jig modifications

[riverbasser]

just curious about how you like to modify or customize your jigs?

I almost always trim the weed guard a little bit but for the most part leave them alone. I've seen some people trimming the skirts, what effect does this have and what parts do you trim?

[papajoe222]

I'll sometimes trim the skirt back to just behind the hook's bend when I want to offer them a smaller profile.  I'll downsize the trailer too. The only time I shorten the weed guard is if I'm targeting Brian and getting hung up. The shorter bristles are stiffer and will reduce the jig's tendency to catch the limbs 

[Scarborough817]

nope siebert jigs seem to be fine stock i have never had to trim anything on them

[Turtle135]

In the dead of winter I will "thin out" the weed guard considerably (I would rather lose a jig than miss the one bite I get that day). I will shorten the skirt when I want a smaller, less intimidating profile. I will turn the jig upside down and then trim the skirt which gives it that finesse cut.

[primetime]

I like to leave the top half of strands uneven so maybe 4-5 strands hang a bit lower for swimming jigs so they give it a bit more action....I will also sometimes add 1 or 2 strands of a color for accent depending on water color and if I am not getting bit...

I will take a regular jig for flipping and pitching and sometimes give it a buzz cut like a finesse jig since the top catches water and can slow the fall while also offering a smaller profile. Sometimes I think the buzz cut jigs look more natural if I am fishing them on the bottom, but I will also trim the skirt shorter if fish are not really taking it..It all depends on the day and time of year and lake/pond. 

I never really shorten the brush guard only because it makes it stiffer, but I do like to cut a few strands from the bottom on some jigs to make them softer. I will remove a weed guard all together if I am fishing sparce weeds or open water when swimming a jig, but I only do it so I can snap it off weeds like a rattle trap and I sometimes think weedguards cause fish to not get hooked well on swimming jigs if they are too thick. I know a weedguard helps keep the jig stuck in the fishes mouth, but I will often just swim an arkie jig with regular brush guard and if that is too thick I feel I get less hook ups...I also make sure I am using the right guage hook on a jig I am throwing long distances or with light line...Hook Quality and size/thickness can really matter...But everyone has little things they do for confidence and prefer certain styles which is why there are hundreds of companies who make jigs in 3 varieties for a swim jig, casting, finesse, flipping etc....

The biggest modification I notice when looking at jigs is how much rubber vs. Silicone people use, or how much flare they like etc....If only I knew what was best when it comes to color and trailer at all times...If you can figure all that out then you should have alot of good days since Jigs will always be on the Menu....

[ww2farmer]

Trim and/or thin the skirt depending on what I want to present to the fish that day. Thin the weed guard, or "fan" it out..........I NEVER...........EVER shorten the weed guard. That makes it stiffer.

[kickerfish1]

48 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

Trim and/or thin the skirt depending on what I want to present to the fish that day. Thin the weed guard, or "fan" it out..........I NEVER...........EVER shorten the weed guard. That makes it stiffer.

100% spot on!

[RyneB]

Trim the skirt and fan out the weed guard just a bit, not much

[Catt]

1. Zip tie the skirt in place

2. That's it!

[kcdinkerz]

I trim the skirts so they don't impede my trailers action. Weed guards I trim a few strands at the root when I notice my hook up isn't as good

[Bluebasser86]

I customize my jigs by pouring, painting, and tying my own. 

[Last_Cast]

27 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I customize my jigs by pouring, painting, and tying my own. 

I need to learn how to start making my own things.
Spending too much money on certain things.

[Bluebasser86]

15 minutes ago, Last_Cast said:

I need to learn how to start making my own things.
Spending too much money on certain things.

I honestly wouldn't suggest it unless it's done the way I, and most others I'm sure, have done it, accumulated the supplies over time. I started buying molds 14 years ago and usually add another 1 or 2 over a years time. Trying to buy it all at once and start pouring would be extremely expensive. 

If I hadn't done it that way, I'd just buy Siebert's and be done with it. I have no idea how he puts out the quality he does for the price he's asking. His jigs I've seen in person are works of art to the point I'd almost feel bad fishing with them. 

[gardnerjigman]

I usually do some add-ons to my jigs. First, I add a trailer, then I tie it to 15lb fluoro attached to a abu garcia orra seated on a 7' mh diawa lt. Complete customization!

[shimmy]

Siebert outdoors is fantastic. I buy the lead jigs there unpainted and without the weedguard. This gives me a chance to powder coat them or paint them any way i like. Then i cure them or epoxy them. I have had him make longer hooks with some of the lighter jigs so i can still make them a big looking jig. Additional tweeking: frequently sharpening the hooks; always have at least 3 strands of skirts on them; i will make a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce jig fall real slow by spinning deer hair underneath the skirt so i can cast further in all conditions and still get the slow fall rate; for my green jigs, i will have a fleshy looking skirt strand on one edge and use permanent marker (red) to add a bleeding effect; and on another aspect, i will fish a swim jig with a swimbait trailer slow off the bottom like you would a slow moving trailer and pause on the bottom like your typical lift and drop and pause technique. This catches a lot of big bass for me. People get it in their heads that paddle tails must move at all times. So what does my presentation imitate? i have absolutely no idea. But it works.