Steelhead jig question

[Fishaholic]

I have seen lots of types of jigs. Some with bodys and some with beads of all sorts of color. I have a few questions and I am no steelhead fishermen so bear with me with the dumb questions.



1. What do steelhead jigs resemble what? I know they go after bait ( sandshrimp, eggs etc...) They go after flys.

2. What are the beads for? Just to add  weight or are they just for flash ( I seen jigs with just the hair at the end)

3. How to tube flys work? I seen a tube fly that someone made for jigs but then  I looked them up and all I found was how to tie small ones for fly fish.



Thanks

dj

[fish vacuum]

What a jig resembles would depend on how it's tied. A jig can be tied to mimic anything, just like a fly. I don't think most steelhead jigs (at least typical winter run jigs) look like any particular food item. Steelhead will bit a lot of things that don't really look like any natural food. Think of all the corkie colors. What does a clown pattern corkie or a spin and glow mimic? Nothing. Or how about a drift rag?

Beads just add more of an appealing look. More color and an egg-like profile. Plastic beads don't have any weight to them.

I'm not sure how a tube fly could be used withe a jig, since tube flies aren't tied on the hook. They're tied on a tube like a coffee straw, then the leader is threaded through them much like you would rig a corkie.

[Button Nubbs]

I have seen lots of types of jigs. Some with bodys and some with beads of all sorts of color. I have a few questions and I am no steelhead fishermen so bear with me with the dumb questions.



1. What do steelhead jigs resemble what? I know they go after bait ( sandshrimp, eggs etc...) They go after flys.

2. What are the beads for? Just to add  weight or are they just for flash ( I seen jigs with just the hair at the end)

3. How to tube flys work? I seen a tube fly that someone made for jigs but then  I looked them up and all I found was how to tie small ones for fly fish.



Thanks

dj

Steelhead jigs don't typically resemble any of a steelheads natural food sources, I'd be willing to bet the effectiveness of a "shrimp pattern" jig has nothing to do with the shrimp pattern itself most of the time. If you saw something that makes you curious or interested your probably gonna pick it up and fondle it or check it out to figure out what that thing is. The same goes for fish except they don't have hands so they have to eat to figure out what that "thing" is. Another reason is just pure aggression. If someone comes strolling into my house I'm going to at the bare minimum put hands on them. Again, steelhead don't have hands... Summer runs are a bit of a different story but I can go into that later if youd like.

Beads are just a different way to tie a jig, to show the fish something different. If 10 guys go through a hole with the same jig and the 11th goes through with a different style curiousity is going to strike. (pun intended) get my drift?

The small tube flies are typically fished as droppers tying an extra leader about 6-12" onto the eye or shank of your hook and tying a typically smaller sized hook onto that leader with the tube fly. Again you are showing the fiish something different.

Bottom line is make the fish curious or mad and they will eat.

[h20hunter]

Who put up the set of jigs for the Blanchard auction? That is the person I would PM for some advice....they were great looking jigs.

[D-Rock425]

Who put up the set of jigs for the Blanchard auction? That is the person I would PM for some advice....they were great looking jigs.

. It was button nubbs

[TheHunt]

I have been tying my own jigs for about two years.  Here are my thoughts...

