Hair Jigs for smallies 2024

bryand82487 reply :

I picked up some hair jigs today at my local tackle store to try to target smallies. I caught quite a few smallies last year but not many on artificial bait. I've fished for LMB plenty with normal jigs but don't really have any experience with these hair jigs. Could someone explain to me how these need to be fished and do you use trailers with them? If so what kind? I've found a couple of websites that make it seem like they're the best smallmouth bait but I've never heard anyone talk about them.

bryand82487 reply :

Man nobody has any information on these baits? This is my first ever no response lol ;D

tholmes reply :

I've tied my own bucktail jigs for smallies for years. They're my "go-to" smallie lure.

Fish 'em pretty much as you would any jig. I like to bounce 'em along the bottom, or swim them anywhere from a few inches to a couple of feet off the bottom.

I usually use a trailer, mostly small, soft plastic crawdad lookin' critters, curly tail grubs (single and double tail), etc.

Hope this helps!

Good fishin'!

Tom

Dwight Hottle reply :

OK I have used hair jigs both plain & tipped with a minnow. Both work. Best to use them as a cold water presentation below 55 degrees. Caught my 2nd biggest smallie on a hair jig prespawn 2 years ago. If your using them under warm water temps they become just a another jig. If that's what you want to do I would definitely add a trailer. Hair jigs offer a very fine finesse presentation in colder waters.

backwater4 reply :

Like Dwight said, I mainly use them in colder water. They are a great pre spawn and winter bait. I almost always fish them with no trailer, but when I do it's a piece of a straight tail 4" worm in the same color as the hair jig. Pretty much always black. I either drag the bait slowly just off the bottom, or hop and fall back to the boat. They work both shallow and deep. They catch a lot of largemouth, too.

River Rat316 reply :

Hair jigs in water below 55 degrees can be deadly, my main presentation is a slow drag, adding small hops and pauses occasionally. Just remember to slow down and let the natural movement of the hair do the work for you, you don't want to over work a hair jig.

birdy reply :

I think I want to cry every time I see the photo's of Dwight's smallie's.

Daddyodo reply :

Pardon my ignorance but what is a hair jig and does anyone have a picture of one?

:-/

Daddyodo reply :

Also are they effective bank fishing?

Dwight Hottle reply :

Here is an image of my favorite hair jig. Yes hair jigs can be effective from the bank if your able to reach bass inhabited areas.

Daddyodo reply :

Thank you Dwight :)

culprit71 reply :

Dwight,

That is the best smallmouth, he is a monster

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
Here is an image of my favorite hair jig. Yes hair jigs can be effective from the bank if your able to reach bass inhabited areas.

Weight, please. Is this a custom or available for sale? Do

you fish the same jig in other colors, too? When tipping,

are you using live minnows, big, small or just complimenting

the jig?

We're still a couple of weeks away around here, but water

temperatures have already dropped 10*. The "season" is

just about to begin!

BTW, I LOVE your fish. That is a classic pic!

;D ;D ;D

Dwight Hottle reply :

I mostly use 1/8, 1/4 & 3/8 oz. These hair jigs are available by internet order from jensenjigs.com. I use the standard yellow perch, green perch & alwive for smallies. I use them tipped with 2-3 inch lake shinners or small bass minnows Some times just use them plain. Lake erie temps have dropped from 77 degrees to 69 over the last two weeks. I can't wait for our "season" to start.

Jig Man reply :

A black bucktail jig with a #11 pork frog trailer slow rolled like a swimjig can be deadly for smallies around here.

roadwarrior reply :

Thank you!

I just placed my order. His leech is on sale for $1.89,

so I bought a few of those, too. Have you had any

luck with that?

Dwight Hottle reply :

RW,

I use the leech mostly for pike like this. I know one of his customers caught his PB largemouth on one. I haven't used them much for smallies because the perch patterns mimic the the perch forage in erie so much. All black is good in dirty water as well as clear water. Give them a try.

roadwarrior reply :

Geez...

zaraspook_dylan2 reply :

that smallie looks like it weighs a lot more than 6# 14oz. i was gonna say 9 pushin 10

FIAB reply :

Beautiful smallie. I have been tying hair jigs this year on 1oz picasso jig heads with rabbit zonker trailers for fishing the ledges at Pickwick and have had some sucess. I've caught more large mouths than smallies.

FIAB reply :

Now that I can post some pics............here are some hair jigs that I've been tying and using.

Skanky Shad

On a 1oz scrounger jig head

iceintheveins reply :

They are good anytime the water is below 60, but when fished faster they can still work in warmer water. Tip them with a little plastic crayfish or double tail. The rage chunk is a good choice for a trailer too.

Dwight Hottle reply :

Bone-headjig, those are nice looking jigs.

