Winter jig/trailer/skirt interaction theory

[Pat Brown]

So the going theory is 'go small, slow down, low action trailer' when it gets very cold.

 

People also say 'i like to trim my skirt so that I can get the full action out of my rage craw'

 

So I got to thinking, and maybe some of y'all have tried this, maybe in the winter, you can throw a rage craw....if the skirt is long enough to stop the claws...?                                                                                                                                I don't know if this is revolutionary or anything but maybe save people a few bucks/be a neat way to adapt 'action' trailers to colder water.

[softwateronly]

The reason I think the more finesse cut works in the cold is because it allows subtle movement of the skirt while the bait itself is motionless. If a bass swims up on the jig while sitting still, the wall of water is bound to move some of the silicone/rubber.  If you don’t trim you might lose this part of the “action.”

 

scott

[Jig Man]

Winter is not when I go finesse.  I like 1/2oz black living rubber with a large black beaver.  I do the fluffy collar jigs in the summer.

[Bird]

I'm a fisherman who gets skunked in the winter time, quite often.

I simply don't catch until water temps climb into the 50's.

But when I do start catching fish, it's always on a swim jigs reeled very slow.

Yes, I always trim the skirts to just below the bend in hook.

 

[WRB]

Rage Craw is a fast motion trailer more suited for very active bass imo. 

The skirt has minimal impact on the jig compared to the weight, head shape and trailer used.

The most active subtile skirt movements in water temps under 50 degrees is hair. 

2nd would be Living rubber followed by silicone. Shortening a skirt make it stiffer not softer. They shorter skirt gives the jig a compact appearance and can increase the ROF somewhat.

Tom  

[papajoe222]

The whole idea of trimming the skirt and using a low action trailer is to downsize the presentation. A Rage Craw is a good chunk of plastic in both volume and length.  Compare it to something like a Zoom chunk and you'll see a big difference in both.

[Pat Brown]

Yeah I use all of these.  I just noticed that when the skirt is 'left long' it kinda prevents the rage claws from flapping but the profile is definitely different from a trimmed back skirt regardless.

 

I definitely get bit more on trailers that don't kick in the winter but if the skirt is juuuuust long enough to stop the claws, you might be able to enjoy the rage profile in colder water without it kicking as violently.

 

I have been using full skirts and living rubber all winter either way, I do finesse jigs more in the post spawn around here.

[WRB]

A chunk is a soft plastic imitation of a #11 pork frog. Both a chunk and pork rind are nose hooked setting the tails further back from the skirt ends. Whereas a soft plastic Craw tends to be threaded onto the jig hook up to the skirt collar, shortening the overall trailer length.

The simple Twin Tail Yamamoto grub has a good slow action in lieu of using a Rage tail.

Chigger Craw swims in lieu flapping another good choice.

The #11 pork frog nose hook has a life like action to bass.

Tom

[Pat Brown]

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

A chunk is a soft plastic imitation of a #11 pork frog. Both a chunk and pork rind are nose hooked setting the tails further back from the skirt ends. Whereas a soft plastic Craw tends to be threaded onto the jig hook up to the skirt collar, shortening the overall trailer length.

The simple Twin Tail Yamamoto grub has a good slow action in lieu of using a Rage tail.

Chigger Craw swims in lieu flapping another good choice.

The #11 pork frog nose hook has a life like action to bass.

Tom

 

 

The chigger craw definitely achieves a rage craw profile without the flapping and I like those.

 

I typically just use the trailer the conditions call for and try to make the profile and fall rate match up to what the bass seem to be wanting, but I do like to tinker and experiment.  This time of year I usually hang or thread a super chunk or big salty chunk depending on how big a profile I'm trying to achieve.

 

I noticed that I had a few stray rubber strands preventing my rage craw claws from flapping on the retrieve and it just got me thinking is all.  Don't got much action when the skirt is just a hair too long! ?

[WRB]

You are obviously using silicone skirts.

Tom

[Pat Brown]

23 minutes ago, WRB said:

You are obviously using silicone skirts.

Tom

 

I use living rubber with silicon mixed in on most of them.  The brush mata style Siebert brush jigs are what I throw 90% of the time.

 

I do throw all silicon skirts for swim jigs and finesse jigs but honestly I try to be as adaptable to the conditions and mood and personality as I can.  I like living rubber when it's cold because I find it has nice secondary action while letting it sit still.  I also like that it bulks the jig up and slows the rate of fall.

