Color patterns and material for river smallies

I think white and black buck tail on 1/8oz round jig will work well

I don't fish rivers but these work for me.

 

A-Jay

 

I don't fish rivers but these work for me.

A-Jay

is that perch

is that perch

 

As close as I can come I guess.

 

A-Jay

I've always had my best success in the early part of the season using straight black bucktail jigs tied on a 1/8 oz. head. Slow rolled along the bottom in shallow water, adjacent to steep drop offs. Works well on smallies as well as lake trout.

Tying rabbit fur sounds good

Tying rabbit fur sounds good

Wish I could find a source for that! Problem is, most rabbit fur is rather short and I believe it's the long, undulating movement of the bucktail jig that makes this family of jigs so effective. Not sure if a short hair jig would be as effective? However, no doubt about it, rabbit is the most lively natural fur there is in the water.

I got tying kit going to try bison hair

Tied a olive rabbit fur jig 1/8oz with a two tail so no trailers don't know how to add the pictures also brown and white bucktail

Straight black bear hair on a 1/8 to 1/4oz head.

 

Allen

Wish I could find a source for that! Problem is, most rabbit fur is rather short and I believe it's the long, undulating movement of the bucktail jig that makes this family of jigs so effective. Not sure if a short hair jig would be as effective? However, no doubt about it, rabbit is the most lively natural fur there is in the water.

 

My preference is the shorter bunny hair.  The longer hair blows up to look like a puffer fish.  Marabou will give you a great undulation.  I look for rabbit pelts that have very thin hides.  Thin hides will give you strips that will undulate nicely when tied as a tail... I've been known to split the hide of a bunny strip.

 

oe

1/16th oz brown marabou with black bucktail highlights. Google 'Smallmouth hair jig tying' and that should point you in the right direction.

 Never tried it ,but yak hair looks good.

Check thru this site to see some smallie type jigs

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=yak+hair+fishing&biw=1120&bih=559&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=aSfWVKaoFYHugwT8lYDQAg&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQsAQ