Hey guys.  I have a ton of jigs that utilize the rubber band to keep the skirt on.  What is the best way to reinforce them, since the rubber band will corrode over time?  I've read some things about people using small zip ties, or even braid or fly tying string with a dab of knot glue/super glue to keep it in place.

 

What do you use to increase the longevity of a jig? 

 

Thanks for the help!

 

- Dale

You can wire tie them if you want but small zip ties is the easiest and fastest way to do it.

You can wire tie them if you want but small zip ties is the easiest and fastest way to do it.

Zip tie

If you can wire tie you should do that for sure but zip ties work prety godd too

Thanks guys!  Another project to add to my "Cabin Fever" list.

i cut the rubber band and hand tie the skirt on with fly tying thread. once i complete the knot i drop alil nailpoish harder on it so it stays tight and the jig will last forever.

You can wire tie them if you want but small zip ties is the easiest and fastest way to do it.

 

Zip tie

 

Do you cut the rubber band of or ziptie right over it?

Do you cut the rubber band of or ziptie right over it?

I do but if you are going to do it be sure to hold the skirt down or else it will fall apart. Make sure you are using a very small ziptie as well.

I use braid, it works great.

 

I think that tiny zip ties are the easiest, but I have mounted jigs in a fly tying vise and wired the skirts on also.  (I did this prior to someone telling me about  tiny zip ties)  I use a couple of 2 inch squares of tin foil to gather and keep the skirt together on either side of where I'm going to put the zip tie to give me a kind of open area to work in

Zip ties and glue.

12lb braid, nice and clean........

Do you cut the rubber band of or ziptie right over it?

I use tiny 1/16" wide x 2" long zip ties, I install the tie above the rubber band, tighten it with a zip tie gun, & cut the rubber band. The zip ties I use have the tag end horizontal instead of vertical.

I use tiny 1/16" wide x 2" long zip ties, I install the tie above the rubber band, tighten it with a zip tie gun, & cut the rubber band. The zip ties I use have the tag end horizontal instead of vertical.

That was how I was thinking I'd do it.  Any specific reason why you have it horizontal and not vertical?

That was how I was thinking I'd do it. Any specific reason why you have it horizontal and not vertical?

When you cut the tag end it sticks up!

I cut em with a small pair of wire cutters

I use braid, it works great.

 

 

Top notch work. 

I use braid, it works great.

 

 

What type of knot do you use?  Do you also throw glue on there?

Thanks TorqueConverter.  

 

HardcoreBassin, no glue but I do use a lighter to burn the tag ends of the line even with the knot. This prevents it from ever loosening or coming untied. I just use 3 simple overhand knots and then the lighter.  

Personally I would wire tie them but the zip tie, braid, etc will work just fine also.  To do any of those roll the collar back a little and tie or zip it on and then either roll the band off or cut it off.

Personally I would wire tie them but the zip tie, braid, etc will work just fine also. To do any of those roll the collar back a little and tie or zip it on and then either roll the band off or cut it off.

That's it! They all work!

If I were iced in up north I would have time but down south we still fishing, the zip tie is fast.

That's it! They all work!

If I were iced in up north I would have time but down south we still fishing, the zip tie is fast.

 

Rub it in a little more Catt...

Personally I would wire tie them but the zip tie, braid, etc will work just fine also.  To do any of those roll the collar back a little and tie or zip it on and then either roll the band off or cut it off.

 

OK. So this might be a stupid question, but I'm new to the jig thing, so I supposed I'm allowed to ask a few dumb ones.  What type of wire? Does it matter?  Just regular fly tying wire or something of the sort?

OK. So this might be a stupid question, but I'm new to the jig thing, so I supposed I'm allowed to ask a few dumb ones. What type of wire? Does it matter? Just regular fly tying wire or something of the sort?

I'd like to know this also. I've always used green floral wire but it rusts. I'd like to know what kind of wire war eagle uses on their spinnerbaits.

I usually lose mine to a stump/rock before it wears out. I do have a few that I have had for a year or so that I still use and they are still fine with the rubber band on them...

OK. So this might be a stupid question, but I'm new to the jig thing, so I supposed I'm allowed to ask a few dumb ones.  What type of wire? Does it matter?  Just regular fly tying wire or something of the sort?

I use 22 or 24 gauge copper bead wire. You can get it from most hobby stores, usually around the floral or jewelry making supplies for a couple bucks.