Question for all available Pro Staffers

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Thu Oct 24, 2002 2:42 am

Craig- You know that I am fond of saying that certain good information will go in my "notebook" which I have renamed my "closet" because of the detail that fellas like you and the Pro Staffers come up with.

I appreciate your contributing this so quick, especially now that the frost is in the north country. Hair jigs as you have talked about here, catch bass when very little else will.

Much obliged. JoeMo

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Thu Oct 24, 2002 6:13 pm

I'm off to Missouri! Glad you enjoyed it.

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Sat Oct 26, 2002 5:05 am

When MMT comes back I will ask more questions about his take on the hair jig.

He looks at these baits from an angler's standpoint and also as a jig manufacturer. It gives him a unique perspective to seek perfection while keeping costs in check. It shows in the amount of detail in his reports.

If you have questions, ask them. I will jump in when the questions slow down. JoeMo

dansfishntales · Post by **dansfishntales** » Fri Nov 01, 2002 9:30 am

Joe,
I use a hair jig, or a combination hair-rubber jig, distributed by Gripper Bait, whenever the fishing is tough, or the bass are feeding on leeches.

The rigging can be found on the article I have on this site about an early spring jig combo. This same rig works for any time of the year.

I use 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 ounce sizes. The trailer is normally a 4-inch finesse worm, or pork ell. My favorite colors are black or purple.

If the main feed is on bait fish then I'll swim a white jig, using a white twin tail spinnerbait trailer. The flowing action of the skirt, and the up-and-down kicking of the twin legs is just too much for old mister bass to avoid.

Johnnie was correct about Virgil Ward getting his start with a jig. It was a feather jig that started the Bass Buster company, but there was also its companion - the hair jig. After Bill and Virgil caught a mess of fish on Bull Shoals Lake, with the jig, Virgil received his first $25 order from Judge Green, who was very impressed, since he hadn't caught a fish until Virgil let him use one. The judge has always been one of Virgil's prized friends.
Dan

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Fri Nov 01, 2002 8:04 pm

Dan- Another fine post. I really enjoy those Virgil stories coming from the past. I don't think I ever saw a picture of Virgil where he didn't have at least one fish. And I'll bet hair jigs caught a lot of them.

Much obliged. Joe

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Mon Nov 04, 2002 6:15 pm

I'm back, I fished Stockton with Phil Shafer, Pomme de Terre with a friend and a local farm pond which was hot despite the 30 degree air temps most days. Stockton was tough with most fish coming on a handpoured tube I've been making. Pomme de Terre was even tougher but I managed several nice fish on a dropshot rig with a "special" bait. The farm pond action was unbelieveable even though part of the pond was iced over in the mornings. Watermelon/red tubes with a 1/8oz insider head were the ticket. Several fish to 3.5 lbs. Hair jigs also worked in the pond. An olive/black creation I "stole " from Phil did the damage on bass and crappies.

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Tue Nov 05, 2002 6:00 am

MMT- Sounds like you did have a great time in the Show Me State. Of course, Phil is the maker of Phil's Jigs?

Good post. Much obliged. Joe

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Tue Nov 05, 2002 6:40 pm

Phil Shafer is the Phil, of Phils Hair Jigs.

JoeM · Post by **JoeM** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 6:00 am

Craig- It didn't take me more than 2 hours to figure that out. lol

Any new techniques being developed out in Missouri? How about a drop shot rig with one of Phil's Hair Jigs on the bottom? (Or is that too old?)

Joe

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 10:40 am

OK, I'll let you in on a little something I've been doing this season with the drop shot. I'm assuming you know how to set the rig up. Simply a palomar knot securing a split shot hook about 12 to 18 inches above a clip sinker. I began to experiment a bit with another palomar knot about 8 inches above the first. This knot secured a small balsa shad fly. It is a shad imitating fly made of balsa wood on a small hook, maybe 1 inch or so in length. Deadly! My only concern is the durability of the bottom knot. Will the line be weaker because there is a knot above the traditonal knot? I did not have any bad experiences with it but I did not catch any real horses on it either. Interesting set up and likely illegal in Minnesota!