1. Small is better for steelhead.  I use 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig heads.  Nothing bigger then 1/8.  I also go small for hooks which I go down to a number 4 hook on a jig head.  Yes, that is small...  Here is the reason why...  Most fish that I go after (since I am new to fishing) is want success.  Which means I want to bank fish.  I could care less if it is a hatchery 8 lb fish or not.  The small fish like the small bait. 
2. The beads can be used to show color contrast which seems to work.  Nightmare jig (Black, white, red) all contrast.  White head, red beads, black tail...  The color contrast seem to be the key. 
3. Beads do not add weight.  BUT there are beads called "Heavy Beads" but little to no people use those with a jig hook.  Beads are used as a pattern that shows eggs or something like that.   
4. Tube flys...   They are fantastic if you rig then correctly.  Nubbs has said some folks have tied shrimp pattern as a tube fly.  I have tied them..  But I have found that if rigged correctly they are out standing.  I personally use small coffee stiring straws.  I cannot share the rigging but if you read like I do and you are a good listener you can pick up what the rigging looks like.  I have picked up many fish with this type of approach. 
5. The approach of your jig also needs to have some thought.   Most people use jigs in slow water or the water seam between fast water and slack water.  I do all the time.  The material I use on the jig depends on how I want the jig's action to have.  Marabou which breaths/pulses while it drifts under the float. That action is fantastic.  Then you have rabbit which is best for heavy fast water.  Last is Bucktail which I use for wings and body depending on what I am tying.
6. Color is something you need to consider.  Pink is the go to for everyone!!!  I have gone to some blues.  A little sparkle goes along way.  When it is dark out go dark color jigs.  When it is bright out go bright color jigs.  I also have a few brown and olive green jigs/tube flies.
7. Cleanliness (my opinion) is the most important.  I wash everything down with Lemon Joy.  It kills the fish, dirt, guts, spit, etc...  that you got on the line from fishing that day.  At the end of the day I take everything that I used and I clean it and put it on a white towel.  If my pack is totally soaked I take everything out and clean it.  Fish can smell 1 part in 6 million.  They do not seem to be bothered with the Lemon Joy.  Wear rubber gloves..  Your hands have human enzymes which have been proven to spook fish.  Wear rubber gloves be a clean freak!!!
8.  My float rod...   I buy the cheap 80 dollar rod the longer the better.  I have a 13 footer and a 9' 9".  I use 20 or 30 lb power pro or that crystal line.  Nothing else...   I use a Clearview float or the clear Beaumac floats which ever is cheaper.  I also use 12 to 20 lb fluorocarbon line for leader to the jig. The fish cannot see it.  If the water is dirty it will most likely not matter but when it is clear fluorocarbon is the ticket.
9.  Jigs with legs.  Jigs with legs is an option you can can use or not.  I love making bug tentacles.  Does it catch more fish.  Probably not and I have not seen a difference.  But they are fun to tie into the jig and it makes it look cool. 

[wafisherman]

Don't over think jigs.  A 1/4 ounce jig head with 1/2 a pink worm slid onto it is very effective.  I float them or 'jig' (twitch\swim) them for both salmon and steelhead.

Marabou jigs are also very effective.  Just a few materials and a few main colors and sizes and you are set.

Yarn jigs, like the 'nightmare' jig are also favorites.

Size and color just depends on water conditions, summer vs winter vs hatchery vs wild fish, water temps, weather (sunny, rainy, etc), time of day, amount of pressure on the fish, and so forth.

Many jigs and flies are designed to catch the fisherman 

[Fishaholic]

What a jig resembles would depend on how it's tied. A jig can be tied to mimic anything, just like a fly. I don't think most steelhead jigs (at least typical winter run jigs) look like any particular food item. Steelhead will bit a lot of things that don't really look like any natural food. Think of all the corkie colors. What does a clown pattern corkie or a spin and glow mimic? Nothing. Or how about a drift rag?

Beads just add more of an appealing look. More color and an egg-like profile. Plastic beads don't have any weight to them.

I'm not sure how a tube fly could be used withe a jig, since tube flies aren't tied on the hook. They're tied on a tube like a coffee straw, then the leader is threaded through them much like you would rig a corkie.

This is what I was talking about. I guess they are called hareballs.







Okay thats alot of info. Thank you.

[Button Nubbs]

Who put up the set of jigs for the Blanchard auction? That is the person I would PM for some advice....they were great looking jigs.

Thanks! Now if 87ford would just catch some damn fish on them...

[Button Nubbs]

[Smg id=12251]

Same application as a tube fly just slide the tube fly onto the leader before tying it to the shank or the eye. You may want to peg the tube fly with a toothpick.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Great fishing tips!