Hair jig storage

[Bdnoble84]

 What do you guys use for hair jig storage. I made foam inserts for some storage boxes, but im wondering if there is something better. Works ok in the sense that the jigs dry out but i already have too many boxes laying around. Plus marabou jigs seem to get tangled up easily from being so fluffy.

[RoLo]

 

I'm sure WRB will be along to lend a helping hand   

[Team9nine]

I keep a lot of hair jigs on hand, and what has been the best for me has been the little sealable (zipper) clear bags you can buy in bulk at any crafts store. Every size imaginable, but I go with the small bags (2" x 3" or similar) and place 2 jigs per bag. Easy to see exactly what is inside each bag and sort through them, or you can use a Sharpie or similar to write on the outside, things like weight, style, etc. Watertight, and easily adapts to most any existing box style you'd like to use, and never have to deal with 'hook in hair' tangles again. 

 

 

-T9

[Bdnoble84]

Do

37 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I keep a lot of hair jigs on hand, and what has been the best for me has been the little sealable (zipper) clear bags you can buy in bulk at any crafts store. Every size imaginable, but I go with the small bags (2" x 3" or similar) and place 2 jigs per bag. Easy to see exactly what is inside each bag and sort through them, or you can use a Sharpie or similar to write on the outside, things like weight, style, etc. Watertight, and easily adapts to most any existing box style you'd like to use, and never have to deal with 'hook in hair' tangles again. 

 

 

-T9

Do you let your jigs dry out before putting them away when done with them. Ive had issues with hooks rusting if just throwing them back in a box. Thats one good thing about the foam inserts. Hooks dont seem to rust

[IndianaFinesse]

I just keep mine in plano boxes, but I dry them out first by swinging them around in circles when still tied to my rod a dozen times or so until they at dry.  The other purpose it serves is to straighten out the hair, so it doesn't get stuck together.  I like the little ziplock bag idea though, it would eliminate the problem of hair tangling with the hooks.  I might try putting them in the bags and then sticking them in there respective plano compartments, so that its easier to keep them organized.

[Will Wetline]

Bdnoble84, dry them completely before storing with whatever method you use.

 

The past couple of seasons I've used slit foam in a Plano. Note in the last photo the top 1/4" foam to keep them snug when traveling in a chop. I keep all the foam in place with double sided tape.

 

I prefer this system to plastic bags because I can see my entire inventory at a glance rather than picking through multiple ziplock bags in Plano compartments. To tame fluffy marabou, moisten fingertips and compress the plume. Then it will be narrow and you can place them side by side in foam slits 1/2" apart.

 

 

 

 

There are boxes that fly fishermen use designed with "nubby tack" rubber or slit hard foam that would work with lighter jigs. These are not inexpensive. I'm going to stick with the slit foam in a Plano storage system.

[Team9nine]

10 hours ago, IndianaFinesse said:

I just keep mine in plano boxes, but I dry them out first by swinging them around in circles when still tied to my rod a dozen times or so until they at dry.  The other purpose it serves is to straighten out the hair, so it doesn't get stuck together.  I like the little ziplock bag idea though, it would eliminate the problem of hair tangling with the hooks.  I might try putting them in the bags and then sticking them in there respective plano compartments, so that its easier to keep them organized.

 

This ^^ 

 

Works pretty well, but if you really wanted to, you could buy a bunch of small Z tabs or similar and place one in each bag along with the jigs. 

 

All ideas above will work fine, just comes down to personal preference on storage. I prefer compact and consolidated, so a bunch of baggies placed into one space/container works better for me.

[Team9nine]

Quick pic - nearly 100 hair jigs in mini bags all placed into one sandwich size bag, and fits perfectly into the small side zipper compartment of my 3600 soft bag.

 

[OkobojiEagle]

28 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

This ^^ 

 

Works pretty well, but if you really wanted to, you could buy a bunch of small Z tabs or similar and place one in each bag along with the jigs. 

 

All ideas above will work fine, just comes down to personal preference on storage. I prefer compact and consolidated, so a bunch of baggies placed into one space/container works better for me.

 

I used to do exactly this^^...

 

now I don't even bother with the plastic bags, just fill a plano box compartment fairly full, the jigs don't move about much.  Hair and fur are pretty sturdy materials and jigs made of such don't damage easily.  Feathers are a little more delicate and benefit from more gentle care.  Of course, always dry them completely before you return them to the storage box (overnight on the boat deck works for me).

 

oe

[Will Wetline]

Very space efficient and quick too, T9 and OE.

 

It may be that I've been overly concerned about keeping the hair straight. I can understand that a few jigs per mini bag or a full Plano compartment would minimize movement.

 

[Team9nine]

I limit it to 2 jigs per mini bag, both put in in the same direction, and the bag has to be long enough that the hair won't be bent, otherwise I move up in bag size - we all have our tackle quirks 

[Bdnoble84]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Quick pic - nearly 100 hair jigs in mini bags all placed into one sandwich size bag, and fits perfectly into the small side zipper compartment of my 3600 soft bag.

 

Thats how i organize my soft plastics. Might have to give it a try.

[RoLo]

On 5/5/2017 at 10:31 PM, RoLo said:

 

I'm sure WRB will be along to lend a helping hand   

 

 

I stand corrected!

That's the last time I'm holding the door for WRB  

 

Roger

[IgotWood]

Cliff Outdoors! They make storage boxes for fly fishing. Perfect for your application. I tie lots a giant articulated trout streamers and store them in this boxes. Plenty of room inside, won't flatten out the hair/feathers on your jigs, and they dry well too. The Fishpond Sushi Roll is another option, which would also work well for you.

[WRB]

On May 7, 2017 at 10:15 AM, RoLo said:

 

 

I stand corrected!

That's the last time I'm holding the door for WRB  

 

Roger

Sorry Roger, just noticed this thread!

I like to use zip lock bags and cut rings of soft plastic from tube baits to use to over the hair hold it down on the hook shank and prevent from being damaged. Just lay acfewcin the bottom of a sand which size bag and roll it, the put a few rolled bags of the same color/size into a quart size bad. Works good for me.

Tom

[Dorado]

I've never fished a hair jig before. Are they effective for Largemouths too? I've always asscociated them with Smallies

[thefraz44]

7 hours ago, Dorado said:

I've never fished a hair jig before. Are they effective for Largemouths too? I've always asscociated them with Smallies

The smaller, marabou hair jigs are intended for Smallmouth and Spots, (but I've always used them for Largemouth in winter and sometimes even specific spawning situations) while the bigger ones that are usually more than 1/2 ounce are intended for Largemouth in the summertime. I hope this helps.

[Dorado]

2 hours ago, thefraz44 said:

The smaller, marabou hair jigs are intended for Smallmouth and Spots, (but I've always used them for Largemouth in winter and sometimes even specific spawning situations) while the bigger ones that are usually more than 1/2 ounce are intended for Largemouth in the summertime. I hope this helps.

Helps a ton! Good explanation. 

[WRB]

The bass jigs had hair or feathers for skirts long before rubber, vinyl, silicone. 

I believe the Doll Fly hair jigs dates back to the '30's and were availble up to 3/4 oz.

To answer your question Billy Westmoreland made hair jigs for smallmouth bass popular in the 70's and 80's, today's bass anglers associate hair jigs with smallmouth bass as a result.

My avatar bass was caught on a 7/16 oz hair jig with pork rind trailer; jig & pig!

Tom