Hey GMAN ive been looking at the jig in your avatar for awile and was wondering about that skirt.

What difference does the jig skirt make with the small strands up by the head? Ive started to see them lots of places too and actually just made one but i havent heard anyplace about what it does different then a jig with the skirt tied in a normal way. Could you tell me anything about these skirts on the jigs?

Basscatcher8, I'm a fan of GMAN's jigs also. Those small strands are known as a "mane", like a lions mane I'm guessing. They are a result from how a finesse jig is tied or collared. Cutting those strands short around the jig head keeps them from folding down over the body strands and give the jig a much smaller profile. It gives a nice look to a completed jig. I can't really comment much more than that except to say, smallies really seem to like it. I look forward to hearing from GMAN on this as well.

Basscatcher8, They are a result from how a finesse jig is tied or collared. Cutting those strands short around the jig head keeps them from folding down over the body strands and give the jig a much smaller profile. It gives a nice look to a completed jig.

Thanks guys, I couldnt have said it any better then that. Like Craw said it just eliminates bulk from the jig. When the bite is light its an excellent presentation. I catch more fish off a jig like that then the fully skirted jigs.

Correct me if I'm wrong but in a magazine I read one time it said that jigs with those type of skirts give a more natural feel to bass.  When a fish eats a crawdad it's legs "tickle" the inside of the fishes mouth and those types of skirts are supposed to do the samething.  By the way Gman you do have some very quality looking jigs.

thanks for the replys guys. I ended up finally finding some articles about it as well, but it was after i made my first jig. It looks like alot of guys use them as a 5/16 head because of it being a finess style bait. The one i made is on a 3/8 head so its a little bigger but maybe that will be good to experiment with. Cant wait for some good weather to finally get here so i can try it out.