Hair Jigs For Cold Water Smallies

[Will Wetline]

Been filling in the jig box for my first trips to Quabbin Reservoir next week where I expect the water temps to be in the high 40ºs. I'll be using vibrating blade baits, suspending jerkbaits and rubber skirted jigs with low-action trailers, but what I really get a kick from is a smallie slurping up an 1/8 oz. hair jig crawling along the bottom. Let's have a look at the bench set up to make them:

Last year they sure liked an 1/8 oz ball jig with a couple lengths of grizzly hackle on top. I treated myself to a saddle of Metz #2 Microbarb Grizzly when on a steelhead trip years ago in New York. No reason a smallie shouldn't have a taste of this select stuff.

 Three scissors? Yeah. The fine point black handled Skeeter II is used only for thread and stays sharp. Above it is a Fiskars which has titanium coated blades, very good for bucktail. The elegant, gold plated Dr. Slick's have dulled over the years and become my "beater" scissors which I use after I've adjusted a clump of hair just right and find a few wayward strands over the ball. (Yes, I agree - that's up for an OCD award.) 

UTC 140 denier is used for 1/8 oz. jigs; 210 for heavier.  The scraps of paper towel on the lamp base are not in case of a nosebleed . . . Let's go to the next photo. 

Instead of traditional penetrating head cement (Wapsi, Orvis) I've been using readily available super glue (cyanoacrylate). And I like it better because it takes less time to apply and is at least as secure. You can apply a drop as you wrap and continue or simply saturate the collar after you tie off. You want a scrap of paper towel handy if you have a heavy thumb on the tube or, simply to sop up any excess on the finished collar. This adhesive is formulated for tight-fitting parts; it's not a top coat. Pulling on the bucktail, I'd still get a few hairs loose but fewer than with traditional cement. All the jigs above have been pull tested and I have no doubt the bass will pull on them too.

Here's another view of the hair and hackle bucktail:

Want to try slow rolling a Herring Head underspin by my northern smallies, see how they respond. Like CJ, I see bucktail dressing the product of Do-it's mold.

I had difficulty closing the swivel loop by squeezing with needle nose pliers. Then I figured out an easier way: Grip the fitting  firmly and then rotate your wrist to close the loop.

Here are a few 1/8 oz. bucktails in the color that Henry Ford always fished:

I'm thinking now that fewer strands of Wapsi Black/Red Grizzly Accent would have been better.

I pulled out a small drawer that I had labeled "hair" some time ago and found a piece of what I'm fairly certain is bear hair. (Munkin, what say ye?)

It would be nice to own a fancy rosewood handled comb to pull out bear's underfur, but this no-frills plastic comb that came with my beard trimmer works just fine.

I'm thinking that this thick hair will make for a slow drop on these little jigs . . . Float like a butterfly, sting like a Mustad 32746 BLN 2/0. Oh my. I'm up past my bedtime. Look for a Quabbin report next week.

 

[smalljaw67]

Bravo Mr. Wetline, Bravo!!!!! You got me with the Metz microbarb grizzly hackle, I hate paying for that but it does add such a nice touch of realism to that jig, excellent proportion and color. As for the accent, fewer strands could be better but the black/red (I use it too) isn't outrageous and I find that you can use a little more of it, black accent is the same way. I to use super glue but I prefer the Loctite brush-on, the brush makes it easy to apply to the collar and it seems to be thinner and so it penetrates further and faster and for me it is good since I use 210 most of the time. I have to tell you that you do a magnificent jog, I really like the looks of your jigs and I know the smallmouth will as well, good luck on the trip!!!

[A-Jay]

Very, Very Nice ~

Love the Bucktail Underspins . . .

A-Jay

[kickerfish1]

You did a fantastic job! Other than adding an olive/GP colored flavor, I would not change a thing.

[buzzed bait]

another detailed post from you sir!  and i love the underspins!  i bet they'd do some magic on the big spots on Lake Lanier down here in GA.

[Dwight Hottle]

What can I say but Beautiful. Looking forward to your production report. 

[Jrob78]

Beautiful work!

[Catch 22]

Yes indeed, fine looking jigs on a real nice post.

C22

 

[Gundog]

You do quality work on those hair jigs sir. Hope they serve you well.

[Munkin]

You are a lot better at tying than anything I have ever done and they look great. Having made a lot of spinnerbaits the only thing I would change is reversing those swivels on the underspins. The way you have the swivels it takes more force for them to spin. They are not wrong by any means but they just spin easier the other way.

 

Allen

[smalljaw67]

9 hours ago, Munkin said:

You are a lot better at tying than anything I have ever done and they look great. Having made a lot of spinnerbaits the only thing I would change is reversing those swivels on the underspins. The way you have the swivels it takes more force for them to spin. They are not wrong by any means but they just spin easier the other way.

 

Allen

Good eyes Allen!!!!! Worth ball bearing swivels have a fixed end and a moving end, I always attach the blade to the moving end. As Munkin has said, it isn't wrong or right but it will not spin quite as easy.

[Will Wetline]

Thanks! I missed this detail, probably because I grumble when I have to work with split rings.

Thanks to you bait makers, I won't miss it again.

["hamma"]

nice work, how was quabbin? I love it out there and miss having my 20 hp motor. I heard they changed the rules and no bunk trailers anymore, another let down,.

 I tie some as well, heres just a  couple from when i first started, I need to download some more pics

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