Wire for jig skirts

[Crankenstein Crony]

Hey guys, Im looking for some input on using wire for jig skirts and spinner bait skirts. I have been making my own jigs and putting my own skirts together for several years now. But those silly cheap rubber bands stretch out or get brittle and break. For those of you that use wire to tie your jig skirts what kind of wire do you use? What gauge? Do you have problems with the wire rusting? Winter time has just rolled around here in Michigan and its time to fire up my pot and start making more jigs. 

[Gundog]

I use 20 to 24 gauge wire. The wire is usually coated with plastic so no problems rusting. I get my wire at Walmart in the crafts section.

[Turtle135]

I use 26 gauge green floral wire. It does rust eventually if the jigs are not allowed to dry out but since my jigs are black, blue, brown or green pumpkin it does not seem to matter. If the jig is still good I will strip the skirt and wire and retie. My jigs are not works of art, it seems like the uglier they are the better they work.

[Crankenstein Crony]

How many times to you wrap the wire around the bait to keep the skirt material in place?

[Turtle135]

1 minute ago, Crankenstein Crony said:

How many times to you wrap the wire around the bait to keep the skirt material in place?

I form a loop, slide the skirt under, tighten the loop, come back around one more time, twist the wire, cut

[Crankenstein Crony]

Awesome! I'm going to give the wire tying a go. I plan on trying this out for myself this weekend. 

[Gundog]

2 hours ago, Crankenstein Crony said:

Awesome! I'm going to give the wire tying a go. I plan on trying this out for myself this weekend. 

Its a good way to save some money on buying skirts when the band breaks. Which is usually when you pull the jig out of the pack and try to use it for the first time. I hate that. That's why I started wrapping my jig and spinner bait skirts with wire straight out of the pack. 

[TriCityBassin']

in a pinch, i tie something like a snell not with braid around my jigs when i am on the water.  Mainly bc scent makes them come off the collar.  Some have been tied for years and haven't failed.  I will try the wire this winter, thought it was harder lol.

[Bluebasser86]

I tie mine with copper or coated wire from Hobby Lobby. I believe it's 24 gauge. I make mine with 2 wraps before twisting and cutting off the extra. Only twist until it's tight, don't overdo it or you'll cut the skirt. It looks very nice when you get the hang of it and the wire stacks perfectly.

[Crankenstein Crony]

That does look really good! That skirt will stay in place forever. Im going to give give it a shot.  

[YUT18]

I just started making my own jigs/spinners.  Is wire better than using wax coated thread?

[Choporoz]

I think thread can work.  But, wire works for me.  My fingers just don't work so well with fine thread....and when I do get it tight, I tend to overdo it and cut into the skirt strips.  I like wire that I can handle with a pair of needle noses and not get my fat fingers in the way

[smalljaw67]

Thread works well but can be hard to tie when a weed guard is in the way. If you go to my You Tube channel, I have a vide showing an easy way to wire tie jigs, I'll see if I can link it here. I use 26 gauge craft wire from Darice, it is a permanent black dyed copper wire and won't rust.