move in cold water, but the movement is not natural because, the fish are cold blooded and it takes a significant amount of heat for the muscles in the fish to have full movement. So when plastic gets stiff, it moves in a wide, unrealistic way, hair on the other hand doesn't get stiff in cold water and the little movements of the hair resemble fin movement and it act more realistic. Now, it doesn't mean that it isn't going to work in summer or warmer water, it just means other presentations are better, and if you look at how the pros approached the ledge fishing, they started out with a crankbait, then went to swim baits or big worms and then before they would leave a spot, they would break out the hair jig, it wasn't first on the list. I tie a 3/.8oz buck tail jig for warm water use, nothing fancy, just a little flash and I use it with a grub trailer and swim it along rocky bottoms, it is basically a buck tail version of the swim jig, it bulks up the grub and it has a baitfish profile and that is what the secret of buck tail is, when it is tied on to a head and then put in the water, it looks like a minnow. My swim jig is for 2 bodies of water I fish that are clear, I use a mix of white and gray buck tail and a smoke colored grub as the trailer, but I wouldn't throw that bait first, that is when other techniques aren't working and that is based on experience, when I learned to tie hair jigs I used them non-stop for a few years and I found that while they do work in warm water, other baits do better.
Crankinstein reply :
My home lake has some huge gizzard shad in it as well as a few ledges I haven't figured out yet so I'm definitely going to look into fishing some of these. Thanks for the info!!!
Dwight Hottle reply :
There is a gentleman on here that goes by WRB that has caught some monster bass on hair jigs. They do work.
Shanes7614 reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 4:11 AM, Dwight Hottle said:There is a gentleman on here that goes by WRB that has caught some monster bass on hair jigs. They do work.
How is this possible? He's stated that bass do not feed off the bottom.
BassTravis reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 10:15 AM, CJ said:Thanks! I'm really addicted to tying now. I've weighed in two 20+ LB. bags recently on jigs I've tied. Haven't won but been in the money. It's still extra special to do well on your own lure. I make them from pouring the head to finish. I made a huge order for hooks and other stuff today so everybody that wants can give them a try. I'm also tying some that will be downsized for other types of water. I saw that Mann's had the copyright on the original Preacher Jig. They were 14.99 at BPS. Ridiculous! They didn't really have enough bucktail to hold a good profile once wet.
I would like to give them a try! I've never fished a hair jig, but would like to try!
CeeJay reply :
On 6/27/2015 at 7:50 PM, smalljaw67 said:What makes hair so good when it is cold is the subtle movement, it is very natural and you can't get that with plastic. Yes, plastic does move in cold water, but the movement is not natural because, the fish are cold blooded and it takes a significant amount of heat for the muscles in the fish to have full movement. So when plastic gets stiff, it moves in a wide, unrealistic way, hair on the other hand doesn't get stiff in cold water and the little movements of the hair resemble fin movement and it act more realistic. Now, it doesn't mean that it isn't going to work in summer or warmer water, it just means other presentations are better, and if you look at how the pros approached the ledge fishing, they started out with a crankbait, then went to swim baits or big worms and then before they would leave a spot, they would break out the hair jig, it wasn't first on the list. I tie a 3/.8oz buck tail jig for warm water use, nothing fancy, just a little flash and I use it with a grub trailer and swim it along rocky bottoms, it is basically a buck tail version of the swim jig, it bulks up the grub and it has a baitfish profile and that is what the secret of buck tail is, when it is tied on to a head and then put in the water, it looks like a minnow. My swim jig is for 2 bodies of water I fish that are clear, I use a mix of white and gray buck tail and a smoke colored grub as the trailer, but I wouldn't throw that bait first, that is when other techniques aren't working and that is based on experience, when I learned to tie hair jigs I used them non-stop for a few years and I found that while they do work in warm water, other baits do better.
Hey Smalljaw thanks for taking the time to share your preferences and experience with hair jigs. Much appreciated 
RoLo reply :
On 6/23/2015 at 8:19 AM, CJ said:I use only real bucktail. I guess I'm lucky cause I got some really nice ones with long hairs(5-6 in.)
Way to go Chris.
Just like you've stated, the demand for real bucktail has dried up.
As a result, real bucktail is now being replaced by "craft hair", the same stuff used for hair on toy dolls.
Problem is, synthetic bucktail hair (craft hair) is solid, but the tail hairs of deer and bear are 'hollow'.
Roger
craww reply :
Even though its not theyre intended use, the spro phat fly in 1/8 is an absolute killer for numbers as cast and retrieve bait. 7' Medium spinning rod and 6/15 braid. Cast as far as possible, fast retrieve w/little english imparted on a tip up retrieve to mimic a baitfish darting. Drives pickeral nuts too.
I like youre bait, Ive not really persued it, but have often wanted something solid white around 7-8" for a fast retreive over shallow vegetation. The larger bucktails available in retail stores are always an ounce or more, just a little too heavy and quick sinking for the early early spring shallow bite.
