Hair Jigs for Largemouth and Spots

[snake95]

Noticed Cumberland Pro prayer jigs discounted at my local DSG and I'm interested in learning more about their application.

 

I'm talking about hair jigs in the 1/2 oz - 1 oz range.

 

They are completely foreign to me and they are not a widely discussed bait. After some initial searching, I see they are used for ledge fishing in reserviors.

 

Decided to pick a few up to try out.  Figure if they aren't put to use for bass, might throw the heavier ones into the surf for stripers. 

 

Interested in hearing where else they are used, or are they primarily just a deep ledge bait?

 

Thanks.

[WRB]

Try searching this site "hair jigs", lots of threads to read.

Tom

[smalljaw67]

I'm a hair jig enthusiast, I've been tying and using for more than 20 years. I got into them for cold water smallmouth fishing and that is what I make them for and fish them primarily. The "preacher" type jigs you are talking about are mainly ledge baits but you can use them in different situations. The one thing you need to be aware of is that they don't work well in heavily stained water, they are a visual bait and guys that I've made them for over the years have all told me the same thing. If they are fishing water with less than 3' visibility they don't even get them out of the box, they opt for other baits when they have off colored water. That said, I know a few anglers that like using them on mid lake humps and rock piles in 12' to 15' and for working the outside edge of deep weed beds. So the 2 main things with these type hair jigs is that you need clear water and you need to be on fish, they aren't a good tool to use as a search bait but other than those two things I'm sure you can find areas that they will work for you.

[roadwarrior]

2 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

I'm a hair jig enthusiast, I've been tying and using for more than 20 years. I got into them for cold water smallmouth fishing and that is what I make them for and fish them primarily. The "preacher" type jigs you are talking about are mainly ledge baits but you can use them in different situations. The one thing you need to be aware of is that they don't work well in heavily stained water, they are a visual bait and guys that I've made them for over the years have all told me the same thing. If they are fishing water with less than 3' visibility they don't even get them out of the box, they opt for other baits when they have off colored water. That said, I know a few anglers that like using them on mid lake humps and rock piles in 12' to 15' and for working the outside edge of deep weed beds. So the 2 main things with these type hair jigs is that you need clear water and you need to be on fish, they aren't a good tool to use as a search bait but other than those two things I'm sure you can find areas that they will work for you.

Do you fish them naked or with a trailer?

 

 

 

[Catt]

When the water temperatures get really cold down here like it is this year hair jigs with subtle trailers out produce most lures.

 

If asked I'll deny I have any ?

[smalljaw67]

5 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Do you fish them naked or with a trailer?

 

 

 

The type of hair jig he is talking about RW is the "preacher" style. Those have long feathers tied in that extend past the bucktail and so no, those aren't used with trailers. Now the regular hair jigs that I tie I use with and without trailers, it depends on what the fish want, but in warmer water I use trailers but something subtle like a chunk. I normally don't throw them in summer but there is a small lake we fish that has clear water and it fed by cold water springs, even in mid August the water temp rarely exceeds 75 degrees. That lake we catch a lot of smallmouth and some nice largemouth throwing 3/16oz and 1/4oz bucktail hair jigs with Zoom super chunk Jr. trailers on them, they actually will catch you more than worms or other soft plastics, even finesse style baits. Come late Summer/Early Fall when the water temp drops down into the 60 degree range we fish the same jigs only I tie them with craft fur and we use the tiny paca chunks as trailers. We will normally throw square bills and spinnerbaits at that time but when you get that first temp drop that drops the temp from the low 70 down to the mid 60s for a day or 2, that is when the craft hair jig with paca chunk is killer. The reason I switch to that hair is because it usually takes a bit more action to get the fish to commit at that time, the sudden change in temps puts them tight to cover but it is still relatively warm and so a jig with a little more movement seems to get them to bite better than the more subtle hair jig. I normally don't fish hair during the warm months and not because it doesn't work, they actually work very well anytime, but because there is usually a presentation that will work better when it is warm in most situations.

[snake95]

8 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

The type of hair jig he is talking about RW is the "preacher" style. Those have long feathers tied in that extend past the bucktail and so no, those aren't used with trailers.

Yes, that's what I mean.  Thanks very much for the incredible disucssion, @smalljaw67 and @Catt. 

 

I saw a video recently where a feathered jig (I think a preacher) was being retrieved straight through the water and the motion of the hair and feathers definitely made it look like something alive.  I had never encountered a jig like that before.

 

I am just moving beyond pond fishing, so I'm looking to learn about more lures to try from my small boat.

 

I look forward to trying these out in clearwater lakes, and if I have some success I'll post and let you know.

 

 

 

[Big Swimbait]

My PB came on a white hair jig with a Kalin's Mogambo Pearl trailer. 27 degrees & sleeting on Lake Fork that day.

[WRB]

There is soooo much mis information regarding hair jigs like they are good only in cold water or small size or only for smallmouth bass, none of that is true.

What hair jigs don't have is eye catching colors to attract bass anglers, the colors do attract bass.

The only way the OP will know if his hair jigs work is to use them. I rarely bass fish and don't fish with my 7/16 oz hair jigs with 5/0 hook and pork rind trailers year around.

