Hair or feathers

[dmac]

Which do you prefer for winter fishing. Pretty new to this but enjoy it..

[skiptomylu]

Well I don't really fish in winter months, but I do know when the water is still cold in first of spring or leading up to spring they love Kip tail jigs and also Squirrel tail are good. I have never been a Buck tail guy, but I have tied a lot for guys up North fishing and doing well with them.

Once spring hits I am a marabou guy, but I also have a lot of Hackle jigs that work great then too, but don't leave out the Kip tails either!

I really say just use what you like and things will be fine, but for sure cold water I would go with hair and to be specific it would be Kip tails for me!

Skip

[dmac]

Well I don't really fish in winter months, but I do know when the water is still cold in first of spring or leading up to spring they love Kip tail jigs and also Squirrel tail are good. I have never been a Buck tail guy, but I have tied a lot for guys up North fishing and doing well with them.

Once spring hits I am a marabou guy, but I also have a lot of Hackle jigs that work great then too, but don't leave out the Kip tails either!

I really say just use what you like and things will be fine, but for sure cold water I would go with hair and to be specific it would be Kip tails for me!

Skip

Thanks skip. I meant to say I am new at tying jigs. Going to tie some 1/32 oz jigs for dock fishing (strictly vertical) and wondering which material to use.

[skiptomylu]

Thanks skip. I meant to say I am new at tying jigs. Going to tie some 1/32 oz jigs for dock fishing (strictly vertical) and wondering which material to use.

Well my first try at Kip tails was when some guys from Louisiana ask me if I could make some jigs like they were using and could get any longer. So I got a few from them, took a couple apart and got someone to make a mold to pour the heads. Once he got that done he poured me 2 to test out. I tied the 2 of them and then took one and tied it on and when down to my bank. I put that little jig just over a small bobber really thinking it was a little early to find any at my bank, but there was and after a few minutes I had 3 with the smallest one being 14". Needless to say I have never doubted Kip tails since that day, LOL!

If you gonna shoot docks I would think this will work as well like I said earlier the squirrel tails should be good too. My thinking on this subject really boils down to what you or I believe and for me I think they don't like a bate that is moving around too much when it's cold and prefer a more stationary offering and not so active. Now once the water warms some and they are ready to chase food, it's high time for Marabou and Hackle!

Just my 2 cents!

Skip

[CTom]

I have ice now but before it froze up solid I used some hair jigs for vertical jigging along with my plastics on docks and 100% vertical. Hair wets down nice and resembles a small minnow and has a limited action. As Skip has mentioned, once the water starts to take a little warmth in the spring feathers will be a better bet. Rabbit hair makes a nice hair jig for vertical fishing too.

[Cray]

Kiptail.

[z520tom]

Here in Kentucky a general rule is plastic in water above 55 degrees and hair in water lower than 55 degrees. I have seen a lot of exceptions to this though. I think that retrieve speed is far more important. My retrieve speed for winter time crappie fishing is one revolution of the reel handle every four seconds. You then control the depth by the jig weight you are throwing. I use 4# original solar Fireline all the time and have been for 20 years now.

[Fatman]

Kip, calf body hair, rabbit, bear, squirrel all work well. but I would also have some plastics and feather ties in my box.

[dmac]

Kip, calf body hair, rabbit, bear, squirrel all work well. but I would also have some plastics and feather ties in my box.

Thanks every one. Fat man I will get some kip and try it. I always have plastic as that is about all I use.

[skiptomylu]

Thanks every one. Fat man I will get some kip and try it. I always have plastic as that is about all I use.

Well when the water is colder most any hair should be better than soft plastic!

Skip