I know this has been asked numerous times before, but just want a little help as far as colors of hair jigs for eyes to pick up? Any specs., pics, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.
Jeweler
go here:
http://bfishntackle.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=42
buy 10 of each in every color and size
seriously, bft/waynes are my favorite hair jigs.
caught a lot on fluekiger jigs from main channel in alma, too
cant go wrong with orange/chart, black/green and some with blue, too
My two cents worth…I seldom use hair jigs over 1/8 oz…I have lots of them 1/16 and 3/32…
dark or contrasting colors for Eyes/Sauger…brite colors will kill the White Bass. 
Sounds crazy to me. You pool 4 guys really can go light w/ that kind of current but down here on 10, 11 and lower you’ll need more like a 1/2 once to have any feel in our current. I like purple, black, blue, and always have some green and chartreuse around too.
Thanks guys. Any combo colors that might work better than others? I am not trying to get your double top secret colors, but just looking for ideas. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Jeweler 
If you have the colors Andy mentioned above you would also have pools 7-9 covered. As far as a combo, I like white with Purple or Blue, Black/Red, chart/orange, green/white or black.
Here is a photo of my go to hair jigs.
They are 1/4 oz fished on 8 pound test.
I have lighter and heavier but 1/4 oz is my go to size.
Good luck and let the big girls go.
Wow, you guys are a wealth of knowledge and am glad to be a part of this site. Now once I get my winter chores done I will have to hit the river. Thanks a million! Jeweler
Hey Illini Walli, what part of west central Illinois are you from? I grew up in wc illini and now reside in MN close to pool 4.
Oh I almost forgot GO BEARS!!!!!!! GO BEARS!!!!!!!
Tipped with anything ?? or just fished bare. 
Quote:
Tipped with anything ?? or just fished bare.
Garvi,
I personally do not tip these hair jigs with any bait. My best results are pitching these jigs to shallow water and the walleyes that I target shallow are usually pretty aggressive and will hit the jig as almost a “reaction” strike. So putting bait on my haor jigs are not necessarily needed.
Jeweler,
Here are some of the hair jigs that I like to pitch on the Miss river.
Jimmy D’s Riverbugs
The jigs that I like to pitch are the “Weenie” hair jigs. Colors that have been a real solid staple for me over the years have been Chartruese, firetiger, brown and white. I mostly use 3/16th-1/4 oz for nearly all my applications for walleyes.
For smallies, I like to switch over to the Riverbug model. My favorite is the black 1/16th and 1/8th oz.
Good luck to ya!
Thanks guys. Your tips are going to be a great help for me. A few years ago my dad could not pay me enough to go walleye fishing with him, now I wish I could go every day! Steve, how do you guys get away with such a small jig? I fish pools 8-11 and have my hands full most days with a 3/8 oz. I would assume the current is not as fast further up river. Just curious. Thanks again guys! Oh yeah GO PACKERS!!! Well next year anyway. Good luck to all.
Jeweler
Quote:
Steve, how do you guys get away with such a small jig? I fish pools 8-11 and have my hands full most days with a 3/8 oz
Good question.
First off, I like to picth jigs more than just about anything in the world…. 
So, when I am targeting walleyes on the river, I am concentrating on depths from 2-12 feet on the most part and therefore I usually have the leverage to get by a bit lighter on the jigs. Somedays the winds are blowing hard enough to prevent you from presenting a lighter jig and you need to opt for a heavier jig.
Vertical jigging on the other hand, I would certainly go a bit heavier to get down to those 20 foot depths and pending current and cross winds, I could easily see a 5/16th to 1/2 oz jig if need be to maintain vertical and contact with the bottom. 
I can sometimes get away with a 3/8 vertically. Have not done any pitching so I am not familiar with that. Thanks guys this has been (should say will be) a great help. Any more suggestions/comments are always welcome. Thanks again, Jeweler
My plans for this year is to fish the river more,hair jigs is one thing I plan on useing,one person says he uses 8# test line ,would that be mono or a superline? I am asssuming there wil be will be a lot of snags, will breaking a superline be a problem?
Greg in the past I have tied my own jigs but I have issues witht he hair pulling out to easy an idea what I am doing wrong there? Just not tight enough or using the wrong knot to tie off? Just curious if you have trial and errored that too..thanks
Quote:
My plans for this year is to fish the river more,hair jigs is one thing I plan on useing,one person says he uses 8# test line ,would that be mono or a superline? I am asssuming there wil be will be a lot of snags, will breaking a superline be a problem?
Jack,
there is really not a catch-all answer on line.I would say however that (most) of our fisherman here use 6-8# mono.I occassionaly use 6-8# hardline in known snaggy areas…it will allow you to get a few more jigs back.Generally speaking however,I think most folks prefer the drift quality that mono offers,especially when casting.Good Luck!
I also started tying some jigs and have been doing pretty well with them, a couple of things could be your problem.
1) I wrap the collar with some strands and put head cement on them before putting any hair on them, I don’t let the head cement dry before the hair is attached, it also act’s as a glue to hold the hair. And I think the rough surface works to deter the hair from slipping.
2) I use,(I call it) the pull through knot, it’s the same knot you use for finishing tying guides to the rod blank. Take a piece (longer the better) of heavy mono or superline and tie it into a loop. lay the loop along the wraping after your finished with hair. Wrap some more over the loop (more wraps the better) then keep the tension on the wrap and cut the wrap line with at least a couple of inches for the tag end. Put the tag end through the loop and pull the loop so the tag end goes under your wraps and trim off the tag end. cover the whole wrap with plenty of head cement and you are done Just one more tip use a colored line for your loop, it’s easier to find when you need it for your next jig.
Works great for me. Hopes this helps.
fYI – if you are tying your own jigs ask your wife, girlfriend (both?) if they have any old fingernail polish they aren’t using anymore – works just like head cement over the thread with a built in brush and without buying anything extra – don’t let them catch you using their favorite color though! The right colors can add sparkle (eyes like the sparkly ones) or additional color to your jig wraps or your jig. I always make sure I am using enough tension by tugging on the bucktail, maribou or flashabou to be sure it isn’t coming out. If it is pulling out – tie the next one tighter. I have great luck with red thread for the wraps – if you are buying it get the heavier grade – believe it is coat thread rather than regular light thread – pick it up at wal-mart or any other sewing outfit…
I like purple, black, dark green, chartreuse and like to add some or lots of flashabou in combos to really add some nice shimmer to the jigs – can really make a difference some days. Notice that part of the trick is to keep it short and to use minimal hair – easy to get them to big and bushy when you are starting out tying – think brazilian cut some hair at the top and in the middle and not too long
Chuckles
Ha! Ha! Ha! Chuckles. That was good. 
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
