Year's ago I wanted to be able to make my own spinnerbait skirts, so I bought some material from various outlets and put it into a little kit like this.

I was disappointed with the various things that were available to spread out bands that hold the skirts together, so I went out and got me a vise ($20) and a couple of needles ($3.95 for 2 of them).

You can see the needles at http://www.wrights.com/products/catalog/boyeline/knittneedles.htm

Take one of the needles and cut it to desired length. After you've cut it, take a small file and file down the rough edges on your new tool.

Lubricate the tool with a little bit of petroleum jelly, then slide the band onto the tool.

Cut some strands of material in the colors that you want for the skirt.

After you have reset the tool in the vise, slide in the skirt material and slide the band up onto the material.

You can then slide the band further down the length of the strands, then trim the ends of the strands. If you need a shorter skirt, cut lengths prior to putting the band on to save material.

You can also use a small hobby-type needle-nose pliers, although this isn't as easy.

I actually found a pair of split ring pliers at farm and fleet and it works great for opening the bands to make the skirts.

great tutorial by the way.

Great thread.  Thanks for the info and good ideas.

I saw on one of the fishing shows a while back - think it was Roland Martin - where one of the guests also used the knitting needle point to help get the skirts on as well.  He took a dremel and cut a slot in the end of the needle like you have.  He slipped the skirt, with the band on, over the tip and slid it up near the open end; to the other side of the slot.  The hook was slipped in through the open end of the tip then out through the slot.  The tip can then be slid up to the end of the jig and the skirt slid off.  Hope you can make sense of that description.  I had never seen anyone put on a skirt that fast or effortless.