FIAB reply :

Thanks Dwight............they would look alot better with that smallie your holding hanging off one of them.

Big Fish Rice reply :

Just put an order in at jensenjigs.com, thanks for the link. I've been looking for some hair jigs with a perch pattern. Looks like I found 'em!

Dwight Hottle reply :

DanielR make sure you give us a report after you try them.

Big Fish Rice reply :

Quote
DanielR make sure you give us a report after you try them.

Absolutely, but it might be awhile. Orders are a few weeks out, so I'll do my best!

Nick reply :

I've been fishing hair for many years in winter in very clear Ozark streams with water temps ranging in the 30's to the upper 40's. Below 42 degrees I have much more confidence in hair than in a silicone or rubber skirt. I like a very sparsely tied brown or black weedless 1/16 - 1/8 oz. jig in either fox, deer, bear, or maribou. Usually I put a small split tail trailer to give it enough weight to cast with my e7 Curado and 8 lb. flouro. I guide about 30 days each winter for the "fools" who like to catch big smallies. As long as we don't get much ice on the guides, we feel pretty comfortable and pretty certain that we'll catch some solid numbers of smallies from 13-22 inches. We caught over 70 last year over 17 inches, and our Ozark streams just aren't nearly as fertile as northern streams are in summer. Anyway winter is a great time to catch the bruisers if one knows when to go and how to put together a pattern.

NateFollmer reply :

I don't have much to add here (already been said). Hair jigs would a lot better in cold water because of the action they can provide over a cold rubber/plastic jig.

Hair jigs are awesome for smallies, walleye, muskie, pike and perch. I don't understand why more people don't use them. They seem like one of those old lures that people have no confidence with!

roadwarrior reply :

Well, the exposed hook is an issue on the Tennessee River:

If you use 'em, expect to lose 'em. That said, I'll be using

and losing this Saturday! Can't wait...

;D ;D ;D

Waterford reply :

Jensen Jigs is closed for the year. Can somebody recommend another place to order some quality jigs?

roadwarrior reply :

MegaStrike EVO II:

http://www.megastrikefishingproducts.com/shop/EVO-II-Lures/

NorthStar: http://www.northstarbaits.com/home.html

GMAN Jigs: http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/

Waterford reply :

Thank you for the reply.

htbass reply :

Quote
Jensen Jigs is closed for the year. Can somebody recommend another place to order some quality jigs?

http://www.wincoscustomlures.com/

roadwarrior reply :

Fished the NorthStar Hairy Jigs on Saturday. Mine are 3/8 oz

football heads, black on black and brown on black. Trailers

were Rage Tail Baby Craws or Uncle Josh Pork.

Didn't catch a monster, but caught a few.

8-)

garry77 reply :

It's been awhile since I've fished for smallies,but in the cooler months in PA I had some success with a brown hair jig tipped with a black Uncle Josh kicker frog(not sure if they even still make these).

Nick reply :

RW,

One can make a really effective weedguard on just about any jig with a tiny drill bit, some saltwater nylon covered wire leader and superglue. Drill two angled holes in the jighead just outside of the line tie with .050 drill bit. (easy to find in a good hobby shop) Hold the drill and bit so it would be on the same plane as you would like the weeguard to lay. Drill about halfway into the lead. You shuld have two symmetrically place holes in the jig. Next cut one to 1.5 inches of leader material (just a single strand is all) to glue into the two holes of the jig. Takes about 10 minutes to dry. Fine tune the guards to the angles and lenghts desired after they dry and add a little black marker to dull the shine on the guards if needed. This split weedguard works very well and keeps the jig from falling over on its side. I like them so much tht I now cut off the traditional brush guards on most of my small stream jigs.

One can use stiffer materail such as weedwacker string on larger football head jigs. You'll be amazed at how well these jigs will now fish and catch.

roadwarrior reply :

Thanks, but I was born with ten thumbs.

I have to buy mine retail, but hopefully

on sale!

8-)

Memphisballer reply :

What about the 12 lb 11 ounce monster you caught?

Dwight Hottle reply :

I don't think that was a bass.

roadwarrior reply :

Memphisballer and I spent all day Saturday fishing nearly

every class of artificial lures and no live bait. I expect to

catch everything that swims on minnows and shad, but

not on crankbaits and jigs! The drum were my specialty

last weekend...

GRIZZ reply :

Does anyone know how to get a hold of Phil Schafer?

He's email comes up invaled the pws4@yahoo.com one.

Thanks Ed

Nick reply :

Last I knew he was still living in Stockton, MO. Check for a phone number there.

13360

Hair Jigs for smallies 2024

related Smallmouth Bass Fishing topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Smallmouth Bass Fishing topic