TYING ONE ON
Why a “JIG”?
So, why should I be interested in fishing Jigs. I’ll say right now, there are a few fisheries that I won’t use a jig, but… I’ve learned through experience that jigs really catch fish!
For every species that swims there’s a technique that works a little better than others. As an angler, you know that some guys can catch fish in a mud puddle and on just about anything. The average angler… well, those mud puddles can make for a pretty tough day on the water. So, think of what makes a tackle offering effective. There are certain lure/bait characteristics that are very important. Think about a jig’s qualities as you check out the key fish catching qualities below…
Visibility – Sight:
Presentation – How it looks, Especially to the fish. But, do you think it looks good. You will catch more fish, with increased confidence, if you like the jig…
Shape - Is it natural and appealing?
Size – Big enough to get attention or proportional to bait size…
Color – Matching the food source, attracting interest, agitating into a strike and understanding lighting conditions…
Action – Life like movement, leggy, natural movement in the water…
Speed – Fast or slow, certain conditions require adjustments…
Depths – Does your offering cover the depth and fish species you are targeting?
(Eyes) – Just throwing this in to make you think.
As far as I know, it’s never been proven that eyes make a difference, but… a high percentage of the food source for fresh and saltwater fish have very pronounced eyes…
Audible – Sound:
Action, - a lead head jig bouncing on the bottom can be the trigger to a strike or just gain a fishes attention…
Smell – (Adding scent to your offering):
Not alarming fish with human/foreign smells...
Do your current offerings absorb scents?
Natural materials (such as hair and feathers do a wonderful job of holding flavor)…DO NOT USE JELLY SCENTS ON MARABOU, THEY WILL RUIN THE ACTION OF THE MARABOU…
“The Zone” – The ability to get to where the fish are:
Weight – jigs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which allow for a slow fall for suspended fish or a brush busting drop through heavy cover.
For the steelhead float fisherman, a variety of weights allows for different float sizes and water flow conditions…
The Hook – A jig hook spends much of it’s time riding upwards, the point semi protected as it follows the lead head. That’s the nature of the hook style. This allows for solid hook-ups on the roof of the mouth. This hook characteristic also reduces the chance of a hook point from finding as many snags on the bottom, leading to lost tackle and time with your line out of the water as you re-tie…
Info on patterns:
Tequila Worm Jigs (Woolly Worm):
Tequila Worm Jig is Modeled after the long time favorite fly pattern, this leggy creation is a great fish catcher. Woolly Worms are created by spiraling saddle hackle (called Palmering) over the body of the jig to create a bushy, buggy affect. This pattern fishes nicely in all conditions, since it has a medium size profile in the water.
Woolly Worm Jig: 1/8 oz. Pink Tail & Hackle with Chart. Body and Round Head, Tied on 1/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Wire Hook:
Marabou:
For years avid fly tiers have enjoyed the success of this incredible feather. A plume of marabou wrapped around or just tied to a jig is a work of art. Marabou jigs look big when dry because of the fluff of the feather, but dunked in water, they transform into a sleek swimming machine. Marabou jigs fish well in all conditions, but We like them in clear water or water with a tint of color. The sleek profile and flowing nature of this material make it an excellent fish producer.
Marabou Jig: 1/16 oz. Purple Marabou with a Black Round Head, Tied on 1/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Wire Hook:
Bucktail:
A traditional fly tying material that can’t be beat! Durability and a natural look scores this jig a thumbs up. One of the most universal materials used. Used for flipp’n for Bass, jigging it for walleye, stripers, cod/rockfish, Steelhead and Salmon, this style of jig is a must for almost anything that swims.
The only limitation might be the size of the offering tied with this material. Bucktail fishes great in larger jigs, and can be tied small, but is usually preferred as a larger profile bait.
Bucktail Jig: Black & White Bucktail, with a Black 3/8 oz. Football Head, on a 2/0 635 Eagle Claw Hook:
