hand tied jigs vs tubes

I'm sure this question gets asked quite often but witch do you guys prefer? I started tying about a year 1/2 ago and decided that since I spent the money that's all i would use. (didn't have very many tubes anyway) however I don't catch a whole lot of fish. I realize I have a lot to learn I have seen to many people wearing them out around me and I not catch nothing. I no that's gonna happen from time to time but it happens to me most of the time. i'm just wondering if ones better than the other or if it even matters.

I think there a time and a day for each one

There is no differance other than a tube is good for 3-4 fish.. 10 of your a tight wad..
A hair jig is good for 50+ fish.

Cool to cold water Hair. Gets over 65 start using both gets up to 70+ go to plastics. But if it's slow on one won't hesitate to try the other. Let the fish tell you which one they want. The more you can keep one in the water the better you will do.

been using only hair jigs the last 12 years or so . i catch fish year round on them !!!!!

It is confidence in your bait, and presentation. I have started tying my own hair jigs also,,,makes you slap mad when you lose one! You got to figure out what the fish want. And be sure of yourself!

Do you go to catch fish? Or go fishing? If I'm fishing, I'm not catching. Hate fishing,lol, would rather be catching fish! I due tend to be fishing alot when I am on the water though. Makes the times when we do catch a limit much sweeter!

well I pretty much like catching more than fishing lol I also get frustrated real easy and that doesn't help much. I've fished for 8 hrs strait several times and caught one fish or none. most I've ever caught by myself was 18 I was pretty proud of that. i'll start taking both and see what happens main things just trying to figure them little rascals out. i'll getter figured out one of these days

kmorgan,

What part of the state are you from and what's your home waters? Maybe your fello board members can help you more if they know where you're from....

As far as the plastic vs hair jig goes i think it mostly boils down to what you have confidence in. The reason people are out fishing you may have more to do with your tackle and or technique than your lure selection

I from Paragould fish blackriver mostly when its right. the 18 come from Portia bay went to poinset lake a couple times last year caught a few there just nothing worth keeping

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Originally Posted by meatgetter

been using only hair jigs the last 12 years or so . I catch fish year round on them !!!!!

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x2

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Originally Posted by cray

Cool to cold water Hair. Gets over 65 start using both gets up to 70+ go to plastics. But if it's slow on one won't hesitate to try the other. Let the fish tell you which one they want. The more you can keep one in the water the better you will do.

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This makes absolutely no sense...
Fish don't know it it's hair, plastic, or the real thing....

Hair is by far more durable...
That's it ..

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Originally Posted by kmorgan

well I pretty much like catching more than fishing lol I also get frustrated real easy and that doesn't help much. I've fished for 8 hrs strait several times and caught one fish or none. most I've ever caught by myself was 18 I was pretty proud of that. i'll start taking both and see what happens main things just trying to figure them little rascals out. i'll getter figured out one of these days

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If your spending this much time on the water and not catching your probably not on the fish...
Find the fish and 9 times out of 10 it will not matter what you put in front of them.. They will hit it!

I like the plastic tubes personally. Never had an luck with hair jigs, but I'm ordering some meat getters today, so hopefully that will change my outlook on hair.

Fish tubes 95% of the time. Have learned (this old codger) that a good quality Meatgetter,Creekslick, Jim Canada (2nd to none) is unreal at catching fish after fish.I have some of Jim Canada's and Meatgetters jig's I have had and fished with for 3 years no plastic tube will do that!!!!

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Originally Posted by JigginPoleJoe

There is no differance other than a tube is good for 3-4 fish.. 10 of your a tight wad..
A hair jig is good for 50+ fish.

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I would have to disagree there Joe. I catch over 100 on one tube sometimes. Depends on tube and rigging sometimes. Got one tied on that has the color ate off after 5 trips but still tied on and was still catching.

Here is a jig I fished 5 days with same plastic, it has a 1/4 oz rigged outside unlike my normal inside rigged 1/8.
Those Southern Pro Baits are great stuff.:twocents

Attachment 118366

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Originally Posted by JigginPoleJoe

This makes absolutely no sense...
Fish don't know it it's hair, plastic, or the real thing....

