Method For Rough / Uneven Trimming Skirts ?

[ChrisD46]

For those that do not cut their skirt lengths even across at the bottom - what is your method for purposely creating a rough , uneven skirt length look  that looks a bit more natural and pulses more with rod action on the retrieve ? ... Thanks in advance !

[Michigander]

Well, you can drink a lot of beer before you trim anything, or you can use crinkle cut scissors: 

Or just randomly snip in there to get the desired effect with regular scissors

[Team9nine]

I use a 2 step process involving ‘layering’ and ‘notching.’ I typically start with all the strands hanging down, compress them together, then cut them to the length I want my skirt to be.

 

Next step is to sort/split the upper strand half of the skirt from the lower, then compress the upper strands above the head of the bait and trim again (shorter) to create the layers.

 

Final step is to take each half separately again, and holding scissors at a 45-60 degree angle, make little cuts (“notches”) into the end of the skirt segment so that their actual lengths are varied by up to 1/4 of an inch. Do this for both top and bottom halves. 

 

Probably easier to demonstrate than describe, but should give you some idea.

[Jig Man]

Depends on the material, just cut in different places if silicone, split tabs pull and cut differently if living rubber.

[A-Jay]

I let the pike do it for me.

Admittedly it's a bit random but not too bad . . . 

A-Jay

[Hewhospeaksmuchbull]

25 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Well, you can drink a lot of beer before you trim anything, or you can use crinkle cut scissors: 

Or just randomly snip in there to get the desired effect with regular scissors

I suspect that you are spending too much time in Hobby lobby.

 

Thinning shears, https://fishingblueprint.com/best-bass-jig-modifications/#Trimming_the_skirt%E2%80%A6

[Michigander]

27 minutes ago, Hewhospeaksmuchbull said:

I suspect that you are spending too much time in Hobby Lobby.

You're not wrong....

[fishwizzard]

I don't bother to get my tabs perfectly centered when building the jigs, so they are inherently uneven.   

[Jigfishn10]

My wife and daughter will get their hair done almost monthly, I just pack a shoe box up with spinnerbaits and jigs and pay the extra $5 to get them trimmed and layered. ?

 

I can honestly say that I've never been that OCD with it. But here it is:

[ChrisD46]

Thanks for the replies ! I know it may make more of a difference to me more than a bass - it's just an area I thought worth exploring now that I am tying my own skirts . 

[Jigfishn10]

54 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

Thanks for the replies ! I know it may make more of a difference to me more than a bass - it's just an area I thought worth exploring now that I am tying my own skirts . 

Hey bud. Do what you have confidence in doing. This sport is about having confidence and fun. 

I've seen jigs just tied and looked ragged. Trimmed so even, it was almost too perfect. Layered with the top overhanging the bottom and vice versa, looking like a hair band mullet. There's nothing wrong with trimming a jig to the way you like it.

 

Have fun and go catch some memories.

[ChrisD46]

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Hey bud. Do what you have confidence in doing. This sport is about having confidence and fun. 

I've seen jigs just tied and looked ragged. Trimmed so even, it was almost too perfect. Layered with the top overhanging the bottom and vice versa, looking like a hair band mullet. There's nothing wrong with trimming a jig to the way you like it.

 

Have fun and go catch some memories.

lol !! ... Thanks - I am more in the camp of less perfect , staggered skirt strands after trimming that look so real vs. the more perfectly trimmed skirt . I hear you though - what ever gives you confidence !

[Munkin]

On 1/20/2021 at 10:57 AM, Michigander said:

Well, you can drink a lot of beer before you trim anything, or you can use crinkle cut scissors: 

Or just randomly snip in there to get the desired effect with regular scissors

 

I have a set of these I bought to cut stencils with.

 

Allen