How to Hand Tie Bass Jigs

Tie bass jigs with a variety of bucktail colors and combinations.

Bass jigs are popular lures used in all areas of the United States. The bucktail jig in a variety of colors has been the standard jig fished for decades. Lead head jig hooks in 1/8- and 1/4-ounce weights are good for clear water, while the 3/8- and 5/8-ounce jig heads are for fishing deep or murky water. The bucktail jig body tied in white, green, chartreuse, black, brown and purple can be used with single colors or combined colors. Jig heads can be painted any color to match the bucktail.

Things You'll Need

• Fly tying vise
• Fly tying thread bobbin
• Fly tying bodkin
• Fly tying scissors
• Fly tying thread, 3/0 size, variety of colors
• Lead jig head hooks
• Bucktail, variety of colors
• 1 ounce lacquer paint, variety of colors
• Fly head cement

Instructions

1. Hold the jig head's hook by the hook bend and dip the head into a jar of lacquer. Pull the head out of the lacquer and let the paint flow down and drip off, leaving a smooth coating on the head. Hang the hook, head down, for 30 minutes until completely dry.

2. Mount the fly tying vise to a table. Clamp the bend of the jig hook in the vise so the hook shank and jig head are parallel to the table top.

3. Hold the end of the fly tying thread on the hook shank just behind the jig head. Wrap the thread clockwise over the thread end and around the shank to lock the thread down. Continue wrapping the thread around the shank, moving toward the bend of the hook and keeping the wraps snug against each other.

4. Stop wrapping the thread half-way down the hook shank. Reverse the thread and wrap it back to the jig head and let the bobbin hang from the thread. Dip the bodkin point in the fly head cement and completely coat the thread. Leave it for 5 minutes to harden.

5. Select the bucktail for the jig and pinch a 1/8-inch bunch of hair between your thumb and forefinger. Even the hair tips together and cut the hair off flush with the skin. Continue to pinch the hair tips and then pull on the bottom of the hair bunch to remove the short hairs.

6. Lay the hair on top of the hook and adjust it so the hair tips extend past the end of the shank for a distance half again as long as the shank. Secure the hair on the hook by wrapping six to eight turns of thread around the butt ends just behind the back of the jig head. Let the bobbin hang.

7. Cut a second bunch of hair in the same manner as the first and hold it on the bottom of the hook shank, just behind the jig head. Even these hair tips with those of the first bunch and wrap six to eight turns of thread around this bunch. Let the bobbin hang

8. Trim off all the hair butt ends between the thread wraps and the back of the jig head. Wrap the thread back and forth over the butt ends, creating a level, 1/8-inch wide wrap up against the back of the jig head. Finish the wraps off with three half hitches pulling, each tight.

9. Dip the tip of the bodkin into the fly head cement and paint the cement around the finishing wrap. Let it dry for one minute and then clip the thread off against the wraps. The jig is finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Run a string between two objects and hang the freshly painted jig hooks from it to dry. Place paper under the heads to catch any drips.

• Jig heads come in a variety of shapes; all of them will work for a bucktail jig.

• The top and bottom bunches of bucktail can be the same color, or you can make each a different color. Smaller bunches of bucktail in different colors can be cut and mixed to make a multi-colored jig. Experiment with different sized jigs, colors and combinations.

• Keep the hooks and finished jigs out of the reach of children and pets because the colored hair is attractive to them.

References

• "The Complete Book of Tackle Making"; C. Boyd Pfeiffer; March 1999