Hair is by far more durable...
That's it ..

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Yes plastic not as durable but sometimes fish will hold on better. I like the way it kinda floats through the water too. When bite is on a good hand tied works great. MEATGETTER 's wife ties some of the best jigs out there too.

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Originally Posted by Conwayslabber

I like the plastic tubes personally. Never had an luck with hair jigs, but I'm ordering some meat getters today, so hopefully that will change my outlook on hair.

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IMO , confidence in your bait is over 1/2 of catching on it. Order you some ''spanky's and stick with them one day for a test, I bet you'll like them.

You must be catchin' Piranha Joe, LOL! If you've ever used rubber before you would know that it is quite durable. It is nothing for us to catch 50+ on one tube or solid body jig. Where we waste jigs is from changing colors....if we don't get a bite from a certain color or type we change it and it goes into the used jig pot. Most times they are still perfectly ok but we don't put them back into the jig bag. We keep more than 200 different colors, sizes, shapes, ect of jigs in the boat and may go through literally dozens of colors/combinations before finding what they are wanting a particular time (which is why it is called fishing). And yea, we have started keeping Jerry's Minner Critters in our arsenal because we want to be ready for anything and they have been proven on Big Crappie. (Like a friend said recently, 3 lb crappie don't get that big by eating plastic). Once the color, size, shape, depth, and presentation are figured out it's down to just watching the rods and getting ready with the dip net, LOL! Sure, I'll be the first to admit there are times we don't get them figured out......but the fun is really in being out there and trying anyway!

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Originally Posted by JigginPoleJoe

There is no differance other than a tube is good for 3-4 fish.. 10 of your a tight wad..
A hair jig is good for 50+ fish.

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We are working on the 3/16 and 1/4 oz mold's for inside tube heads Mr Nimrod.Need to trim just a little busting the plastic on the 2 in tubes!!! The 3/16 works good!!! now to trim down the 1/4 oz without making it too long!!!!

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Originally Posted by jackie53

We are working on the 3/16 and 1/4 oz mold's for inside tube heads Mr Nimrod.Need to trim just a little busting the plastic on the 2 in tubes!!! The 3/16 works good!!! now to trim down the 1/4 oz without making it too long!!!!

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Here are the 3 styles I have now. Sure wish someone made the bottom style in 3/16 and 1/4 that would fit Umbrella tubes without going to a larger hook. I like a #2 hook most of the time.

Attachment 118372

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Originally Posted by luvpt

You must be catchin' Piranha Joe, LOL! If you've ever used rubber before you would know that it is quite durable. It is nothing for us to catch 50+ on one tube or solid body jig. Where we waste jigs is from changing colors....if we don't get a bite from a certain color or type we change it and it goes into the used jig pot. Most times they are still perfectly ok but we don't put them back into the jig bag. We keep more than 200 different colors, sizes, shapes, ect of jigs in the boat and may go through literally dozens of colors/combinations before finding what they are wanting a particular time (which is why it is called fishing). And yea, we have started keeping Jerry's Minner Critters in our arsenal because we want to be ready for anything and they have been proven on Big Crappie. (Like a friend said recently, 3 lb crappie don't get that big by eating plastic). Once the color, size, shape, depth, and presentation are figured out it's down to just watching the rods and getting ready with the dip net, LOL! Sure, I'll be the first to admit there are times we don't get them figured out......but the fun is really in being out there and trying anyway!

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99.999% disagree with me
Especially these "Pros"
Pro Spider Riggers..... LMAO!!
Anyways..

Not piranha... Just big ole crappie.. When I have to slide the tube back on the jig head every time it's time to replace it..

Yes I love solid bodies.. They last twice as long..
Not sure about the "Rubber"
Is this "Rubber" a standard tube?

As far as "Finding What They Like"
So... They get tired of eating silver minnows and do not eat?
No, that's what the eat, every day, every week, every year...
I doubt the say "Hey I'm tired of eating silver lets wait for someone to throw away their left over rosy reds..

They are predictors, if it seems to swim and will fit in their mouth THEY EAT IT!

