Steelhead Jig Tutorial

[Button Nubbs]

Float and jiggin’ for steelhead is my favorite way to catch them. A lot of people like to feel the bite; I prefer to see that float go down when you know there’s only one thing that could have made it disappear. 

I’m going to do two different styles of jigs, the first is going to be basic and easy, the second will be a little more technical.

I hardly ever use marabou, I prefer rabbit and schlappen. While marabou and even yarn jigs probably account for 1000's of steelhead caught every year I prefer to jazz my jigs up a bit. I don’t think that the fish can tell a difference but I fish what I am confident with. I also use kevlar thread, it can’t be beat.

Things you will need:
-vice
-thread bobbin
-thread
-scissors
-hackle pliers
-assorted chenille and furs, feathers (whatever you choose)
-jig heads

Step 1:
Start by placing the jig head in the vice and wrap your thread from the head of the jig down the shaft and back up to the head. this gives the body of the jig something to hold onto so it doesn’t spin around the shaft of the hook.
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Step 2:
This is optional; you can add some krystal flash to the tail by simply laying it on the shank of the hook and wrapping around it with the thread. I do this on almost all my jigs. I don’t know if it makes a difference but it sure adds a little pizzazz!
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Step 3:
Now we are going to take some CROSSCUT rabbit fir and tie it in for the tail. (I do like zonker strips for tying in collars but prefer crosscut of tails) Just tie in a small piece of the skin onto the shank of the hook where you want your tail to end.
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Step 4:
Now we are going to wrap the rabbit up the shank of the hook towards the head. This is called palmering. You can just do a little bit or a lot, its personal preference. I prefer big bushy tails personally.
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Step 5:
When you are satisfied with your tail wrap your thread around the rabbit a couple times and snip the rabbit skin. (Be careful not to get the thread too!)
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Step 6:
 Tie the thread back onto the fur just a little to get it to lie back on the hook.
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Step 7:
Now, its time for the chenille. Start by laying it on the shank of the hook and wrapping the thread around it until you get to the tail of the jig.
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Step 8:
"Palmer" the chenille towards the head of the jig.
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Step 9:
Continue palmering until you reach the head of the jig
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Step 10:
Snip off the chenille wrap the thread around a couple times and finish it with a couple half hitches. You’re done!
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[Button Nubbs]

Now it’s gonna get a little trickier. Im going to tie a collard palmered schlappen jig.


Step 1:
Wrap the thread around the shank of the hook and tie your krystal flash in as we did before. Tie in a saddle hackle feather just like you did the krystal flash.
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Step 2:
Tie in the chenille like we did before but go all the way down on the hook like your just going to tie a body in, no tail.
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Step 3:
“Palmer” the chenille up the shank of the hook but leave about a 1/8-1/4” gap from the head to the top of the chenielle.
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Step 4:
Take your hackle pliers and grab the tip of the saddle hackle feather. Palmer the saddle hackle feather up the body of the jig
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Step 5:
When you get to the gap between the body of the jig and the head tie it off and snip the excess.
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Step 6:
Now tie in a schlappen feather in between the head and the body of the jig.
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Step 7:
Grab the tip of the schlappen feather with your hackle pliers and run your fingers from the tip of the feather down to the jig to rough the feathers up.
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Step 8:
Now start palmering the schlappen feather towards the head of the jig make sure to hold the feathers back every time you wrap the feather around the hook. If you do not hold the schlappen you have already palmered back you will overlap feathers and your jig will come out matted.
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Step 9:
When you reach the end of the feather tie it off and snip the excess. Wrap the thread back down towards the bottom of the hook just a little to get the feathers to lay back.
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Step 10:
Grab two different colored schlappen feathers and lay one on top of the other.
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Step 11:
Tie them in and rough them up like we did before.
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Step 12:
Palmer them, snip off the excess, wrap just a little bit of thread back onto the schlappen feathers to get them to lay back a little bit. (not too much or you will be defeating the purpose of palmering.
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Step 13:
Finish with a couple half hitches and your done!!!
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A couple other jigs:

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Post up some of your patterns! If you have and questions about feather selection or any thing else fire away!

[MtnMuley]

Very nice Button Nubbs!  Thanks for taking the time to post.

[mallard79]

You don't actually think those will catch fish do you?   

Nice tutorial.

How much for a dozen? 