Do they work, look at my avatar and top 5 LMB all caught on hair jigs.

Tom

[snake95]

@WRB thanks, I like the way you put that; very interested to know that so many of your big fish were caught on them.

 

Much appreciated; I can guarantee there will be a guy throwing "boring" white hair jigs in some Georgia Reservoirs (when not too stained), and maybe some small clear lakes in FL. and Ontario as we move through 2018.  I look forward to experimenting, and not just in cold water conditions or on ledges.

[Porkrind]

Can someone post a picture of a hair jig and describe the size that one would use for LMB? I would love to try this out. If I can’t make it work for the LMB, then I’ll just do a little driving to find some SMB.

[snake95]

@Porkrind

 

These are the Cumberland Pro Prayer jigs I was referring to.  

 

If you do a search for Reverend Bill Conine and "Preacher Jig" you will find there is quite a bit of information about the development and use of this style of hair jigs on Lake Eufaula on the GA/AL state line.

 

 

There are clearly other hair jig types, but these caught my eye after seeing some videos of the swimming action of the hair and feathers.  

 

[kickerfish1]

Smalljaw ties some stellar hair jigs and has some great tutorials on YouTube. I would consider him an expert on all things jig tying!

[Porkrind]

I’ve just started getting into crafting my own lures and eventually would love to explore this more, but until then I’ll just buy some and get to trying them out. Thanks guys

[bowhunter63]

Back in the day Bass Buster Maribou jigs caught a ton of bass. Billy Westmorland Hoss fly tore em up too.Hair works all year.

[frogflogger]

Bass Buster maribou jigs opened my eyes years ago - I still tie and use all sorts of hair jigs - we use to bump black hair jigs on the bottom in dirty water and caught plenty of fish - If you can only fish one lure from the deep blue sea to bass lakes - rivers - to mtn. trout streams -a hair jig will catch fish.

[WRB]

On January 20, 2018 at 10:19 PM, Porkrind said:

Can someone post a picture of a hair jig and describe the size that one would use for LMB? I would love to try this out. If I can’t make it work for the LMB, then I’ll just do a little driving to find some SMB.

Look at Punisher hair jigs, 3/8 oz PBJ  for LMB, 3/8 Spots Camo.

Tom

[Porkrind]

Will do WRB, thanks

[WRB]

Don Iovino hand poured trailer 2" in green pumpkin and honey comb for spots, 2 1/2" green pumpkin and purple for LMB.

Tom

 

[frogflogger]

lgemouth, smallmouth, spots, crappie, walleye, northern pike, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, lake trout, whitefish, white bass, redfish, bonefish, tarpon, many varieties of snappers, hogfish, different groupers, mahi mahi, black fin tuna and a few catfish and carp - I've caught all these and others on home tied hair jigs.

[king fisher]

I have been tying jigs with EP fibers, and Yak hair, with lots of flash. They seem to have more action then buck tail, and keep their profile better than Maribu. They have been working great for Snook, and red snapper, haven't had a chance to try them in fresh water yet.  Has anyone been using these and other similar fibers, for their bass jigs?  

[WRB]

I add a few strands of crystal flash, you don't want to over do it for big LMB, spots and smallmouth like brighter colors.

Spro has the Phat Fly craft hair jig in 1/16, 1/8 oz for float & fly fishing that incorporates crystal flash. The Spro hair jigs head design limits it to open water presentations, availble in 1/2 to 1 oz.

note; you want to avoid using gel type attractants on trailers with hair jigs, it's like putting vasoline in your hair!

Tom

[fish'n Jim]

Don't forget about tying bucktail into rubber jigs as well.   I used to make a Brn / brn rubber arkie style jig with orange hair (Ky lake) and white rubber bass jigs with white bucktail (OH river) -> shad imitator   The bucktail fluffs up the rubber and makes it look bulkier without weight - different look.   I fished them with or without pork frogs or strips or plastic, if I was trying to control fall rate.

One of my best all time catches came in Feb (Ky pond) on a specially constructed white bucktail with a core color worm trailer - cut to just past the bucktail.  A good slow falling dying shad imitator.  I still use this in cold water - shad die off - they're in the boat right now.   Bucktail has more "swim action" in cold water than rubber.  

I shouldn't be giving away info, I'm going back on the BFL circuit this year, but experimenting is half the fun and how you learn.   I was fortunate to have a neighbor who poured his own and tied bucktail & maribou and sons are still my friends, so I started early.   Good for walleye and crappie too.   It's all we had except live bait - until plastic worms came along. 

[kingmotorboat]

On 1/15/2018 at 8:53 AM, Catt said:

When the water temperatures get really cold down here like it is this year hair jigs with subtle trailers out produce most lures.

 

If asked I'll deny I have any ?

Yep. I definitely haven't been going through packs of salt craws. Not at all

[KDW96]

On 1/23/2018 at 10:18 PM, WRB said:

Look at Punisher hair jigs, 3/8 oz PBJ  for LMB, 3/8 Spots Camo.

Tom

 

On 1/23/2018 at 11:42 PM, WRB said:

Don Iovino hand poured trailer 2" in green pumpkin and honey comb for spots, 2 1/2" green pumpkin and purple for LMB.

Tom

 

Thank you WRB. I will be orderin up this weekend.