My evolution of jig fishing

[WRB]

It all started with a display of Doll Fly jigs being sold at the boat landing my brother worked at and I was his helper. 
This would be the summer of ‘55 and bass fishing was new to me using weedless spoon and a Injured Minnow prop lure.

Customers would ask if the Doll Fly was a trout lure or Crappie and I had no idea. I ask my brother and he didn’t know so asked Red the manager he said he got them for bass fishing.

The display had 3 sizes and 3 colors; 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz in yellow -red, red -white and black w/red tail. 
The boat landing had a shack at the end to store the OB engines over night and a open area in the floor by removing a plank.

Lots of crappie were under the shack so I decided to try a 1/4 oz Black Doll Fly, dropped down and the crappie scattered. 
kept jigging the Fly up and down to watch the action when a bass nailed it. My 1st jig afish was caught on a Doll Fly that was actually a bucktail hair jig.

Didn’t know about jigs back then because Jason Lucas didn’t write articles having jig fishing content, my main source of bass fishing information.

PVJ is final was a sign in the local fishing store where I hung out as a teenager. One day I had to ask what is PVJ? The old guys laughed and said Purple Vinyl Jig, like a secret I had to promise not to tell anyone else. From behind the counter the owner pulled out a box of vinyl jig skirts, football jigs and Pedigo rinds. Sold me a few jigs, skirts and a bottle of purple pork rinds.

Told me how to work the jig down rocky steep banks. PVJ was a killer bass lure that started me as a jig fisherman.

The Pig ‘n Jig was a lure I did read about in the 60’s and my experience with the Doll Fly and PVJ football jig influenced me to start tying buck tail jigs on football heads in black, purple and brown using pork trailers.

I was loosing too many jigs in the rocks and designed my Viper head jig to stand the hook upwards and slide though rocks better then a football head. The viper head works good. Retrying jigs to change colors inspired me to tie all 3 colors black. brown and purple together so changing different color pork trailer on the same jig. The viper head and tri color hair jig with pork rind would became my Anytime Anywhere jig that caught nearly all my giant bass for the next 45 years and counting.

Tom

[PourMyOwn]

Tom, keep these coming. I'm all of 46, and I can't get enough stories from your generation. 

[Mobasser]

Awesome Tom! Thank you for sharing this.

[Derek1]

Great story. One of those and the rest was history types. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

Why didn’t you just google PVJ ? 

[A-Jay]

@WRB ~ So Good.

Thank you.

To my knowledge there isn't one yet,

but I would like to nominate Tom Young

as the first ever inductee into the 

Bass Resources Hall Of Fame.

A-Jay

 

[RRocket]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

It all started with a display of Doll Fly jigs being sold at the boat landing my brother worked at and I was his helper. 
This would be the summer of ‘55 and bass fishing was new to me using weedless spoon and a Injured Minnow prop lure.

Customers would ask if the Doll Fly was a trout lure or Crappie and I had no idea. I ask my brother and he didn’t know so asked Red the manager he said he got them for bass fishing.

The display had 3 sizes and 3 colors; 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz in yellow -red, red -white and black w/red tail. 
The boat landing had a shack at the end to store the OB engines over night and a open area in the floor by removing a plank.

Lots of crappie were under the shack so I decided to try a 1/4 oz Black Doll Fly, dropped down and the crappie scattered. 
kept jigging the Fly up and down to watch the action when a bass nailed it. My 1st jig afish was caught on a Doll Fly that was actually a bucktail hair jig.

Didn’t know about jigs back then because Jason Lucas didn’t write articles having jig fishing content, my main source of bass fishing information.

PVJ is final was a sign in the local fishing store where I hung out as a teenager. One day I had to ask what is PVJ? The old guys laughed and said Purple Vinyl Jig, like a secret I had to promise not to tell anyone else. From behind the counter the owner pulled out a box of vinyl jig skirts, football jigs and Pedigo rinds. Sold me a few jigs, skirts and a bottle of purple pork rinds.

Told me how to work the jig down rocky steep banks. PVJ was a killer bass lure that started me as a jig fisherman.