[CallMeBigPapa]

Nubbers jigs flat out catch fish! Nice work Tman!

[huntergreg]

Nice Job!!

[CallMeBigPapa]

This thread should be pinned! 

[ribka]

Neat. Picked up a new idea for steelhead flies. Thanks for sharing.

[TheHunt]

Totally agree...  Pin this thread.  I ordered my vise so now I have to start practicing.  I have looked for tools like hackle plyers or what ever they are called.   What is a good brand?

[Button Nubbs]

Thanks guys!

How much for a dozen? 

i do need some new turkey land to add to my arsenal...

Totally agree...  Pin this thread.  I ordered my vise so now I have to start practicing.  I have looked for tools like hackle plyers or what ever they are called.   What is a good brand?

im not sure what brand they are but theyre all black. i think you would be ok with any hackle pliers. i haave even used hemostats in a pinch.

[TheHunt]

I forgot to thank you for putting this together.  I know this took some time to put it all together.

Thank you again,

Jim

[tlbradford]

Great tutorial Button Nubbs.  Thanks for posting this up.  You should play around with some spey hackle for the "schlappen" (I had never heard that term before) part of your jig.  I think you would like the look of it.

[Button Nubbs]

Ill have to look into that bradford. Thanks for the tip!

[Wanttohuntmore]

I tie all sorts of flies, jigs, and even picked up some ideas.  For some reason never thought of using the crosscut bunny on jigs, yet I use it all the time on flies...  Great post.  Yeah, get some blued eared pheasant and use that for your hackle, maybe a lightly dressed, 1/16 or 1/32 oz jig for spooky summer runs! 

[Button Nubbs]

Ill have to look into that too huntmore! Summer-runs are only a few months away... :p

[Alchase]

Could some one please give an example of how you fish these? I have drifted all my life, but would love to try this.
How do the floats cast?
 
Do you adjust the float up or down so the jig is not bouncing on the bottom?

Is there a minimum depth these can be used or can they be used in the rips?

Thanks for the tutorial
 

[woodywsu]

I run a slip bobber that slides up and down the line. You set your bobber stop at the depth you want to fish. I've fished from 2' to 25'.

[gaddy]

any body adding shrimp? & how are you hooking the shrimp to allow for a good hook set?

[Button Nubbs]

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here ya go

[Alchase]

Cool thanks, do do much better with pictures, lol

[Button Nubbs]

My computer screen keeps shutting off so I just posted the pic of the rigging real quick and will do the rest from the cellphone

The riggin is really pretty simple. I use power pro line, a bobber stop, a bead, a 4" slip dink float, another bead, a swivel, hole punched lead, 18" of leader, and the jig. There are 2 things I am VERY anal about when jig fishing.

1: keeping my jig riding parallel to the bottom. You can adjust this simply by moving the knot on the eye of the hook. I prefer a tight palomar knot. It is the best I have found to hold the jig in place.

2: keeping an absolute drag free drift. I am constantly letting out line, reeling in line and mending. This is were a rod that is 10' 6"+ will help.

There are many ways to rig jigs but this is what I use 90% of the time. You can run a longer leader and different floats as well. In the summertime when the water is low and clear I will use a round cork float or a steelhead stalker with a split shot right below the float. I will also color the last 10' or so of my line black with a sharpie. (If I'm using hi-vis line)

I rarely use bait added to my jigs but it does work. If anything its just a small piece of prawn.

[Alchase]

Great info thanks

[huntergreg]

I am always tying jigs and fly's I do a lot of steel head fishing and the one that I have caught most of my fish with is a Black buck tail jig. I went out last Sunday and only caught them on the buck-tail black jig. Another thing I do when I dip my jig heads in paint is to get a small box fold in the top flaps to the inside, Then I dip my jigs and tap them a few times to get the extra paint off then stick them into the top edge of the box so the eye hole points to the inside bottom of the box. That way the can dry and all excess paint will build up on the eye. use a pair of pliers to get the dry paint out of the eye when dry.

[Button Nubbs]

Bucktail huh? The summer-run wheels are already turning...

[TheHunt]

Can you post a pic of a buck-tail jig?

[Beztine]

Nice work.  They look delicious. 

[Button Nubbs]

Thanks!!!

[TheHunt]

TTT...

I just picked up my Nor-vise on Friday.  Now it is time to try Nubb's tutorial. 

