Hair Jigs For Spots

[dreamertino]

I was looking into buying some NorthStar hair jigs. My question is are they as deadly on spotted bass as they are on smallies. The lake I fish is loaded with spots but no smallies and I want opinions before making a purchase.

[War Eagle 44]

My area lake's are also loaded with spots but I've never heard of anyone using hair jigs. This certainly doesn't mean guys aren't or that it wouldn't work if you tried it. I don't see why they wouldn't work, I mean there's a good possibility you will be showing them something different than they're used to seeing so you may have great success. I've found that using "spider" or "finesse" type skirts gets me a lot more bites from spots than a full skirt. Also my most productive color by far looks nothing like anything that I've seen in the lake so I'm not sure what they think it is or why they like it so well but they do so I don't argue with them.

 

You've piqued my interest in trying hair jigs so now I think I'll pick up a few and try them out this winter. Oh and it always seems that a jig with some chartreuse in it is better than one without for spots.

 

Here's a pic of the finesse jig I usually have the best luck with.

  

[dreamertino]

Those are some great looking jigs. Thanks for replying I may have to try the finesse jigs I wonder why I never thought about it lol. I dont think many guys are throwing hair jigs so I guess ill have to fish and find out

[Jrob78]

Hair jigs are great for largemouths too, especially in the cooler months.  I don't see why they wouldn't work for spots a well.

[dreamertino]

May have to try that I like the look of the northstar hair jigs. There are largemouth at the lake but the spots are more abundant. I will make my order soon

[kickerfish1]

I have used various styles and colors of Northstar hairjigs with good success throughout the year. I recently tried the hippy jig which uses a combination of hair, living rubber, and some flash material as a slight accent color. Needless to say I am hooked on the hippy jig. Caught some very nice fish on it last weekend in fairly cold clear water. For cold-water I do well on solid black, brown, and green pumpkin.

[RandySBreth]

I tie a small finesse jig like those War Eagle showed - but I also use the same head for a bucktail and craft fur jig that both Smallies and Spots love in colder weather. So my answer is yes - get some hair and try it - if they're hitting jigs they'll hit a hair one, too.

[dreamertino]

Hair jigs it is I will be making a order tomorrow

[dreamertino]

I've been trying to get in touch with northstar. I sent him an email and a message on here. Im sure he's very busy this time of year. I just had a few quick questions about the jigs

[WRB]

I would go with watermelon-chartreuse hair jig with Strike King Rage DB craw in summer craw color to start with, 3/8 oz. You can dip the craw claws (tips) in chartreuse dye.

This combo will work for spots everywhere.

Tom

PS, the rusty craw jig with Bama craw trailer should work well for LMB or Smallmouth when target both types of bass.

[Deleted account]

My area lake's are also loaded with spots but I've never heard of anyone using hair jigs. This certainly doesn't mean guys aren't or that it wouldn't work if you tried it. I don't see why they wouldn't work, I mean there's a good possibility you will be showing them something different than they're used to seeing so you may have great success. I've found that using "spider" or "finesse" type skirts gets me a lot more bites from spots than a full skirt. Also my most productive color by far looks nothing like anything that I've seen in the lake so I'm not sure what they think it is or why they like it so well but they do so I don't argue with them.

 

You've piqued my interest in trying hair jigs so now I think I'll pick up a few and try them out this winter. Oh and it always seems that a jig with some chartreuse in it is better than one without for spots.

 

Here's a pic of the finesse jig I usually have the best luck with.

  

Thems is a good looking jig, they is! What do you put on 'em? And yes, hair jigs will catch everything.

[War Eagle 44]

Those are PJ's Lil Brush Jigs. The only thing I've done to them is to tie the skirt on with braid, does away with the rubber collar that most jigs come with for added longevity and increased skirt movement. As far as trailers go I use either a Zoom swimming chunk or Rage chunk in matching color. I always dip the tips of the trailers in chartreuse dye as well. I never see these little jigs talked about anywhere on the net but they sure do catch fish. My local tackle shop carries them and this is by far the most popular color for around here. As I said before I'm not sure why because it really doesn't look like anything else that's in the lake to me but the spots sure do like it.  

 

I will add that I've had very little success using these while targeting largemouth, not sure why. Again, they're money for spots though.

[dreamertino]

I will look into those how are they on quality

[War Eagle 44]

They've held up very well for me. The wire weed guard can be bent back into place many many times. The hooks are Mustad so they're fine. I know they look small when you see them in person but trust me they'll hold. The skirts themselves are fine, it's the rubber collar that comes on them that needs replacing. After I tie them on with braid I usually lose the jig before I can wear it out. I'd recommend these little jigs to anyone, I've had a ton of great fishing days using them. 

[Virtuoso]

I have used various styles and colors of Northstar hairjigs with good success throughout the year. I recently tried the hippy jig which uses a combination of hair, living rubber, and some flash material as a slight accent color. Needless to say I am hooked on the hippy jig. Caught some very nice fish on it last weekend in fairly cold clear water. For cold-water I do well on solid black, brown, and green pumpkin.

 

I have read the larger profile of the hippy jig is good for targeting larger bass. Do u catch qty of fish aswell or just size. Hippy vs hair.....which 1?

[WRB]

I suggested the NorthStar hair jig, they make a 3/16 oz round head, that should work good.

If you want hair jigs, with real bucktail hair, they are hard to find unless you make your own. Hair jigs are like pork rind trailers, not popular anymore, the fact they catch bass doesn't seem to matter.

Tom

[kickerfish1]

I have read the larger profile of the hippy jig is good for targeting larger bass. Do u catch qty of fish aswell or just size. Hippy vs hair.....which 1?

For part one of the question the answer is yes, usually larger fish. Most of the bites are fish between 15-18 inches on average.

As far as which one the answer is both. Too complex to get into the finer details of both. The shear size and profile are much different. The hippy jig will fall slower, have a larger profile, living rubber which adds a unique flair while at rest, and tend to be a bit more wind resistant, but not by much. Their standard hair jigs are much smaller in profile, have different action all together, and are available in more color options.

I fish both especially in the spring and fall periods when water temps are cooler and the fish are sluggish. The key is to fish them slow and let the hair and living rubber trigger bites while the bait is at rest.

[dreamertino]

I will look into the hippy jigs as well I didn't know they had hair as well

[SirSnookalot]

I fish my saltwater bucktails for bass, usually I'll use a flats bucktail jig 1/4 oz.  I fish bass with those jigs exactly the way I fish for saltwater fish, they work quite well.