The Pig ‘n Jig was a lure I did read about in the 60’s and my experience with the Doll Fly and PVJ football jig influenced me to start tying buck tail jigs on football heads in black, purple and brown using pork trailers.

I was loosing too many jigs in the rocks and designed my Viper head jig to stand the hook upwards and slide though rocks better then a football head. The viper head works good. Retrying jigs to change colors inspired me to tie all 3 colors black. brown and purple together so changing different color pork trailer on the same jig. The viper head and tri color hair jig with pork rind would became my Anytime Anywhere jig that caught nearly all my giant bass for the next 45 years and counting.

Tom

Pictures? 

[Catt]

10 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I would like to nominate Tom Young

as the first ever inductee into the 

Bass Resources Hall Of Fame.

 

Second that nomination 😉

[Mike L]

Aye !

 

 

 

Mike

[Functional]

[Pogues2300]

19 hours ago, A-Jay said:

@WRB ~ So Good.

Thank you.

To my knowledge there isn't one yet,

but I would like to nominate Tom Young

as the first ever inductee into the 

Bass Resources Hall Of Fame.

A-Jay

 

Nice idea

[Kev-mo]

And these viper head tri color jigs are available where?

 

Echoing others.. appreciate the history and story!

[Fishlegs]

22 hours ago, A-Jay said:

@WRB ~ So Good.

Thank you.

To my knowledge there isn't one yet,

but I would like to nominate Tom Young

as the first ever inductee into the 

Bass Resources Hall Of Fame.

A-Jay

 

I think that’s a very interesting idea. Maybe there could be a section on the site called the “Trophy Room” where folks who have made significant contributions to the sport (like Tom) are recognized.

 

I’m sure there’s a lot that would go into that, but it’s an idea that is worthy of consideration IMO. Good thought @A-Jay.

[WRB]

18 hours ago, RRocket said:

Pictures? 

Sent

[garroyo130]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

Sent

 

Are you okay with those getting posted here??

13 hours ago, Fishlegs said:

I think that’s a very interesting idea. Maybe there could be a section on the site called the “Trophy Room” where folks who have made significant contributions to the sport (like Tom) are recognized.

 

I’m sure there’s a lot that would go into that, but it’s an idea that is worthy of consideration IMO. Good thought @A-Jay.

 

^ I agree

[Bankbeater]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that history.

[roadwarrior]

On 1/18/2024 at 4:57 PM, WRB said:

It all started with a display of Doll Fly jigs being sold at the boat landing my brother worked at and I was his helper. 
This would be the summer of ‘55 and bass fishing was new to me using weedless spoon and a Injured Minnow prop lure.

Customers would ask if the Doll Fly was a trout lure or Crappie and I had no idea. I ask my brother and he didn’t know so asked Red the manager he said he got them for bass fishing.

The display had 3 sizes and 3 colors; 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz in yellow -red, red -white and black w/red tail. 
The boat landing had a shack at the end to store the OB engines over night and a open area in the floor by removing a plank.

Lots of crappie were under the shack so I decided to try a 1/4 oz Black Doll Fly, dropped down and the crappie scattered. 
kept jigging the Fly up and down to watch the action when a bass nailed it. My 1st jig afish was caught on a Doll Fly that was actually a bucktail hair jig.

Didn’t know about jigs back then because Jason Lucas didn’t write articles having jig fishing content, my main source of bass fishing information.

PVJ is final was a sign in the local fishing store where I hung out as a teenager. One day I had to ask what is PVJ? The old guys laughed and said Purple Vinyl Jig, like a secret I had to promise not to tell anyone else. From behind the counter the owner pulled out a box of vinyl jig skirts, football jigs and Pedigo rinds. Sold me a few jigs, skirts and a bottle of purple pork rinds.

Told me how to work the jig down rocky steep banks. PVJ was a killer bass lure that started me as a jig fisherman.

The Pig ‘n Jig was a lure I did read about in the 60’s and my experience with the Doll Fly and PVJ football jig influenced me to start tying buck tail jigs on football heads in black, purple and brown using pork trailers.