Pretty colors makes men buy them! It's a Racket!

Now... Different water conditions REQUIRE different colors for the fish to see the bait more easily.. IMO
Still... You have light, dark, transparent, opaque.
That should cover all your needs...IMO

Guys, don't make Crappie fishing so complicated...
Find the fish, stay on them till they feed, you will catch them!!!

These simple tactics work very well for me. I can't imagine why they would not work well for all!

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Originally Posted by 20watt

kmorgan,

What part of the state are you from and what's your home waters? Maybe your fello board members can help you more if they know where you're from....

As far as the plastic vs hair jig goes i think it mostly boils down to what you have confidence in. The reason people are out fishing you may have more to do with your tackle and or technique than your lure selection

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That is the case, regardless of whether you are fishing for crappie, bass, or carp.

There's never been a lure that caught a fish, that didn't catch a fisherman first.

I had a friend (passed, GDC) who almost exclusively used hair jigs. He was known locally for "tearing up" anything that swam with his hand tied jigs. He taught me a lot about how to fish these beautifully crafted hair jigs.

With saying that, I use both hair and plastics. Pouring my own heads, building my own rods, and tying my own jigs is a passion I got from the 4-H Sportfishing Program. As was stated by others, I let the fish dictate what they like that day and my confidence with both is about equal. Do I prefer one over the other? Yes, but I guess that comes from the time I spend in creating the lure I've caught fish on.

Hand tied and use 2# test line.rotfl

i have been tying hair jigs now for about 2 years. i love using my hair jigs and i use plastics. i think theres a time and place for each. let the fish tell you what they want. theres a bunch of good guys on here that should help with any questions you have.

thanks for all the info. i'll getter figured out one of these days

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Originally Posted by kmorgan

thanks for all the info. i'll getter figured out one of these days

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Look man..
I piss off a lot of people because I speak my mind!
I am arrogant, this I know.. It's not right but hey.. I'm an ******* and I don't deny it!
But it does not change the fact I spend ALOT of time on the water and I catch ALOT of crappie and some good ones at that.

That fish can not tell if that is hair, rubber, plastic, metal, wood.... Etc.
They are predictors, if it seems to be food they will hit it.
During the spawn, when the males are guarding, if it crosses the line they will hit it!
This is far from rocket science!

Look at all the people using different poles, jig heads, tubes "all different shapes and sizes, colors", minnows, spinners, bobbers, tight lining, trolling, jigging.
We all catch fish! It's simple!

If they can see it they will hit it. "If they are hungry OR guarding a nest"
The warmer the water, the more they must eat that day... That is a Fact!

I have much to offer folks but I am for the most part too hot headed.

LOU HOLTZ said it ain't braggin if your ahead at the end of the game and still holden the football!!!!

You can ask 100 different people what their favorite jig is, and you will get 101 different answers. Why? Because at some point, they caught fish on their particular jig,and it gave them confidence in it. Now that they fish it like they're gonna catch a fish on it, they do just that. Quit trying to make it so freaking complicated. If RCC can catch fish on them "jigs" he makes, you could tie a cigarette butt on a hook and catch em if you'd just keep after em. :fish

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Originally Posted by JigginPoleJoe

Look man..
I piss off a lot of people because I speak my mind!
I am arrogant, this I know.. It's not right but hey.. I'm an ******* and I don't deny it!

I have much to offer folks but I am for the most part too hot headed.

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:Rofl That makes two of us!



C.J.

Learning to control your tongue is the toughest thing to do. That's why I am posting this I haven't figured it out yet!

Keep your hook in the water rather than switching colors every 5 minutes and you'll catch more..

