tying hair jigs

[Scarborough817]

hey guys i'm looking to tie some hair jigs for smallies i need s a couple tips i 've read that i should be using 210 denier but that is pretty much all i know.

i have a vice so that isn't an issue just looking for info on what your favourite feathers are and what dye you like to use

[cadman]

I don't have an answer for you, but smalljaw is the man that ties a lot of hair jigs for smallies. He will be on here shortly and give you solid advice, on what you need. I also believe he has some excellent tutorial on You Tube you can watch.

[buzzed bait]

what cadman said... go to youtube, search for smalljaw and watch his videos.  very informational, very easy to follow.

[Scarborough817]

1 hour ago, cadman said:

I don't have an answer for you, but smalljaw is the man that ties a lot of hair jigs for smallies. He will be on here shortly and give you solid advice, on what you need. I also believe he has some excellent tutorial on You Tube you can watch.

 

42 minutes ago, buzzed bait said:

what cadman said... go to youtube, search for smalljaw and watch his videos.  very informational, very easy to follow.

ok thanks guys i will definitely do that 

[Gundog]

I just started tying hair jigs this winter to keep busy and yea go to youtube and look up smalljaw. He's got the best vids on the subject including what material to use and when. 

[smalljaw67]

Thank you for the kind words everyone, I try to make them easy to understand but if you need help I'm here. I use a lot of different material and I make a lot of different head styles with various hooks depending on where I'm going to use the jig. I use light line as I'm fishing these in water temps in the low 30s to the mid 40s so I prefer light weights with light wire hooks on a medium light power rod. So if you give me some specifics I may be able to get you in the right ball park to start, good luck.

[CJ]

1 hour ago, smalljaw67 said:

Thank you for the kind words everyone, I try to make them easy to understand but if you need help I'm here. I use a lot of different material and I make a lot of different head styles with various hooks depending on where I'm going to use the jig. I use light line as I'm fishing these in water temps in the low 30s to the mid 40s so I prefer light weights with light wire hooks on a medium light power rod. So if you give me some specifics I may be able to get you in the right ball park to start, good luck.

Don't mean to get off topic but I watched a few of your videos the other day. It was the first videos on tying I ever watched and even though are styles are different, I learned something. Plus you are the first lefty I think I ever seen tie jigs.

I do have a question that relates to the topic. Do you ever use 280 Ultra Thread?

[OkobojiEagle]

Danville flat waxed (210 denier) is pretty reliable thread and readily available.

 

oe

[smalljaw67]

4 hours ago, CJ said:

Don't mean to get off topic but I watched a few of your videos the other day. It was the first videos on tying I ever watched and even though are styles are different, I learned something. Plus you are the first lefty I think I ever seen tie jigs.

I do have a question that relates to the topic. Do you ever use 280 Ultra Thread?

I have used 280 UTC Ultra Thread GSP, I was actually using that for rubber and silicone and 210 for regular hair jigs and 140 for crappie jigs. After running out I started using the 210 for rubber and silicone and found it works just fine, and I can get 2 spools of the Danville Flymaster plus for the cost of 1 spool of the 280 GSP.

[Gundog]

My collection of hair jigs I made myself. Winter is getting boring and this keeps me busy and my mind off the snow.

 

[smalljaw67]

1 hour ago, Gundog said:

My collection of hair jigs I made myself. Winter is getting boring and this keeps me busy and my mind off the snow.

 

It looks like you're on your way to a really nice selection, well done!!! You'll be amazed at how effective they can be at times and when they are, it is normally when you can't buy a bite with any other bait.

[Will Wetline]

Guys, the Danville that OE and smalljaw67 use has worked fine for me too. I also use UNI-Thread in 6/0 and 3/0 as well as Ultra Thread in 140 and 210 denier. (Don't waste money on GSP - it's not needed because you don't need to crank down with extreme tension, right?)

After I've tied off I saturate the wrap with a drop or two of thin super glue. Don't get carried away with this stuff. It helps to keep a scrap of paper towel handy to absorb any excess. Topcoat with penetrating head cement or Hard As Nails or topcoat the entire head including the wraps if you want a gloss on the collar.

I buy thread in one of the many fly shops where I go steelhead fishing or from Barlow's:

http://www.barlowstackle.com/Thread-Tinsel-Ribbing-Cord-Wire-and-Floss-C167.aspx

The 1/8 oz. jigs in the photo below were tied with UNI-Thread 6/0 and Ultra Thread 140 denier.

You may find general information that's helpful in this post from a couple of years ago:

 

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I've been trying out Veevus threads. The 6/0 is the largest size they make, but is extremely strong. The 10/0 is great for smaller panfish type jigs where you don't want much bulk at the collar.

[CJ]

1 hour ago, OntarioFishingGuy said:

I've been trying out Veevus threads. The 6/0 is the largest size they make, but is extremely strong. The 10/0 is great for smaller panfish type jigs where you don't want much bulk at the collar.

I've been using veevus 240. Very strong but doesn't lay very flat. Really builds up a lot.

[CJ]

4 hours ago, Will Wetline said:

Guys, the Danville that OE and smalljaw67 use has worked fine for me too. I also use UNI-Thread in 6/0 and 3/0 as well as Ultra Thread in 140 and 210 denier. (Don't waste money on GSP - it's not needed because you don't need to crank down with extreme tension, right?)

After I've tied off I saturate the wrap with a drop or two of thin super glue. Don't get carried away with this stuff. It helps to keep a scrap of paper towel handy to absorb any excess. Topcoat with penetrating head cement or Hard As Nails or topcoat the entire head including the wraps if you want a gloss on the collar.

I buy thread in one of the many fly shops where I go steelhead fishing or from Barlow's:

http://www.barlowstackle.com/Thread-Tinsel-Ribbing-Cord-Wire-and-Floss-C167.aspx

The 1/8 oz. jigs in the photo below were tied with UNI-Thread 6/0 and Ultra Thread 140 denier.

You may find general information that's helpful in this post from a couple of years ago:

 

Those jigs are nice! I have to admit I winch down hard my jigs but I'm also tying bigger profile baits. I even snap 280 Ultra thread at times. I really don't like GSP (gel spool). It's just too slick and doesn't hold material as well but extremely strong.

[smalljaw67]

10 hours ago, CJ said:

Those jigs are nice! I have to admit I winch down hard my jigs but I'm also tying bigger profile baits. I even snap 280 Ultra thread at times. I really don't like GSP (gel spool). It's just too slick and doesn't hold material as well but extremely strong.

I learned something here, the largest denier thread I ever saw that wasn't gel spun was 240, the UTC 280 I had I believe was gel spun thread and thought all of it over 240 was gel spun, but it appears I'm wrong, you learn something every day.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

12 hours ago, CJ said:

I've been using veevus 240. Very strong but doesn't lay very flat. Really builds up a lot.

That was one downside I found, but I still use it for larger jigs. I used to use uni 3/0, but it broke a lot when cinching down the hair. Danville is next on the list.