Hair jigs for early spring bass

[Mobasser]

I'm fired up! Can't wait for the weather to warm a little to go fishing. I've been out once,  and caught 2 small bass on bucktail jigs. I go with a 1/8 ounce hair jig and add a trailer- short section of plastic worm or small frog. Maybe its habit, but I fish these jigs early in the year every year. Its slow going,  but works well.This year I plan on taking them on into summer along with some other finesse stuff. Im sure many of you guys are ready too!

[Bluebasser86]

I caught several on a 1/8oz hair jig with a shortened 2" power craw for a trailer a couple weeks ago. First time I've had much success using a hair jig like that.

[smalljaw67]

I do well with and without a trailer in the colder months. I tie a minnow head bucktail that I don't use with a trailer because I don't stop it long enough, it is a slow steady retrieve that relies on profile and color to draw strikes.

 

[Mobasser]

Nice! I received a fly vise for x-mas.  Plan on learning to tie too.In my area, In only able to fish for largemouth bass, but these slim profile hair jigs work good. Good luck 

[WRB]

I fish hair jigs year around with pork rind rind trailers, more then likely the only bass angler on the doing it. Why? Check out my 5 top bass.

Tom

[FishDewd]

Pardon the ignorance, but is there an advantage to a hair jig vs. a standard jig? I haven't had any luck on standard rubber skirted jigs, but I own a few of them in different styles and am far from giving up on them. I have seen hair jigs in magazines, etc, but haven't ever bought one because I don't understand the difference.

[Mobasser]

Yes WRB, a jig and eel. I used to use a uncle josh twin tail trailer, with mostly black jigs. One of the best bass lures ever! I only switched to plastic for the convenience, but pork works great.Years ago I had an older guy tell me it was all he used. I may go back to pork trailers yet.

FishDewd, not really better or worse but different.  Bucktail has a subtle action that's a lot different than a rubber jig.  More streamlined and slim looking. Over the years I think that's why they gained a rep as a cold water bait, but as WRB says they will work year around. Before the plastic worm was invented a bucktail jig with a pork trailer was the bait. One other thing, they are affordable. I urge you to give some a try. Hope you tie into a good one

[Crestliner2008]

Love fishing 1/8 oz. bucktails early in the season. And, if you add a slip float, which you adjust to keep your jig just above the bottom and retrieve it slowly, it can be a LOT of fun! Nothing quite like the excitement of seeing a bobber go down!

[WRB]

Hair and pork rind feels and taste natural to a bass but doesn't overcome location, depth and cadence,it's not a panacea to catching bass. If you are not catching bass on jigs it's because you are missing strikes, strike detection takes time on the water and staying focused.

Tom

[FishDewd]

I can tell when my line moves dramatically, or if they tap it, but I am thinking either the places I fish have fish that know they are getting fished, or they just bite so lightly that my line doesn't move and there is no tap on the line to tell they are there. I know there is the feeling mushy strike, but when I am fishing across a muddy bottom with lots of mossy growth it generally always feels at least somewhat mushy and/or heavy. Still working on figuring that out.

[All Day Fishing]

On 3/8/2018 at 5:16 AM, Mobasser said:

I'm fired up! Can't wait for the weather to warm a little to go fishing. I've been out once,  and caught 2 small bass on bucktail jigs. I go with a 1/8 ounce hair jig and add a trailer- short section of plastic worm or small frog. Maybe its habit, but I fish these jigs early in the year every year. Its slow going,  but works well.This year I plan on taking them on into summer along with some other finesse stuff. Im sure many of you guys are ready too!

I love using hair jigs, was wondering if people put trailers on especially with how small a 1/4 or 1/8 ounce one is.  You just take a piece of a plastic worm? like two inches?  what about a craw? i dont think i have any small enough.

[Smokinal]

@WRB Tom, what pork trailers do you like? And in black if I remember you saying that?

 

Would any of these work? Not a lot of black out there but a brown would look nice on a black jig.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Uncle-Josh-Pork-NO-101-Spin-Tail-Frog-5-baits-1-7-8-x-3-4/183083908209?hash=item2aa0a6bc71:g:PNwAAOSwM91afR2m

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Uncle-Josh-Pork-NO-101-Spin-Tail-Frog-5-baits-1-7-8-x-3-4-BLK-GRL/173149929024?hash=item28508a3e40:g:3BQAAOSwoFVafR4R

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Uncle-Josh-Pork-TT11-Tennessee-Trailer-4-Baits-2-5-x-1-Black-Blue/173198810545?hash=item2853741db1:g:BCYAAOSwkwBanqNQ

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/uncle-josh-pork-rind-baits-100-available-Six-Colors-See-Description/302661501540?hash=item4678080264:g:08wAAOSwB3BaMcoM

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Discontinued-UNCLE-JOSH-MiniFrog-Trailer-CR-BRN-Pork-Bait-18-AA-50-GL/162905061362?hash=item25ede5f7f2:g:hQ0AAOSwIBJahtTv

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11-Uncle-Josh-Pork-Rind-BLACK/302607473769?hash=item4674cf9c69:g:~1EAAOSwz7Nae9Yc

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Uncle-Josh-Pork-Rind-33/302418042244?hash=item4669851d84:g:cfQAAOSwIINZ1w49

 

Actually there are many more now that I look. That #33 little craw looks enticing!

And what 1/8 jig do you like?

I really wanna get set up before ice-out this year and try these!!

Thank you

 

EDIT: Something like a Kalins Marabou  or  PJ's Marabou?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

Punisher hair jigs for OTC jigs in 3/16 or 1/4 oz in PBJ or black/blue with 101 spin frog in brown or black would work.

Tom

[papajoe222]

On 3/9/2018 at 5:59 AM, Crestliner2008 said:

Love fishing 1/8 oz. bucktails early in the season. And, if you add a slip float, which you adjust to keep your jig just above the bottom  

I’ve been using this rigging for years when teaching kids about artificial baits. It’s a great way to get them to transition to lures vs. only using live bait. The jump to using no bobber is fairly simple. 

Its also an awesome cold front presentation after the spawn and into the fall. Often times, wave action alone will get you bit.