Hair Jigs for smallies

[Dwight Hottle]

DanielR make sure you give us a report after you try them.

[Big Fish Rice]

DanielR make sure you give us a report after you try them.

Absolutely, but it might be awhile. Orders are a few weeks out, so I'll do my best!

[Nick]

I've been fishing hair for many years in winter in very clear Ozark streams with water temps ranging in the 30's to the upper 40's. Below 42 degrees I have much more confidence in hair than in a silicone or rubber skirt. I like a very sparsely tied brown or black weedless 1/16 - 1/8 oz. jig in either fox, deer, bear, or maribou.  Usually I put a small split tail trailer to give it enough weight to cast with my e7 Curado and 8 lb. flouro. I guide about 30 days each winter for the "fools" who like to catch big smallies. As long as we don't get much ice on the guides, we feel pretty comfortable and pretty certain that we'll catch some solid numbers of smallies from 13-22 inches. We caught over 70 last year over 17 inches, and our Ozark streams just aren't nearly as fertile as northern streams are in summer. Anyway winter is a great time to catch the bruisers if one knows when to go and how to put together a pattern.

[NateFollmer]

I don't have much to add here (already been said). Hair jigs would a lot better in cold water because of the action they can provide over a cold rubber/plastic jig.

Hair jigs are awesome for smallies, walleye, muskie, pike and perch. I don't understand why more people don't use them. They seem like one of those old lures that people have no confidence with!

[roadwarrior]

Well, the exposed hook is an issue on the Tennessee River:

If you use 'em, expect to lose 'em. That said, I'll be using

and losing this Saturday!  Can't wait...

;D ;D ;D

[Waterford]

Jensen Jigs is closed for the year. Can somebody recommend another place to order some quality jigs?

[roadwarrior]

MegaStrike EVO II: 

http://www.megastrikefishingproducts.com/shop/EVO-II-Lures/

NorthStar:  http://www.northstarbaits.com/home.html

GMAN Jigs:  http://www.siebertoutdoors.com/

[Waterford]

Thank you for the reply.

[htbass]

Jensen Jigs is closed for the year. Can somebody recommend another place to order some quality jigs?

http://www.wincoscustomlures.com/

[roadwarrior]

Fished the NorthStar Hairy Jigs on Saturday. Mine are 3/8 oz

football heads, black on black and brown on black. Trailers

were Rage Tail Baby Craws or Uncle Josh Pork.

Didn't catch a monster, but caught a few.

8-)

[garry77]

It's been awhile since I've fished for smallies,but in the cooler months in PA I had some success with a brown hair jig tipped with a black Uncle Josh kicker frog(not sure if they even still make these).

[Nick]

RW,

One can make a really effective weedguard on just about any jig with a tiny drill bit, some saltwater nylon covered wire leader and superglue. Drill two angled holes in the jighead just outside of the line tie with .050 drill bit. (easy to find in a good hobby shop) Hold the drill and bit so it would be on the same plane as you would like the weeguard to lay. Drill about halfway into the lead.  You shuld have two symmetrically place holes in the jig. Next cut one to 1.5 inches of leader material (just a single strand is all) to glue into the two holes of the jig. Takes about 10 minutes to dry. Fine tune the guards to the angles and lenghts desired after they dry and add a little black marker to dull the shine on the guards if needed. This split weedguard works very well and keeps the jig from falling over on its side.  I like them so much tht I now cut off the traditional brush guards on most of my small stream jigs.

One can use stiffer materail such as weedwacker string on larger football head jigs.  You'll be amazed at how well these jigs will now fish and catch.

[roadwarrior]

Thanks, but I was born with ten thumbs.

I have to buy mine retail, but hopefully

on sale!

8-)

[Memphisballer]

What about the 12 lb 11 ounce monster you caught?

[Dwight Hottle]

I don't think that was a bass. 

[roadwarrior]

Memphisballer and I spent all day Saturday fishing nearly

every class of artificial lures and no live bait. I expect to

catch everything that swims on minnows and shad, but

not on crankbaits and jigs! The drum were my specialty

last weekend...

[GRIZZ]

Does anyone know how to get a hold of  Phil Schafer?

He's email comes up invaled the  pws4@yahoo.com one.

Thanks Ed

[Nick]

Last I knew he was still living in Stockton, MO.  Check for a phone number there.