I wanted to start this thread to see what everyone does different to modify their stock jigs before they hit the water.

I like to trim the weed guard on a slight downward angle and have the highest point when pressed down just at the barb of the hook. Then I'll grab the skirt just below the bow of the hook and take thinning shears and cut across 2-3 times. Makes it look spacey and flares the skirt out more, which allows my trailer to really be noticed and great action!

What do you guys do to your stock jigs?

Thanks,

-Zildjian

I usually trim my skirt (depending on what brand or what kind of jig) and trim the weed gard (if it is long enough), that's usually do.

Oops also a trailer (Crawdad).

Trim AND thin the skirt, same with the weed guard. On some jigs I also bend the hook out a little to open up the gap.

Trim skirt to about 1/8" from hook in a v shape.

Shorten weed guard if need be.

Flair weed guard out.

On certain baits with a horizontal line tie I'll bend it to the vertical posistion.

Its not a priority or anything, but occasionally Ill add a rattle.

If I'm flipping or pitching the jig, I'll trim the weed guard to make it stiffer. Then I'll shorten the front half of the skirt so it stands out to the side. If it doesn't have a rattle, I'll add one in front of my trailer and I never fish a jig without a trailer. Last, but most important to me is to check the hook for sharpnes.Not just when I start out, but frequently (this goes for checking the line for knicks too). I get nicked by hooks every time I go out, and although it's a great indicator of how sharp a hook is, I don't recommend doing it more than once or twice an outing.

I'm just getting into jigs but I trim my weedguards just like the OP does, and I trim the skirts to about 1/4 inch passed the hook bend. I fish them with trailers but I'm not opposed to fishing them without. I check for sharpness also, and sharpen as needed.

I make my own from scratch. The whole thing is to my liking. Just the way I like it!

Jeff

I tie and let fly!!!!!!!!!!

I find a Rage lobster is normally the only mod they need.

I'm superstitious in that my PB off a jig at 7 years old was left unmodded so I don't do a thing to them. I Kinda figured if the manufactures thought they were better taylored they would sell em that way

I also tie my own so other than adding a trailer there is usually no modifications needed by the time I hit the water.

I sometimes mess around with the weedguard, but that's about it.

I'm superstitious in that my PB off a jig at 7 years old was left unmodded so I don't do a thing to them. I Kinda figured if the manufactures thought they were better taylored they would sell em that way

There are so many different styles, by so many different manufactures, for so many different applications, that I buy the jig for that purpose.

Add a trailer or not and throw it.

But thats just me

Mike

i notice that the most mentioned modification is trimming the weedguard. why is that? i will answer that. it is because the way jigs have been made since the beginning of time, they do not hook well. it has been written since the beginning of weedless jigs to cut the weedguard down if you are not fishing around much brush and it might hook a bit better. until now there has not been one manufacture study the physics and science of how their lures hook. there is a better fishing tool on the horizon.

I make my own jigs to suit how I fish them, see Horizontal jigging post.

The vast majority of jig designed for fish heavy cover have a single fiber weed guard. The jig manufacturer doesn't trim the fiber guard, it takes too much time to handle and trim each jig. Fiber weed guards come in 3 strelight; light, medium and heavy based on the individual fiber diameter and count. The over the counter production jig usually uses medium in brown or black color, 1 1/8 long to appeal to the average angler, whatever that means.

Your fiber weed guard is met to be trimmed, otherwise it's just a post that prevents hook sets the majority of the strikes. I will not waste my time fishing to miss strikes and for that reason do not use a jig with a center fiber weed guard for decades.

A jig is only as good as it's hook.....do not over look the hook size, shape, strength and sharpness! The hook is what puts the bass in the boat.

Tom

For the people that trim the weed guard, how much do you trim?

I don't really trim mine, I just "V" it out...