Super User ChrisD46 Posted November 19, 2022 Super User Share Posted November 19, 2022 As the title states - how do you like to trim your jig skirt lengths : Cut straight across the bottom of the jig skirt or randomly cut various lengths of skirt threads off shorter to look more natural to mimic something a bass would eat ? There is no wrong answer - I have just scratched the surface to do tricks with jig skirts to make them appear more full , or thin out the skirt for a more finesse look , etc. *I thought best that how / why you cut your skirt bottoms for football jig , swim jig , etc. would make for a good topic in itself ... Thanks for replies . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted November 19, 2022 Super User Share Posted November 19, 2022 Silicone jig skirts. pinch the skirt between your index and middle finger resting on the hook bend jig head pointed down and cut straight across about 1/4” to 3/8” above the fingers, skirt is about 3/4” to 1” longer then the hook bend. Living rubber. Same as silicone skirt except even to 1/8” above your fingers. Hair, I don’t cut, leave the tapered hair ends as is. Tom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted November 20, 2022 Super User Share Posted November 20, 2022 Nuthin! 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ChrisD46 Posted November 20, 2022 Author Super User Share Posted November 20, 2022 *I've watched some Elite Pros who trim a silicone skirt trailer cutting individual strands to uneven lengths with such precision it's like watching a Jig skirt haircut ! ... Always been curious if the bass notice ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted November 20, 2022 Super User Share Posted November 20, 2022 It’s important that you have confidence in what’s tied on the end of your line. Tom 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Catt Posted November 20, 2022 Super User Share Posted November 20, 2022 2 hours ago, ChrisD46 said: *I've watched some Elite Pros who trim a silicone skirt trailer cutting individual strands to uneven lengths with such precision it's like watching a Jig skirt haircut ! ... Always been curious if the bass notice ? Nope! The bass don't care! I use to do all of that but guess what? When I stopped nuthin changed, still caught bass, still caught big bass. But Catt how do know it doesn't matter if you're not doing it? If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Deleted account Posted November 20, 2022 Super User Share Posted November 20, 2022 My skirts is one place where I am fairly fanatical. I don't think it's a matter of being uneven, I think it's the way it pulsates when it is shorter and sparser, which uneven begins to accomplish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangerjockey Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Manufacturers leave the skirts and weed guards long so you can trim them to your liking. I usually trim the skirt to just below the bend in the hook depending on the trailer and thin it some. Weed guards I cut to the hook point and fan it out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User ChrisD46 Posted December 2, 2022 Author Super User Share Posted December 2, 2022 Good tips - when I trim a weed guard down I may also remove a couple of fiber strands as well of the weed guard so it's not overly stiff once I've trimmed the weed guard shorter (just past the hook point). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Jig Man Posted December 2, 2022 Super User Share Posted December 2, 2022 Personally I am with Catt. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User A-Jay Posted December 2, 2022 Super User Share Posted December 2, 2022 On 11/19/2022 at 5:18 PM, WRB said: Silicone jig skirts. pinch the skirt between your index and middle finger resting on the hook bend jig head pointed down and cut straight across about 1/4” to 3/8” above the fingers, skirt is about 3/4” to 1” longer then the hook bend. Living rubber. Same as silicone skirt except even to 1/8” above your fingers. Hair, I don’t cut, leave the tapered hair ends as is. Tom I'm with Tom @WRB on this deal, but I like to trim just about 1/2 inch or so past the hook bend. Happens on most every jig, swimjig, vibrating jig and even spinnerbaits and for two main reasons. One, I'm often targeting smallmouth and do prefer a 'slightly' smaller profile. Two, never want the skirt length to interfere or impede the action of whatever trailer I might be using. Depending on the bait & trailer, I may shorten the trailer too which makes the skirt length even more important. YMMV A-Jay 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bird Posted December 2, 2022 Super User Share Posted December 2, 2022 First thing I do when unpackaging a jig is sharpen the hook, trim the skirt and weed guard. I can't speak for the fish but it looks more inticing this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Team9nine Posted December 2, 2022 Super User Share Posted December 2, 2022 2 hours ago, A-Jay said: I'm with Tom @WRB on this deal, but I like to trim just about 1/2 inch or so past the hook bend. Happens on most every jig, swimjig, vibrating jig and even spinnerbaits and for two main reasons. One, I'm often targeting smallmouth and do prefer a 'slightly' smaller profile. Two, never want the skirt length to interfere or impede the action of whatever trailer I might be using. Depending on the bait & trailer, I may shorten the trailer too which makes the skirt length even more important. YMMV A-Jay I’m pretty close to this, but…I trim the top and bottom halves separately. I start by separating the skirt halves and trimming just the bottom strands to 1/4-1/2 inch below the hook bend depending on bait type/style. Then I gather just the top strands together above the bait and trim those a bit shorter than the bottom strands. I forget the exact ratio, but there is one - lol. Then I notch the top strands so they are slightly varied in length for better flare. That’s the basic cut, as I have a certain visual profile in mind that I always try and attain. Other alterations depending on bait type could include weedguard trimming, thinning, or flaring as well as adjusting skirt count (for less bulk/smaller profile), or even decreasing or completely eliminating certain color strands to get my final finish. Beyond that, I adopt Catt’s philosophy and fish the bait regardless of appearance until there is little left of the skirt - as long as it keeps getting bit 😎 then rinse and repeat the process all over again with a new replacement skirt. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 2 hours ago, Bird said: First thing I do when unpackaging a jig is sharpen the hook, trim the skirt and weed guard. I can't speak for the fish but it looks more inticing this way. I buy Siebert jigs so I skip all of those steps and just fish them. When I tied it on I'll splay the weed guard a little and mash it down closer to the hook point, but that's about it. I like the length Mike ties at and the hooks are A1 out of the pack. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator roadwarrior Posted December 2, 2022 Global Moderator Share Posted December 2, 2022 Mike's jigs are ready to go! Grid Iron G2, Kent Craw https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/grid-iron-brush-jig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 On 12/2/2022 at 1:09 PM, roadwarrior said: Mike's jigs are ready to go! Grid Iron G2, Kent Craw https://siebertoutdoors.com/products/ols/products/grid-iron-brush-jig I’m purple craw, native craw, and pbnj for a pitching jig in the dredge brush jig. Swim jigs in blue oyster and mudshad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator roadwarrior Posted December 3, 2022 Global Moderator Share Posted December 3, 2022 51 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said: I’m purple craw, native craw, and pbnj for a pitching jig in the dredge brush jig. Swim jigs in blue oyster and mudshad. Try my color, the Kent Craw. I think your fish might like it a lot! I use the Rage Blue Craw as the trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 6 hours ago, roadwarrior said: Try my color, the Kent Craw. I think your fish might like it a lot! I use the Rage Blue Craw as the trailer. next order then! Already have the trailer so let’s rock and roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernBasser Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 On 11/20/2022 at 10:39 AM, ChrisD46 said: *I've watched some Elite Pros who trim a silicone skirt trailer cutting individual strands to uneven lengths with such precision it's like watching a Jig skirt haircut ! ... Always been curious if the bass notice ? If I want a more uneven look, I'll use some hair thinning shears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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