This is mostly for guys who are fishing smallmouth, I知 really dialing in chasing smallies and this is one technique I know nothing about. Rods I致e got a good handle on what I知 looking. Baits is where I知 not really sure. Thoughts or suggestions? Does this work on rivers as it does on lakes? Recommendations?
I tie some of my own but the Feider Fly and Andy's maribou are both good (but only come 1/16 and 1/8) I probably use 3/32 the most. I almost always just use black but I've caught fish on the black/chart Feider too. If the water is clear it'll work. If they're on shad or bait I use the VMC Moon Tail, sometimes that works better than a 2.8 Keitech for me but I use them in the same situation.
4000 size reel and 8lb braid/6lb leader, I also thread a piece of a black flat worm on the shank of the hook.
Whats your rod out of curiosity?Originally Posted by willwork4fish
I've got a couple NFC's I built, one is a DS721 and the other is a SJ762
I've been throwing the Feider Fly until I get around to tying some of my own...mostly 3/32 and adding a little piece of Senko for weight. Any color as long as it's black. Like willwork said, clear water is key! It works really, really well anytime the smallmouth are shallow. Bomb it as far as you can and steady wind it back. I've been throwing on a 77L Phenix Feather and it works great.
2011 Skeeter ZX225
225 Yamaha HPDI Series 2
Minn Kota Ultrex 112 52"
Console: HDS 16 Carbon
Bow: HDS 12 Carbon, Solix 12 G2, Mega 360, Garmin 106 SV, LVS 34
1/8 VMC jig for me with a piece of power worm for a little extra bulk/weight. Long rod is key for casting any distance. 7'11" Predator from Thorne Brothers is what I'm using. I switched this year from a 3000 size reel to a 4000 and am loving the setup. Been chasing largies all summer, but looking forward to getting back to some smallie action this fall!
Check out Jimmy D’s in Sartell. Best hand tied stuff you can find. He has quite a niche following: https://jimmydsriverbugs.com/
Thanks gents! Love the local Minnesota guys chiming in.
Would a medium spinning rod and a 1/4oz hair jig ever be considered? Ie fishing in a river?
When I’m thinking hair jigs for smallmouth, 2 types come to mind. The marabou like everyone has mentioned, and small buck tail or synthetic hair jigs. I use a marabou (black) mostly in the late prespawn and into summer when the fish are shallow. I actually move to an 1/8oz brown/orange bucktail when the water starts getting in the 40s all the way until ice up. I also tie a baitfish colored bucktail that works well too. For marabou I use a Phenix Feather 7’7” light. As for 1/8oz bucktail, I go to a 7’1” m-ml
The DS721 built to 7'7 is absolutely money for light hair jigs. Best i've found so far and i've tried a lot.
I "tightline" in the winter with a duck feather fly and a gulp minnow here in the winter. There are times when i'll use a tightrope jig with a small piece of senko also.
I’m sure it’d work! That marabou jig going through the water looks alive. It’s worth a shot!
2011 Skeeter ZX225
225 Yamaha HPDI Series 2
Minn Kota Ultrex 112 52"
Console: HDS 16 Carbon
Bow: HDS 12 Carbon, Solix 12 G2, Mega 360, Garmin 106 SV, LVS 34
This company has really reasonably priced marabou jigs available in a wide range of colors and sizes, and a couple of hook options. ZigJig | White River Jigs
I don't fish them as much as I would like too, been more of a Ned and finesse swim bait thrower when it comes to the local smallies. But, when using marabou jigs for trout in the White River, I have caught some nice smallmouth on them ( the smallies will drop down into the White from the tribs in the winter due to the warmer water). In the river, I'll use a pop and drop technique for trout, pop the jig a couple of feet with your rod, let the jig drop, repeat.
Largemouth will eat marabou jigs too.
I threw 3 different brands of hair jigs this past weekend in South Dakota for smallmouth. By far the black 1/16 and 1/8 VMC Dominator Hair jig did the best. That particular hair jig has a few strands of tinsel and that seemed to make all the difference, where the others were just all black. The VMC seemed to cast further with less effort on BFS too ~
Thanks!
Feather jigs will work basically anywhere, I have caugh smallies, largemouth, peacock in Hawaii on them. I say feather because marabou is a feather. Hair would be any animal fur. Deer has two types, hollow and the tail hair. Each has its own characteristics. I do believe there is good application for hair jigs, and fish quite a bit of bucktail. Looking at the commercial offerings, I have yet to see any well constructed. Find a local guy that ties flys, get the heads you like and have them tie. Most fly tiers have plenty of marabou.
Last edited by basscat21; 10-09-2023 at 08:07 AM.
I have a ton of marabou from my fly tying days but I'm not sure what heads to get. If you have a link or six, I'd appreciate it.
2013 Ranger Z520c, 2013 Yamaha 250 SHO
2018 Ranger Z521c, 2018 Yamaha 250 SHO
Basscat21 knows about hair and feather jigs. He' the man when it comes to jigs.
We are all born ignorant but one must work really hard to remain stupid---Ben Franklin
I use marabou jigs to fish for smallmouth in a river. They work well in clear water. I make my own. I use black or brown marabou with a couple of strands of tinsel (gold) like somebody suggested. For heads, I use to make my own but switched to Berkley Half Heads that are easy to find, not expensive and perfect for that application. I also use a small piece of plastic most of the time because I don't want my jig to touch bottom. I use 1/8 oz most of the time.
Reply With Quote