CJ reply :
On 6/27/2015 at 3:51 PM, roadwarrior said:Not available from Siebert Outdoors. Any other suggestions on where to have a few built?
I don't want to break the rules of the forum but a PM to me is a good stone to turnover. 
CJ reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 7:28 AM, RoLo said:Way to go Chris.
Just like you've stated, real bucktail has dried up.
As a result, real bucktail is now being replaced by "craft hair", the same stuff used for doll hair.
Problem is, synthetic bucktail hair (craft hair) is solid, but the tail hairs of deer and bear are 'hollow'.
Roger
You're dead on Roger. Craft hair soaks up water and won't hold profile as well as real bucktail once wet. Bucktail also floats which has become key to my latest endeavors. The fish on Ky Lake have been beat up as of late. The current has been turned way down positioning fish down off the side of the break or very near the break. Slow dragging a football jig tied with the right formula of bucktail, hackle, and flash has turned out to be deadly. As smalljaw has stated; natural lures entail action that can't be matched by artificial and show the bass something different.
RoLo reply :
Delving in my angling reports, I found a couple sources of bucktail jigs:
Kalin Hand-tied Bucktail Jigs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Kalins-Hand-Tied-Bucktail-Jigs/1514353.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dbucktail%26x%3D10%26y%3D6%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=bucktail
Bug-A-Roo Bucktail Jigs
http://www.northlandtackle.com/Product/product.taf?_function=detail&_ID=1031
Also in my archives was Jensen Bucktail jigs and Wright & McGill Hand-Tied Bucktails
but unfortunately it seems that those two are no longer available.
Roger
HoosierHawgs reply :
The OP says he swims his hair jigs... Would that be on the bottom?On 6/28/2015 at 4:26 AM, Shanes7614 said:How is this possible? He's stated that bass do not feed off the bottom.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 7:28 AM, RoLo said:Way to go Chris.
Just like you've stated, real bucktail has dried up.
As a result, real bucktail is now being replaced by "craft hair", the same stuff used for doll hair.
Problem is, synthetic bucktail hair (craft hair) is solid, but the tail hairs of deer and bear are 'hollow'.
Roger
I do well with craft fur jigs, it is a different action as it moves more fluidly and it compresses a lot more, I compare its movement to that of marabou. Deer hair is hollow, buck tail is NOT hollow, that is a common misconception, only the bottom hairs on the tail are hollow, then as you move up it is only the portion of the hair that is in the hide that is hollow. Anglers fishing deep impoundments are different than the guys that fish rivers, us river guys fish buck tail when the fish are very inactive because it has very little movement and we are fishing 10' deep or less a lot of the time. The impoundment guys use buck tail when fish are active because it falls faster because of the minnow type profile it creates when it gets wet, if the hair was hollow it would fall much slower and would not be used for deep water fishing except on large 1/2oz or heavier heads which isn't gret when fishing in cold water. I use to believe the same thing until Bob Clouser filled me in a long time ago, I asked him why he used buck tail for the Clouser Minnow since it was hollow and he gave me the scoop, he told me it is a common misconception that a lot of anglers have, they assume because the body hair is hollow that the tail is as well and it isn't, only the bottom hairs and a small porion of the upper hairs and that part gets trimmed off so it doesn't count as he puts it and I take what that guy says as gospel as he knows hair better than I do.
CJ reply :
. Deer hair is hollow, buck tail is NOT hollow, that is a common misconception, only the bottom hairs on the tail are hollow, then as you move up it is only the portion of the hair that is in the hide that is hollow.
I learn something new everyday. They are still very bouyant and don't collapse in water as does craft hair. I'm sure each has it's time and place.
CJ reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 6:19 PM, jakob1010 said:The OP says he swims his hair jigs... Would that be on the bottom?
I use atleast 2 different presentations. The best and most common is what you will see KVD do in this video link, CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO!:
http://www.bassmaster.com/series/go-pro/4282222399001
Then Edwin Evers shows you a little different presentation with his first fish here:
http://www.bassmaster.com/series/go-pro/4276548646001
Really simple, you throw it out there and let it sink to the bottom then crank it a few times then kill it. The fish will usually hit it on the fall but I've had strikes at all 3 phases of the presentation. The first fish KVD catches in this video picks the jig up off the bottom after it has fell back down from the eratic retrieve. I've had fish hit it during the retrieve but most of the time they wouldn't get it until I killed it.
The other presentation that I've caught fish on that were busting on the surface was to immediatley start my retrieve as soon as the lure hits the water and use more of a twitching and yo-yo type retrieve.
