Low light smallie slayers

[Shoemoo]

Been having a lot of luck fishing the rocky banks of the Snake River in Idaho for smallmouth with these black jigs. Put them under a bobber, cast along the bank, reel in slowly and hang on.

When it's still daylight out, these do the trick. Top jig is what they look like after being tied, bottom is what they look like underwater. I think the fish see them as a small fish (the body) chasing an even smaller fish or copopod (head).



Once it gets dark, we switch to these for more visibility. This is a pic I've shown before, but the bass love it. Works great on crappies too.



Both are really easy to tie. The first uses Hareline Krytal hackle as a body, the bottom uses Estaz Metallique. Both have black arctic fox and a little bit of flash for the tail. Whatever the smallmouth see them as, they sure want to eat it. Here's the proof! The two fish on the left are 17" and 18". The rest are between 14" and 16".

 

[Hawnjigs]

That looks like a mess of fun! How do you like to prepare them for the table?

What size heads & hooks are you using?

 

[Shoemoo]

If I'm tying specifically for smallmouth bass, I prefer to use size 1 or 2 hooks. The hooks are big enough to stick them without being too big for a large crappie. As far as weights go it depends on the current, but I usually use anywhere from 1/22nd to 1/8th ounce. I use them like swim jigs, so they just need to be heavy enough to get down to the right depth.

My fishing buddy fillets them and makes them into fish tacos. The water is pretty cold, so they taste great. We have a deal that he pays for the gas and fixes the fish, and I supply the jigs.

 

[LedHed]

Excellent report - great catch - very nice jigs

 

[StumpHunter]

Those are nice. I like a black jig in cold water and low light. Congrats on the catch also.

 

[plateboater]

Great info...ties are nice and clean

 

[Pup]

That's a nice catch. Jigs look good too.

 

[Shoemoo]

Thanks everyone. It's just amazing how different the krystal hackle looks once it's gotten wet versus just coming out of the vise. In the water it's got a nice breathing action, and it smooths back into the perfect fish head shape in motion. Unused jigs always end up looking like the album cover from Weird Al's Bad Hair Day.

 

[Jerkin' Jaws Jigs]

Its always nice to see something you made produce fish. Good work!

 

[smalljaw]

Awesome jigs and fish!!!!! I tie a similar one for smallmouth using marabou on a minnow head, I use to think it was a cold weather deal until I gave the neighbor's kid a bunch and he tied it on and just slowly reeled it in and the bass killed it, a kid had to show me...LOL! Those look great and it is neat to see how it takes the profile of a minnow when wet, well done!!

 

[Hawnjigs]

They are ugly out of the vice, aren't they? Not likely to be a hot sell in a tackle shop, so you gots a secret weapon Shoe.