I decided to start tying up my own jigs for some custom colors and had a few questions. I watched a video already by a member on here named smalljaw so I've got a basis. I Bought a bunch of skirt material but wanted to use some rubber along with silicon.

 

My question is what is the difference between round and flat rubber? What is living rubber? Are there any other kinds I should know about before I buy? Thanks

Living rubber is round rubber, and it comes in fine and regular. Flat rubber is just that, it is flat and it was the primary skirt material back in the 70s and even into the 80s. The difference is in the action, a lot of anglers get confused on all the varying types of materials. Round rubber and silicone have the same action, the difference is round rubber separates and flares faster than silicone, so if hopping a jig along the bottom you'll have more movement going on with rubber. Flat rubber moves a lot of water and creates more bulk with less material, it tends to have more pulsing action when used on a moving bait like a spinnerbait or buzzbait but old time jig anglers liked it because of the bulk. There is also rubber call old time square rubber, it is as wide as round rubber but the strands are square instead of round, this is used just like round rubber, it has slightly more bulk than round rubber with a similar action, perhaps it flares a little slower but not much, it comes down to what you have confidence using. Remember, rubber can and will stick to itself and get out of shape and even melt a bit when tied on a jig. If you don't store them properly you can end up with useless skirts, that is what lead to silicones skirting. If my jigs with rubber are going to be out of use for more than 3 weeks, I'll put them in a bag with some unscented talcum powder and give it a shake or 2 to get a fine coat on the rubber, this will keep the rubber from sticking to itself which is when it begins to melt and deform.

2 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

Living rubber is round rubber, and it comes in fine and regular. Flat rubber is just that, it is flat and it was the primary skirt material back in the 70s and even into the 80s. The difference is in the action, a lot of anglers get confused on all the varying types of materials. Round rubber and silicone have the same action, the difference is round rubber separates and flares faster than silicone, so if hopping a jig along the bottom you'll have more movement going on with rubber. Flat rubber moves a lot of water and creates more bulk with less material, it tends to have more pulsing action when used on a moving bait like a spinnerbait or buzzbait but old time jig anglers liked it because of the bulk. There is also rubber call old time square rubber, it is as wide as round rubber but the strands are square instead of round, this is used just like round rubber, it has slightly more bulk than round rubber with a similar action, perhaps it flares a little slower but not much, it comes down to what you have confidence using. Remember, rubber can and will stick to itself and get out of shape and even melt a bit when tied on a jig. If you don't store them properly you can end up with useless skirts, that is what lead to silicones skirting. If my jigs with rubber are going to be out of use for more than 3 weeks, I'll put them in a bag with some unscented talcum powder and give it a shake or 2 to get a fine coat on the rubber, this will keep the rubber from sticking to itself which is when it begins to melt and deform.

That's what I needed to know.thanks a lot man