Finishing Knot On Bass Jigs

[BassBull]

What is the fastest way to tie off on the end of a bass jig while using tab skirts. I've tried to make a whip finisher to compensate for the extra skirt off the nose of the jig. I've also tried to use my fingers to whip finish off also. Just seems that my fingers and thread still get tangled in the skirting way to much. The best way so far is to use the method of tieing off on a rod eye,where you slide some line under the last few threads and pull the tail end under the last few threads. Is there a better way to do this. Thanks a head of time. STEVE

[mark poulson]

I use wire now, but I used to use braid to tie off my jig skirts, so I could cut off the rubber skirt collar.

I would just tie either an granny or a square knot. It only had to hold until the drop of crazy glue I used to coat the braid dried. Then I'd need an exacto knife, and a lot of effort, to remove the braid, knot or no knot, and the skirt material would be totally bonded to the braid.

[ROWINGADUBAY]

I use the way your doing it I even made a little tool out of a loop heavy mono I epoxied the two tag ends into a brass tube.

But if I want to make a quick skirt I will use the collars and the tool I made out of a fat arrow once it is on the jig I take a small cable tie and wrap it around and pull it tight I never had a cable tie fail you could probably just use a cable tie but it is nice to use the collar to make adjustments.

[Jig Man]

I use wire when at home but I carry a jig on the fly box so I can make any jig I want or need while in the boat. For those jigs I use the rubber bands. Today's bands work plenty find for my jigs as they have a very short life expectancy where I put them.

[smalljaw]

The easiest way is to finish it is when you are done forming the collar and you are satisfied, cut the thread at about a length of maybe a foot. Take the end of the thread and make a loose wrap over the jig and then pass the thread under itself forming a basic half hitch. If you do that 2 or even three times it woill hold up just fine and look pretty good also.

[EironBreaker]

Yup, two half hitches and you are good. You don't need to cut the line off your bobbin/spool. I clamp my jig in a vise at the eye.

I wrap the skirt tab in place using the solid end of the tab with the loose ends pointed to the left over the eye and vise (I'm right handed). Of course this is after cutting the tab in half. Once you have the layers done, pull out a stretch of thread from the bobbin with your left hand and keep it tight. With your right four fingers, place this on top of the thread. With the left hand, wrap a loop around your fingers and make a twist in the loop with your right hand. Take this loop and slip it over the back end of the hook to where you wrapped the thread on the jig. With the left hand, pull the loop tight in place using your right hand to guide it. Do this one more time and trim the line at the jig. You are done and no wasted thread. Either drop some glue on the knot or I will make two wraps around the thread with wire, wrap, trim it and mash down the tag. Skirts will never come off. Pike will destroy the skirt but the base will still be there. I've had to take skirts off and it is like they get fused together in time. Got tired of balled up skirts years ago.

[Oldfart9999]

I make a big loop around the jig, run the bobbin through it 4 or 5 times, pull tight, hit it with thread cement and I'm done.

Rodney