I have some baits that have either stretched collars or the collars have eroded from heat or prolonged exposer to sunlight. Does anyone know any homemade remedies to spreading new collars to pull my silicone through without any special tools?

I bought a kit from BPS and used rubber collars a few times with the tool that comes with the kit.  But since I bought a pair of dikes and some 24 ga. copper wire, I'll never touch rubber collars again.  Wire tying is no more difficult and much more satisfying.

I never really thought of that. Any way you can post a picture or two to show how you tie your skirts?

I don't have any experience with it yet, but I've read that a lot of people use small zip ties instead of rubber collars.

I was honestly considering buying the rigs and tools to make my own skirts. Now I think I will just use the wire tie method to bring new life back to all of my neked jigs and spinner/buzz baits. Thank you for the idea sir!

Ever see that skirt tool tube... removable cone on one side. A cheap alternative would be using a Bic pen instead. Saw off or pry off the butt end. And the writing end just pulls out. Take the ink cartridge out. Just make the wire puller out of an old wire hanger.

Or another option is to use thin wire to tie them.

I have some baits that have either stretched collars or the collars have eroded from heat or prolonged exposer to sunlight. Does anyone know any homemade remedies to spreading new collars to pull my silicone through without any special tools?

Choporoz beat me to it but the two videos posted are excellent. If you are going to use wire than you can hand tie, if you are going to use thread, it is a lot easier to use a fly tying vice and hand tie. Learn to tie with the weedguard in, as many store bought skirts are put on with rubber collars, and they will eventually fall off if you don't lose the jigs first. Both wire and thread can be used to tie skirts with the weedguard in place. Good Luck.

http://www.nakedbaitco.com/skirtexp.html

 

This will work.

 

Allen

http://www.nakedbaitco.com/skirtexp.html

 

This will work.

 

Allen

I have been looking at this item for a while now. I really like how it works and really want one, but I have a kid on the way so my budget is extremely limited. It may be something I ask for for my birthday coming up in December though. I think I am going to try the wire tying method. I can salvage the skirts that I haven't lost yet, and I can easily and affordably tie my own jigs with the same technique. Thanks for everyone's input!