Chris W

The really bad part is I have had at least 9 or 10 7+lb smallmouth on over the years never landed a one of them. Most of them have been at Dale Hollow in the winter or early spring with 4lb or 6lb test. I have also had several at Picwick that broke me off. I am convinced that a 7lber is my white whale.

I live in TN and a 6lb fish here is a nice fish not a trophy. It takes 7lb+ for it to be a trophy. There are many lakes here that are capable of producing a 7+ lb smallmouth. I have lived here my whole life and do not have a trophy smallmouth yet but have been close many times. But one day on Dale Hollow I caught 3 fish and missed one. The three were 6lbs 3oz, 6lbs 11oz and 6lbs 13oz, and the one that broke my line was bigger than all of those. Plus no state income tax like KY and pretty low property taxes. Only bad thing is our sales tax is high. Putnam Co where I live has 9.75% sales tax the highest allowed in the state other counties it is a little lower but it is over 9% everywhere in the state. Just some food for thought.

On my finesse jigs I like to have a fairly fast fall I usually only use 2 tabs so 44 strand skirts. On my flipping jigs I usually use 2.5 to 3 tabs so 55 or 66 strand skirts. Play with it some and see what works for you. I will warn you making jigs is addicting. Especially when it starts getting cold.

It has been a long time since I fished with a Calais but this is what I remember. The Calais is much smoother one of the smoothest reels I ever fished with, it has a greater line capacity, it did not throw lighter lures as well as the Core 50 (best I remember) the weight (obviously). And the biggest reason I got rid of mine was, it froze my hands off in the winter (all metal). There are probably some others that I cannot remember. But both reels are fantastic reels. Given the choice though I would pick the Core 50 probably 9 times out of 10.

If it was on the right side you could still do it unless you have a room beneath the stairs. You would just have to do a cutout. That would not be hard to do. Especially if there is no drywall under the stairs.

You can always knock the back wall of the garage out and make it bigger. Or just do a cutout for the motor and frame it in, I have seen several guys to that.

It depends on how thick you want the skirt. I will always use at least 2 tabs and have used as many as 3.5 tabs. What kind of jigs are you making, Football, flipping, finesse etc?

Yes the main thing with a float and fly is not to overwork the bait. If there is a chop on the water you do not have to move it at all. When there is a wind I have had days where I only made 10 or 15 casts just drifted with the wind. The hardest thing about float and fly fishing is learning the cast and not overworking the bait. Then figuring out how to land a fish if you are by yourself that is is still tough.

I went to Erie about 9 years ago and killed them on a 3/4oz hair jig, around the bass islands.

I catch more smallmouth on a spinnerbait, hair jig and senko than I do any other of those baits you have listed. Also a swimbait has been very productive this year for me.

I agree pro mariner is the way to go. Get the Pro Tournament if it is your budget.

There is a video on wired to fish showing how to tie with wire it would not let me post the link here.

The wire tie keeps your skirt from pulling down all of the time. And yes I have used zip ties in a pinch.

I do think the Tru Tungsten ones are a little over priced, but the tungsten weights in general are not. It is amazing how much better feel you have with a tungsten vs a lead. There are cheaper alliteratives out there. My fishing partner and I talk about this all of the time now when you get hung up with a texas rig you just hope you can get your sinker back somehow.

You do know that they are the same company now. Pure Fishing owns them both.

Copper wire works very well as stated above I have also used zip ties in a pinch.

If you paint it, paint both sides and the edges very well. I would paint it with a truck bed liner if it were mine.

I use the craft hair too. And Al is right about the weird colors. Bright Blue and Pink are my best two colors. Yellow is also very good.

Make sure and back the drags off to avoid getting flat spots.

What size are you looking for I might just have some in the 10" possibly the 7.5 too.

X2

I have been using 20 gauge copper wire and it is working good. If you have a Hobby Lobby close to you, you can buy it in the jewelry making isle and get colors. I bought a 15 yard spool of black colored copper for about $12 there is no telling how many jigs I have tied with it.

Green Pumkin/Blue Jig Black/Blue Jig Clear Zara Spook

Thanks for the answer I will try that tonight. I am really starting to enjoy this jig making feels great when you catch some on something you made.

I would love to ask you a question if you do not mind. I too have just started tying jigs with wire how did you get your skirt so even around the tie. Mine just wants to bunch up and if I try to straighten it out it just rips the strands off. Great looking jigs and the photography is fantastic too.