Jig Tying and skirt Question

[1984isNOW]

Hey all, I'm getting geared up to start tying my own jigs, I have some rod building thread (FUJI NOCP). Can I just use that thread to tie jigs too or do I need some specific kind of thread?

 

Also, can you modify skirts, like dye them and add gold/green/silver flake and all that?

 

Also, I'm open to any tips at all you might think would benefit a totally new tackle maker. 

 

Much appreciated

[Fallser]

I mainly fly fish, but I do tie jigs for myself when I spin fish and for the guys I fish with.  What size rod building thread do you have?  Size A or D?  When I tie jigs I prefer a thinner thread, in fact I use a clear polyester thread for buck tail, hair and marabou jigs.  It keeps the bulk down on the wraps.  If you already have the thread use it and see how it works.

  The skirts are silicone, as far as I know you can't dye them or add flake to them.  You don't have to they come than way.  Check on line or find a catalog and look for spinner bait skirts or spinnerbait skirt layers.  You'll be able to find any color combination. 

 These flies I use for bass are closest thing I have to swim jigs.  I used spinner bait skirts to make them.

 

When I posted them on this forum, one of the suggestions was to trim the length of the skirts which I did.  

  Get your materials, make some jigs up, take pictures and post them here.  Let the folks who really know what they're doing critique them and make suggestions on how to improve them.

[Jig Man]

The sky is the limit for skirts and what you can do.  There are lots of places to look for skirts, Janns Netcraft, Lure Parts on Line, Fishing skirts.com, Barlows and many more.

 

 I recommend wire tying instead of thread.   Floral wire is what I use.

[1984isNOW]

3 hours ago, Fallser said:

I mainly fly fish, but I do tie jigs for myself when I spin fish and for the guys I fish with.  What size rod building thread do you have?  Size A or D?  When I tie jigs I prefer a thinner thread, in fact I use a clear polyester thread for buck tail, hair and marabou jigs.  It keeps the bulk down on the wraps.  If you already have the thread use it and see how it works.

  The skirts are silicone, as far as I know you can't dye them or add flake to them.  You don't have to they come than way.  Check on line or find a catalog and look for spinner bait skirts or spinnerbait skirt layers.  You'll be able to find any color combination. 

 These flies I use for bass are closest thing I have to swim jigs.  I used spinner bait skirts to make them.

 

When I posted them on this forum, one of the suggestions was to trim the length of the skirts which I did.  

  Get your materials, make some jigs up, take pictures and post them here.  Let the folks who really know what they're doing critique them and make suggestions on how to improve them.

Cool Thanks man, I'll get something me picks up when I get some work done. What do you use for those heads and how do you add weight?

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

The sky is the limit for skirts and what you can do.  There are lots of places to look for skirts, Janns Netcraft, Lure Parts on Line, Fishing skirts.com, Barlows and many more.

 

 I recommend wire tying instead of thread.   Floral wire is what I use.

I'm trying to find skirts and materials without spending 150 bucks for free shipping. I'll c heck out fishingakirts.com

 

When you wire tie, how do you lay and layer the skirts?

 

Ever tie on a jig without the fat collar thing, just straight hook to head?

[BASS302]

@PUTitinYOURmouthFISH,

There's a BR member who has videos.  Google "smalljaw 3 color wire tie"

[1984isNOW]

Thanks @BASS302

 

@Jig Man is that the 26g floral wire?

[Fallser]

20 hours ago, PUTitinYOURmouthFISH said:

Cool Thanks man, I'll get something me picks up when I get some work done. What do you use for those heads and how do you add weight?

Since those are for fly fishing, they're unweighted.  The only weight is the material and the hook.  They do sink slowly.  If I need to get them deeper I use what they call a sinking or intermediate line that will get them down faster.  If I wanted to add weight, I would wrap lead wire on the hook shank As far as the heads, they're made from wrapped thread and then coated with UV resin.   

  If you're tying jigs, the jig head is your weight.  Most of the jigs I tie on are shank directly to the head.   If the do have the lead piece, used to hold soft plastics or bait, I just remove them, since I really don't like a bulky collar. 

[tholmes]

I've tied thousands of bucktail and maribou jigs using rod wrapping thread. Size A, IIRC I sealed the wraps with clear vinyl paint thinned 50/50. 

For silicone jig skirts, I tie them with fine copper wire. I can't remember the exact size, but that's not critically important. As long as it's strong enough to twist tightly without breaking and fine enough to be flexible enough to wrap, you're good to go.

 

Tom

[wisconsin heat]

You can get 22-26 gauge copper wire at hobby lobby works real good for wire tying jigs.

[Jig Man]

On 6/5/2023 at 8:40 PM, Kites R4 Skyfishing said:

Thanks @BASS302

 

@Jig Man is that the 26g floral wire?

I’m not sure what the gauge is.  Any of it will work.  I do two loose wraps, adjust the skirt to my liking then tighten the wire.

[WRB]

Are planning to buy plain jigs and paint the head and add various skirts or mold jigs using premium hooks and complete them?

To tie skirts onto a jig a jig vice is needed.

basically 3 types of jig skirts, silicone, living rubber and hair.

Thousands of silicone skirt tabs with every color imaginable. Maybe a dozen living rubber skirts strips and hair choices.

The most important component for bass jigs is the hook. The jig head design needs to go through structure and cover without snagging, 100’s of jig designs.

Tom

[The Jig Is Up]

On 6/13/2023 at 10:29 PM, WRB said:

The most important component for bass jigs is the hook. The jig head design needs to go through structure and cover without snagging, 100’s of jig designs.

Tom

I agree 100%. The jig hook is the most important component of a jig - I've written multiple articles about this very fact.
It makes sense when you think about it. It's the direct link between you and the fish!
The hook diameter dictates what size tackle you use, the eye degree dictates how the jig swims, the list goes on and on.

 

[UmairF]

On 6/13/2023 at 9:29 PM, WRB said:

Are planning to buy plain jigs and paint the head and add various skirts or mold jigs using premium hooks and complete them?

To tie skirts onto a jig a jig vice is needed.

basically 3 types of jig skirts, silicone, living rubber and hair.

Thousands of silicone skirt tabs with every color imaginable. Maybe a dozen living rubber skirts strips and hair choices.

The most important component for bass jigs is the hook. The jig head design needs to go through structure and cover without snagging, 100’s of jig designs.

Tom

Do you have any recommendations for a budget vice? Just getting into jig making. Would be mainly for 1/4,3/8, and 1/2 oz jigs different head styles.

 

Also, which specific tools would I need to tie skirts other than a vice? I’ve seen people use certain tools to wrap the wire or thread around the jig and also use something to do a “whip finish” (assuming that’s a knot to keep the threading in place?)

 

Thanks!

[WRB]

Creative Angler Universal is $35 comes with 3 jaws for different hook sizes from light to heavy.

Tom