This should be pinned BTW.

[Button Nubbs]

Thanks!

Post up some of your ladies!

[TheHunt]

I will post up some picture...  But my first 10 or 12 will be dismantled as they will most likely suck so bad it would be rather embarrassing. 

[carpsniperg2]

What weights are your floats? I am going to try some jigs this year when they get lock-jaw for bait. I was thinking 1/2 ounce floats with 1/8-1/4ounce jigs? Or sould I go even lighter? I like to be able to see my float. I use 3/4-1oz most of the time.

[Button Nubbs]

Thehunt-
I've tied A LOT of jigs in my day and I still tie jigs I think will look good but they end up going in the junk side of my box will they catch fish? Sure, just about any jig will, but some come out that just don't make the cut.

Carp-
When steelhead become lockjawed to bait it usually has to do with low water conditions (at least where I'm at) or they simply don't want bait that day. You need to match your float to water conditions just like you would your bait/jig/spoon/ect. I saw on another thread that you really liked the beau-mac floats. I love the beau-mac floats for salmon. Steelhead not so much, and here's why. In my opinion the thicker diameter float the harder it will be to pull it under imo. Not sure if this is scientific or not, but its what I believe. A big fat float also makes it harder to read what is going on with your jig under the waters surface.
 Steelhead can be notorious for biting really light espically in low water conditions therefore you need a float that is going to be easier to pull under. I have had steelhead take my bait and literally not even move my float the only way I knew they were there is because I mended and the tension on the line caused the float to go down. Look at the pic I posted of the rigging I use. I use this 90% of the time. Its a 4" or 5" slip dink float. Only when the water gets super low and clear will I change to a straight cork float or a smallish thill style float. Hope it helps.

[Button Nubbs]

One more thing, I believe steelhead can take your bait hold onto it and back down river all the while never moving your float.

Something to ponder...

[carpsniperg2]

Yes I have seen it all I have had a fish on and not even had the float move. Only when I started to reel in, did I feel the fish that was hooked up or had it in its mouth.The water I fish, is right in the Columbia river. There is a lot of water movement, so that is why I like the bigger beau-mac floats. + they don't make a guy strain his eyes in 8hrs of watching a float.
Those small floats at 20+ yards are hard to see

But what you have said makes a lot of sense for the jigs. We also pick up a salmon or 2 when fishing for the steelhead. I will have to pick up some smaller dia floats to try out with the jigs.

Sometimes they fright train, other times suck the heads It is always funny to see how diffrent they act from day to day.

[TheHunt]

In small clear water I have started to use cork float.  The float that nubbs showed you can adjust the float by reeling in with the float at the top of the rod to shorten it up.  To lengthen it you would still need to pull it up by hand.  That is a real time saver for keeping your junk in the water and fishing as much as you can. And they are cheaper then Beau Mac's.

[carpsniperg2]

Intresting, I will look for some smaller ones to add to the box. I have spent way to much in the last month, on fishing gear. I have got the bug already!

[Button Nubbs]

im bored tonight. tying a few jigs. heres some new patterns. I apoligize for the crappy pics.

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now the pics do no justice on this last one. this thing is friggin BAD and you would not believe how well it breathes in the water. still working out the kinks on it. its kinda a rip off of Ed Wards "intruder", with my own twist, I call it "the burgular".  friggin hard to tie too

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[Button Nubbs]

Bump for ddjj1991

[h20hunter]

Nice bump....can't see the pics.....anyone else see them?

[mallard79]

I can see them on my phone.

[NW-GSP]

Look good!

[Old Dog]

I can't see them.

[SuperFull]

Thanks guys!

How much for a dozen? 

i do need some new turkey land to add to my arsenal...

Jason knows better than to trade that info for some jigs.  I'd have his nuts in a vise, that is unless he led you in a different direction.

Nice looking jigs btw.

[7mmfan]

Diggin the "burgular"! Very similar to alot of the jigs I use. I tend to roll most of the time with a simple chenille body/yarn tail, but sometimes the bigger bodied feathery jigs kick butt, they really do move better. Good for big wild fish too!

[TheHunt]

I cannot see the pictures either.

[Button Nubbs]

I will try to edit and reload the pics later so you guys can see them.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Thanks for the jig info! Gonna give it a go. Always bought jigs and caught fish but would be better with one I tie.

[MatthewHunter98]

wow