I was loosing too many jigs in the rocks and designed my Viper head jig to stand the hook upwards and slide though rocks better then a football head. The viper head works good. Retrying jigs to change colors inspired me to tie all 3 colors black. brown and purple together so changing different color pork trailer on the same jig. The viper head and tri color hair jig with pork rind would became my Anytime Anywhere jig that caught nearly all my giant bass for the next 45 years and counting.

Tom

 I ask Mike Siebert to build me a few. Maybe others would like some, too.

[softwateronly]

I fifth or twenty-fifth's @A-Jay's suggestion.  A couple years ago @WRB was kind enough to share his horizontal jigging articles and drawings with me.  It really changed the way I fish and how I look for fish.  My lake is full of breaks and weeds with very clear water and dramatic swings in pleasure boat activity and pressure.  Long casts are key to my success, when I find it.  Tom recommended Zorro Baits - Casting Booza Bug for my water.  It is the perfect jig for my lake and I never would have found it on my own because in my mind everything about the design looked inappropriate.  Man I was wrong.  Thanks again Tom!  

 

scott

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zorro_Baits_Casting_Booza_Bug_Jig/descpage-SSZBCJ.html

 

[Mbirdsley]

On 1/18/2024 at 5:57 PM, WRB said:

It all started with a display of Doll Fly jigs being sold at the boat landing my brother worked at and I was his helper. 
This would be the summer of ‘55 and bass fishing was new to me using weedless spoon and a Injured Minnow prop lure.

Customers would ask if the Doll Fly was a trout lure or Crappie and I had no idea. I ask my brother and he didn’t know so asked Red the manager he said he got them for bass fishing.

The display had 3 sizes and 3 colors; 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 oz in yellow -red, red -white and black w/red tail. 
The boat landing had a shack at the end to store the OB engines over night and a open area in the floor by removing a plank.

Lots of crappie were under the shack so I decided to try a 1/4 oz Black Doll Fly, dropped down and the crappie scattered. 
kept jigging the Fly up and down to watch the action when a bass nailed it. My 1st jig afish was caught on a Doll Fly that was actually a bucktail hair jig.

Didn’t know about jigs back then because Jason Lucas didn’t write articles having jig fishing content, my main source of bass fishing information.

PVJ is final was a sign in the local fishing store where I hung out as a teenager. One day I had to ask what is PVJ? The old guys laughed and said Purple Vinyl Jig, like a secret I had to promise not to tell anyone else. From behind the counter the owner pulled out a box of vinyl jig skirts, football jigs and Pedigo rinds. Sold me a few jigs, skirts and a bottle of purple pork rinds.

Told me how to work the jig down rocky steep banks. PVJ was a killer bass lure that started me as a jig fisherman.

The Pig ‘n Jig was a lure I did read about in the 60’s and my experience with the Doll Fly and PVJ football jig influenced me to start tying buck tail jigs on football heads in black, purple and brown using pork trailers.

I was loosing too many jigs in the rocks and designed my Viper head jig to stand the hook upwards and slide though rocks better then a football head. The viper head works good. Retrying jigs to change colors inspired me to tie all 3 colors black. brown and purple together so changing different color pork trailer on the same jig. The viper head and tri color hair jig with pork rind would became my Anytime Anywhere jig that caught nearly all my giant bass for the next 45 years and counting.

Tom

do you have a picture of one of your buck tail football jigs ? 

[WRB]

PM your email

Tom

[whitwolf]

Another example why this place is tge best Bass website around! Thanks for this Tom!

 

As for @A-Jay idea.... Yes sir!

[Firstoutfisher]

What is the viper head you describe shaped like? 

[txchaser]

On 1/20/2024 at 9:43 AM, roadwarrior said:

 I ask Mike Siebert to build me a few. Maybe others would like some, too.

I'm in for 10

[softwateronly]

4 minutes ago, txchaser said:

I'm in for 10

x2

 

scott

[Munkin]

Why to I envision you looking like one of the characters from "The Outsiders" selling baits?

 

Allen