RoLo reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 8:04 PM, smalljaw67 said:I do well with craft fur jigs, it is a different action as it moves more fluidly and it compresses a lot more, I compare its movement to that of marabou. Deer hair is hollow, buck tail is NOT hollow, that is a common misconception, only the bottom hairs on the tail are hollow, then as you move up it is only the portion of the hair that is in the hide that is hollow. Anglers fishing deep impoundments are different than the guys that fish rivers, us river guys fish buck tail when the fish are very inactive because it has very little movement and we are fishing 10' deep or less a lot of the time. The impoundment guys use buck tail when fish are active because it falls faster because of the minnow type profile it creates when it gets wet, if the hair was hollow it would fall much slower and would not be used for deep water fishing except on large 1/2oz or heavier heads which isn't gret when fishing in cold water. I use to believe the same thing until Bob Clouser filled me in a long time ago, I asked him why he used buck tail for the Clouser Minnow since it was hollow and he gave me the scoop, he told me it is a common misconception that a lot of anglers have, they assume because the body hair is hollow that the tail is as well and it isn't, only the bottom hairs and a small porion of the upper hairs and that part gets trimmed off so it doesn't count as he puts it and I take what that guy says as gospel as he knows hair better than I do.
Based on what I've been told by fly tiers, the bright white hairs are the most popular with anglers,
but are not the best hairs to use. The whitest hairs along the bottom of the tail are the least resilient,
and tend to kink like straws. The highest floating and most active tail hairs are the crinkly brown hairs
at the base of the tail. These are the hairs that give a bucktail jig its natural, unique bellowing action.
The only other materials that rival bucktail hair is bear tail hair and marabou, and all for the same reason.
All three materials contain trapped air pockets that give the dressing buoyancy and pulsation (breathing action).
The 'craft hair' used for toy dolls is not hydrophobic like animal hair, but tends to wick water.
Although the action of synthetic bucktail is excellent, it lacks the same buoyancy and bellowing action of natural hair.
Billy Westmoreland was the only angler to catch 3 smallmouth bass of 10 or more pounds.
Billy's favorite lure was his famous Hoss Fly, a 1/16 oz jig dressed with polar bear tail hair (hollow hairs).
The original Hoss Fly is now defunct, but a knockoff made by Punisher Lures uses craft hair and was renamed
"Aspirin Head Jig". Below are alternate jig dressings, but only bear hair and deer hair offer hollow hairs:
>> Squirrel Tail Very fine restless hair but not hollow. Slippery to tie (very popular with crappie pundits)
>> Foxtail Arctic fox is the most common species of fox used for foxtail hair
>> Coontail Roadkills offer the cheapest source of coontail hair ;-)
>> Rabbit Hair Rabbit makes the best long streamers (e.g. bunny strips for pike)
>> Kip Tail The tail from a calf
Roger
CJ reply :
Excellent info Roger!
One thing to note as far as what big production companies offer is that this type of lure is tough to mass produce and actually have a fish catching machine. It's a lot like some crankbaits, you would have to go through a few to get a special "fish catcher". I took me with the help of a local guide and a fishing partner literally months to find the right "formula" for these jigs. After several trips from the tying bench to the swimming pool to the lake to get everyone's opinion and review, most importantly the fish's approval, we finally came up with we thought was the best jig. Sure any jig can catch active feeding fish but a good jig can make the most inactive and highly pressured fish bite. Even the placement, length, and which way to turn the hackle feathers was very critical. I think this is a lure that will always be left in the hands of a custom builder. I'm still constantly tweeking a few things and learning small details to make it even better. I'm also working on smaller more finesse types for smallmouth(though SM like what I've come up with here) and jigs better suited for other fisheries outside the TN river chain.
Chris
smalljaw67 reply :
On 6/28/2015 at 11:25 PM, CJ said:Excellent info Roger!
One thing to note as far as what big production companies offer is that this type of lure is tough to mass produce and actually have a fish catching machine. It's a lot like some crankbaits, you would have to go through a few to get a special "fish catcher". I took me with the help of a local guide and a fishing partner literally months to find the right "formula" for these jigs. After several trips from the tying bench to the swimming pool to the lake to get everyone's opinion and review, most importantly the fish's approval, we finally came up with we thought was the best jig. Sure any jig can catch active feeding fish but a good jig can make the most inactive and highly pressured fish bite. Even the placement, length, and which way to turn the hackle feathers was very critical. I think this is a lure that will always be left in the hands of a custom builder. I'm still constantly tweeking a few things and learning small details to make it even better. I'm also working on smaller more finesse types for smallmouth(though SM like what I've come up with here) and jigs better suited for other fisheries outside the TN river chain.
Chris
The smaller type used for smallmouth are what I specialize in. I use rabbit, buck tail, marabou and craft fur in my jigs and I often use a combination of buck tail and rabbit, and it is usually done with a rabbit strip tail and a buck tail body. If the picture shows up you'll see a jig that I've been working on the last 2 seasons with a lot of success. It is a 3/16oz mushroom head with a large shuck (type of chenille) under body, a rabbit tail and a buck tail outer body, it works really well as is but we are always looking for improvement.
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
next topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.