 

I'm primarily referring to times that the trailer action being impeded by the length of skirt strands and how perhaps in colder months, this could actually work in our favor.

 

I think weird stuff to myself when I'm not getting any bites and I'm freezing cold by the pond ?

 

[WRB]

Shore fishing in a pond?

[Catt]

9 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Winter is not when I go finesse.  I like 1/2oz black living rubber with a large black beaver.  I do the fluffy collar jigs in the summer.

 

Exactly ?

 

I go 1/2, 3/4, & 1 oz

 

Slow ain't always the correct answer, Rat-L-Traps are deadly in cold water.

 

Try it, might surprise ya!

[Pat Brown]

12 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Winter is not when I go finesse.  I like 1/2oz black living rubber with a large black beaver.  I do the fluffy collar jigs in the summer.

 

This is exactly been my experience so far. I also have caught well with a chunk hung on the back and a piece of plastic threaded onto the hook to bulk it up. But always living rubber and always a big big profile and a heavier jig seem to be catching fish.

9 hours ago, WRB said:

Shore fishing in a pond?

 

A lot of what I've been doing this winter has been bank fishing local pond that holds quite a few big bass and it's about 7 ft deep out in the middle.  Most of the way around it with a lot of it being 1-2 ft deep.  Silted in hard bottom.  It's actually an interesting specimen because it's stocked primarily with northern strain and they actually fire up in the winter time and pretty much shut down in the summer time on this pond and on the lake that I like to jon boat fish. I actually find that it's more Florida strain and the catching is really good in the summer, but it's also pretty good in the winter if you can find where they're stacked up!

 

The pond has one steeper side with more shoreline cover and then a south facing 'rip rap wall' that terminates at the out flow point.

 

I have caught many large bass all over the pond.  My theory being that it's so small they're kinda everywhere.

 

Thanks for all your jig fishing wisdom WRB.  Learned a lot of what I do from what you have written over the years!

[DitchPanda]

 So here's my take on it. The trimming like said above is to present a downsized profile. The reason I believe that is helpful is because bass metabolism is greatly slowed down in cold water...meaning they can eat alot less frequently. In my estimation that would mean a small compact meal...one that would fit in various levels of hunger...would appeal to the most fish.

I fish alot in sub 50 degree water...my 5 most successful baits are: jerkbaits, small ball head finesse jigs lion mane trimmed, Ned rigs, yo yo lipless crankbaits and small chatterbaits reeled as slow as possible to get the blade moving. All of these baits represent something relatively small, easy to chase down and not unrealistic activity wise to the natural activity level of the actual forage.

[Pat Brown]

3 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

 So here's my take on it. The trimming like said above is to present a downsized profile. The reason I believe that is helpful is because bass metabolism is greatly slowed down in cold water...meaning they can eat alot less frequently. In my estimation that would mean a small compact meal...one that would fit in various levels of hunger...would appeal to the most fish.

I fish alot in sub 50 degree water...my 5 most successful baits are: jerkbaits, small ball head finesse jigs lion mane trimmed, Ned rigs, yo yo lipless crankbaits and small chatterbaits reeled as slow as possible to get the blade moving. All of these baits represent something relatively small, easy to chase down and not unrealistic activity wise to the natural activity level of the actual forage.

 

 

I think here in NC, one must commit fully to finesse and go very small and slow or go BIG and fast.

 

I have poor circulation so I prefer the latter on my bodies of water.  During the spring and summer I am MUCH more content to slow down and go small.  Especially dead of summer.

[DitchPanda]

4 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

 

 

I think here in NC, one must commit fully to finesse and go very small and slow or go BIG and fast.

 

I have poor circulation so I prefer the latter on my bodies of water.  During the spring and summer I am MUCH more content to slow down and go small.  Especially dead of summer.

Well that is a challenge all its own. Ones own health can certainly dictate what we are able to do fishing wise.

[WRB]

Northern strain LMB are comfortable in water less then 45 degrees, Florida strain have a hard time servicing in water 45 degrees or less.

Cold water it’s hard to beat black jig with black trailers having high lite colors targeting NLMB. The old living rubber bumble bee black and chartreuse can work at times.

I use the same 7/16 oz jig with 4” pork trailer year around. The 3/4 oz football jig at times. Using 1/8 to 3/16 oz. finesse jigs at times usually with shad color soft plastics to imitate baitfish.

It’s pre spawn now in California, no finesse presentations, it’s fat girl time.

Tom

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

...no finesse presentations, it’s fat girl time.

Tom