Skirt Thickness???

[The Young Gun]

What are the positives and negatives of the skirt sizes? I'm on siebertoutdoors and under the storm series he says they're 66 strands compared to a normal brush jig with 55 strands? Is it really that big of a difference? What does the thicker skirt really do??

 

TYG

[rockchalk06]

Bulks up the bait. More skirt more movement and flare.

[Bluebasser86]

A bulkier skirt will also slow the fall quite a bit. It doesn't sound like much only adding 11 or strands but remember those numbers are basically going to be doubled (unless it's tied like a finesse style jig). So instead of having a jig with 110 skirt ends, you're going to have 132 (the band or wire wrap in the middle portion doubles the skirt over at the point it's attached to the skirt collar). 

[ariess]

 I would say in dirty water go with a thicker skirt; slower fall and more vibration. It will help the bass to find you lure. 

[Felix77]

Bulks up the bait. More skirt more movement and flare.

 

Exactly! 

 

This is even more true when you include living rubber in your skirts.  

 

I have been learning to tie my own jigs.  I have done 2 strand silicone skirts all the way up to 4 strand skirts and it does make a difference.  Add some living rubber into the mix and you have a whole new ballgame IMO.

 

My base is around 44 strands of silicone with about 15-20 strands of living rubber for a 1/2oz jig.

[WRB]

It really depends on the type of skirt material, standard or fine cut silicone or living rubber. Flare can be achieved by how tight the skirt material is held to the jig collar and if a flaring umbrella is used to flare out the skirt.

Tom

[smalljaw67]

I typically use 42 to 45 strands on a typical 1/4oz jig, it varies because if I use 2 different types or different manufacturers of the material then there will be a difference in the width so I'll use more or less based on the material itself. The same thing on larger jigs but I'll use around 50 to 52 strands on a 3/8oz jig and 54 to 56 strands on a 1/2oz jig and larger, the difference between 55 and 60 doesn't seem like much but if you saw both jigs together you'd notice which one has 60 strands.  Rockchalk06 and Bluebasser86 are spot on with their assessments, adding skirt strands will make for a bulkier jig and slow the fall significantly, it also moves more water, I like using the bulkier jig when I need a big bite but it also is great when the fish are active as the added bulk and water displacement will call fish from further away.

[Felix77]

I have been playing with fishing skirts over this LONG winter and I found that Gene's suggestion in his jig tying video is spot on.  I stick to 2 strips (44 strands) of silicone to around 14 strands of Living Rubber.  For silicone only I do 2.5 - 3 strips (around 55-66 strands MAX)

 

I tried more and it looks ridiculously bulky in the water.  It also seems to get in the way of the living rubber IMO.  The living rubber needs a little space to "breathe" in the water.

 

For "finesse jigs" or smaller regular jigs I tend to stay in the 33-44 strands area MAX.  (1/4oz ish size jigs)