Crappie expend a huge amount of energy just before and during the spawn, which is nearly upon us. To feed that energy they will bite anything that moves and practically try to jump in the boat. You should have no problem catching 'em for the next couple of months. It will make little or no difference what color, size, shape, ect you are using....just as long as they can see it. Just find a crowd and throw anything out there. The spawn is my least favorite time to fish because of the crowds of sometimes fanatic and rude fishermen who have been waiting all year for the chance to catch Crappie. I hate having to park a quarter mile down the road from the ramp after waiting in line for 45 minutes to launch the boat and I absolutely will not fight the crowds on the water for space to fish....preferring the open water on the edge of the spawning grounds to catch the females comming and going. Boat traffic will be unreal....you will think your in the middle of a bass trournament. Right after the spawn is over is another matter.....the Crappie will be extremely tired, exhausted and thin as a razorblade with eyeballs. They will be much harder at that point to trick into biting and that's when the "sport challenge" of catchin'em comes back into play. That is when the seasonal fishermen will pack their boats back up until the next years spawn and the hardcore Crappieholics will start having the water to themselves again.

I LOVE crappie fishing in the summer!

The hotter the water, the more they must eat every day!
Plus no folks on the water!

But still... Hair, Plastic, Rubber, Minner,
They don't know the differance.

Crappie eat silverish/whiteish shad. That's what they live on.. The eat them every day. !!EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

Is there any reason you shouldn't be able to catch fish on a silverish/whiteish jig daily? Or.. A live minnow?

I hear folks say "Yea.. They wanted jigs today not minnows"
Whatever..

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Originally Posted by luvpt

Crappie expend a huge amount of energy just before and during the spawn, which is nearly upon us. To feed that energy they will bite anything that moves and practically try to jump in the boat. You should have no problem catching 'em for the next couple of months. It will make little or no difference what color, size, shape, ect you are using....just as long as they can see it. Just find a crowd and throw anything out there. The spawn is my least favorite time to fish because of the crowds of sometimes fanatic and rude fishermen who have been waiting all year for the chance to catch Crappie. I hate having to park a quarter mile down the road from the ramp after waiting in line for 45 minutes to launch the boat and I absolutely will not fight the crowds on the water for space to fish....preferring the open water on the edge of the spawning grounds to catch the females comming and going. Boat traffic will be unreal....you will think your in the middle of a bass trournament. Right after the spawn is over is another matter.....the Crappie will be extremely tired, exhausted and thin as a razorblade with eyeballs. They will be much harder at that point to trick into biting and that's when the "sport challenge" of catchin'em comes back into play. That is when the seasonal fishermen will pack their boats back up until the next years spawn and the hardcore Crappieholics will start having the water to themselves again.

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There are plenty of places to fish without a ton of people if you just venture out...JMO. I prefer those places.

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Originally Posted by JigginPoleJoe

Crappie eat silverish/whiteish shad. That's what they live on.. The eat them every day. !!EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

Is there any reason you shouldn't be able to catch fish on a silverish/whiteish jig daily? Or.. A live minnow?

I hear folks say "Yea.. They wanted jigs today not minnows"
Whatever..

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These people that still say the crappie are about to start biting crack me up. Someone at work asked me if the were biting yet, I told him that they dont stop biting and he looked at me kinda funny. He then asked my what time of day they are biting and I told him whenever they get hungry.

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Originally Posted by JigginPoleJoe

Look man..
I piss off a lot of people because I speak my mind!
I am arrogant, this I know.. It's not right but hey.. I'm an ******* and I don't deny it!
But it does not change the fact I spend ALOT of time on the water and I catch ALOT of crappie and some good ones at that.

That fish can not tell if that is hair, rubber, plastic, metal, wood.... Etc.
They are predictors, if it seems to be food they will hit it.
During the spawn, when the males are guarding, if it crosses the line they will hit it!
This is far from rocket science!

Look at all the people using different poles, jig heads, tubes "all different shapes and sizes, colors", minnows, spinners, bobbers, tight lining, trolling, jigging.
We all catch fish! It's simple!

If they can see it they will hit it. "If they are hungry OR guarding a nest"
The warmer the water, the more they must eat that day... That is a Fact!

I have much to offer folks but I am for the most part too hot headed.

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If you know you are an arrogant ***** then why do you continually act this way? Speaking your mind is one thing but being an horses behind on basically every other post you make is another.


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Originally Posted by Handicrappie

If you know you are an arrogant ***** then why do you continually act this way? Speaking your mind is one thing but being an horses behind on basically every other post you make is another.


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Ignorance and Idiots must be addressed!

You reckon God made us all different for a reason?