Hand tie smell?

I use nail polish to paint my jig heads before tying them up. 1 coat white cheapo acrylic, 2 coats color nail polish, 1 coat Sally Hansens. I've noticed that the fish are doing a lot of tail grab bites on all of my jigs. The water has been so clear here that I could watch what was happening. One fish had the lure almost all the way in his mouth, then hit the brakes and swam away. Against my will and pride, I put a crappie nibble on the hook and they actually bit it rather than nipping the tail.

Could it be that the nail polish is giving off an undesirable smell or taste or just finicky, semi-clear water fish?

Don't use it but I do use Duco cement to put my 3D eyes on and that doesn't seem to bother them. How long is your tailing material?? That might be making them turn away??

Could be any of these issues IMHO!I know sometimes fish get what we call line shy when the lake clears up a lot and then I either use a mono or Fluorocarbon leader or just use mono then. Most of my reels came with 2 spools and I just keep one full of mono and braid on the other. Also what kind of fish are you seeing hit the jig? Bluegills will sure hit short a lot, but have not really had a lot of that from crappie even though I know they can get to a really light bite at times.

I have used Sally's for coating over eyes when I use to paint using the Acrylic for eyes and still would if I had to do a 2 color eye, but like my little Roadrunners I just use a black eye and it's vinyl so I don't coat over them at all. When I do have to over coat also know if you use Sally's over Powder Paint the Chart and the FL Yellow will change so for them I always use clear Vinyl over these 2 colors.

Now after all that I just have a hard time believing it's smell because the vinyl paint also has a powerful smell and I know lots of guys use Vinyl paint.

Skip

Fatman - Tail material is just a little past the hook bend.

Skip - They are crappie for sure here. I'm also using 8lb hi-vis yellow line. Wonder if that was the problem? Never seemed to be a problem before, and I've sure gotten spoiled to using it.

They do is with plastic to I would not put too much in to it some time they just bite funny. I would try low vis. Line but it probably was just the fish biting funny.

Also was it a full moon? They bite like that on the full moon some times

It isn't the Sally, I use it and other top coats all the time. It is the clear water and they are seeing the line or the color of the jig head may be the problem. Try using a plain head and see how it goes in the clear water.

I use fingernail polish for paint and to seal the knot on my jigs also. Let them dry and air out for a few hours before putting them in your jig box helps with hhe scent. Also tie a few with a shorter tail if you are getting short strikes on certain lakes. Clear water makes the fish more wary imo. Dropping down a size to a smaller jig might help too.

Thanks for all the replies. I tried multiple different colors anywhere from Gobstopper to Grey Ghost. It wasn't a full moon so I guess its just the clear water. I'll be spooling up my spare spool with clear line as well just so I have the option.

Not sure how big your jig is also if something with a #4 hook, maybe try down sizing to a smaller overall jig size?? Just something to try as sometimes a tiny jig will do the trick!

Skip

When they are bitting short I put a #6 hook on the jig hook, just run the jig hook thru the eye of the trailer hook.

A few days late but you can just uni-uni knot a section of 4-8 lb fluorocarbon or clear mono onto your high vis line and have the best of both worlds. :)

2nd stump......would try fluro I normally run a hi-vis line and in clear water small barrel swivel then fluro

I have an idea if that happens again add some scent! That maybe all it takes! Flora carbon is the other, solution, but scents are cheaper lol.