Custom Panfish Jigs

[Nathan]

So with Spring upon us and waters warming, the panfish are becoming more active, this is my first year of tying custom jigs for crappie, bluegill ect ect. I've been mainly focusing on crappie jigs but also do some trout jigs, I'm always happy to learn new patterns, color combo's, productive jigs ect. So I figured I would make a thread all about these jigs and maybe I can learn a thing or two from you pros.

Just to start off here are some of mine,

These are my general formats, normally some rubber strands/legs for the tail material and either chenille or dubbing for the body, I make my own dubbing so I can get just about any color I want but green and pink are what I have been using mainly....I want to get some more colors of ultra chenille for the worm jigs though.

So lets see some jigs. :)

-Nathan

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Weird, but I've never done much on jigs alone, so I envy you Nathan.
This season I've got a couple of inflatables, so getting off the bank is an option I've not had before.
Maybe some vertical jigging will do the trick.

I'd advise you to temper your enthusiasm for tying until you learn what catches fish - but that doesn't work for me either!

[Nathan]

Haha, being on the water is definitely a plus, all of my jigging is vertical jigging. I have a 11ft aluminum boat that I strap to my dads jeep and take to my local pond...That's a whole story in itself though lol. I agree though, I should probably wait until I find out what works the best so I can stock up on that particular pattern instead of tying a bunch of random things...I am sure they will all catch but there has to be one that outfishes all the others...my job is to find it this spring/summer! :)

[dick tabbert]

A little hint on the glow in the dark paints Nathan and its in the name,  the paint it simply glows in the dark so unless your fishing in a low lite situation or depth as you go deeper the water gets darker its not going to help. but the paints are same price so I use it about all the time but I do on occasion fish deep water with my jigs.

[dick tabbert]

McScruff then there's always that cast and retrieve that I do so much of. As your getting use to it you'll find yourself starting to count down for depth. Jigs are a great tool.

[Nathan]

Do you fish your jigs under a bobber? I have yet to try that, I normally just either vertical jig or cast it from the bank.

[dick tabbert]

Nathan I'm a cast and retrieve sorta guy. I will say I'm thinking with a float on I can fish 2 poles then so I'm honestly going to try and give it a try.

[Nathan]

Thanks Dick, I think I will give the bobber a try this summer, I love to see the bobbers go down. I've tried the two rod thing, but most of the time I'm hooking fish at the same time and it becomes a cluster of sorts for me so I only fish one rod now. When the bite is not very hot though I will put out two to increase my odds or fish different baits to find what is working.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I've tried cast and retrieve, jigging under floats and so on... With not much result.
I finally quit and just went with worms.
Maybe I need some training.

[dick tabbert]

Confidence is the biggest factor, you have to be confident in what you doing or as you said you put it along the way side. I love to jig fish casting and retrieving that's the way Ive fished most of my life. There was a time like you I didn't have patients like you cause I couldn't catch a fish frequent enough. Lots has to do with what jig your throwing. I got really confident with a 1/32 oz jig red or chart with an 1 1/2in twister tail. Not just any tail it had to have soft enough action any little movement would made it work and believe me there hard to find so when I find them I usually buy in bulk. The secret is confidence and that come with knowledge. Don't give up on the jig its a catching machine.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Thanks Dick. There's a reason why jigs are #1.
I'll keep trying.

[jim cosgrove]

i always try to think about what i am imitating.a small brown jig i use a lot i try to imitate a small crawdad.i cast it let it fal a bit and really twitch it to imitate a fleeing crawdad,i usually tip it with a waxworm.a tiny jig below a small float works good in the rocks or brush.if there is no wind slowly pull it or twitch it along.the best is wave action as the waves jig the bobber for you

[Nathan]

Jim, since you mentioned crawdads I wanted to tie up a few, do you think these will catch?