Posted Dec 2024

The Old Reliable..the hair jig

Probably as long as there’s been feathers and fur and the desire to fool fish there’s been a form of hair jig. A model of simplicity and highly effective the hair jig whether bucktail, bear hair, fox or rabbit the natural look and performance continues to catch fish. Wallace Kilpatrick, owner of Yank-Um Custom Tackle has mastered the manufacture of the hair jig. Painstaking detail on a simple bait includes a quality hook, hand tied, properly wrapped, a carefully determining the proper amount of fur/hair produces a bait that’s a good bet to entice a few good bass or other species.

Fished naked (without any type of trailer) the hair jig in clear cold water has been producing for decades. Hard to nail down the birth if this bait for sure the late fifties boosted the popularity of the natural material jigs. The late great Billy Westmoreland would quickly respond to the question of his favorite smallmouth lure, “the hair fly.” In the sixties Westmoreland made a legendary reputation for his ability to fool some of the biggest brown bass (smallmouth) ever. As is the case with many bass lures the hair jig lost some of its’ popularity when the “rubber legged” version was introduced. The hair jig has become one of bass fishing best secrets. Why? It just flatcatches fish when other lures fail. Different weight heads, colors and natural materials makes the hair jig very versatile.

The density of the natural hair provides a slower fall, the profile mimics a baitfish and the retrieve by the angler gives it a lifelike appeal. Best set up seems to open face spinning tackle, a medium action 6 ½ foot rod spooled with eight-pound test fluorocarbon is my choice. My presentation is a cast, slow fall, slowly swim the jig with an occasional short twitch. Keep constant contact with the lure. The hair jig excels in open water situations when bass are following schools of baitfish. Smallmouth are particularly fond of the jig in late fall and throughout the winter. Colors are a matter of preference but “go to” colors are white, black/blue and any crawfish color.

In cooler water often times the bite can be subtle but don’t be fooled when the bite is hot those rod ripping hits are a definite possibility.  Bass of all types will inhale the jigs as will crappie, trout, walleye and just about anything that swims. I prefer a small box to keep all the hair models separate and recommend touching up the hook point with a diamond file after catching several fish. I like a Palomar knot and try to pull the line tight to the top of the bait eye for the most lifelike presentation.

Because of the subtle silent motion hair jigs will catch bass when the wild mechanical action, rattling baits won’t. As long as there’s fish and fishermen the hair jigs will catch their share.

~ Joey Monteleone

" There's Magic in Moving Water" - JM

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