I'm thinking about getting started making my own jigs. I see different places where people talk about hand tied skirts. Why do this instead of just using the collars? Does this make a better quality jig? I like the idea of making high quality gear but just want to try and understand the difference between the two methods.

Biggest advantage of a hand tied is usually a hand tied is tied on with wire. Collar can eventually dry rot if they lay around in your box awhile.

It never fails and the skirt blows up on you after a couple of fish.

If I can catch it, I will wire tie on really quick or use a small zip tie

Doing it when your making the skirt just keeps from having to do it later.

That makes sense. Thanks for the replies

I use the collar and then wrap the wire just below or above it

WHAT DO YA'LL USE TO TIE THE SKIRTS? WHERE DO YOU GET THE MATERIALS AND WHAT IS YOUR METHOD FOR TIEING THE SKIRT.

Getting into jig making/skirt making is a great part of fishing. You can now start customizing your tackle to match the hatch or to just make something you haven't seen before.

I wouldn't say that I am a professional, but I was where you were at about 6 months ago. At that time I did a lot of research as well and I took $80 and bought some basic intro supplies. Here is where I got all my things to start doing my own jigs and skirts:

https://fishingskirts.com/

Now when I was first researching, I looked into pouring my own jigs and using the wire to wrap my skirts...I came to the conclusion that this would cost considerably more to get into and it may not be something I would want to continue.

Soooo....I decided to buy these items;
-An assortment of silicone and live rubber skirts. (I just picked the colours I liked)
-Some different types of jigs that were unpainted
-About 5 different enamel paint colours for the jigs
-The skirt making tool
-Some brush guards
-Some extra "O-rings" for putting the skirts on

Some extra items you will want that are not on the site would be;
-A small tackle box to keep everything in
-Gel style super glue
-1/8" drill bit

All of this together gave the perfect starter kit to try my hand at customizing jigs and making skirts.

Now as for the question of Tying VS using the bands....

Since I am not super serious about the custom jig making and skirt making, I decided on the O-rings...YES they will dry rot over time, but for the cost and time factor, it is a decent trade off...Another point is that if you are out on the water and you wanted to switch things up on a jig with a different skirt, it is easier to remove the band VS a tied skirt. You can also make a skirt while fishing using the bands. Not to say you couldn't tie one out there, but it is easier with the bands.

If I were to get into tying my skirts on, I would use wire. The type of wire really doesn't matter, just make sure it wont rust easily. A lot of guys use floral wire that you can pick up at any craft store. It is usually black or green, rust resistant and works really well. You would just want to have a vice to hold your jig while you wrapped the wire around the skirt.

-Some guys will tie the skirt on initially with a thread and bobbin just to easily position the skirt. They will then go over it with wire to secure it down.

Either way, I would recommend trying your hand at making your own skirts at the very least. This way you can use some baits you already have like spinner baits, buzz baits, swim jigs, etc...and practice skirts on them.

Below is an example of a DIY lure that I made and added a skirt to:

I buy my wire from hobby lobby it's like 2 bucks for a spool. Still using the same spool I bought 2 years ago. Jigs can be made really I expensively without a vise or skirt tool if you want.

My partner recently got the bug to start building jigs, he caught a nice one yesterday or Ray Roberts on 1 of his swimjig.

This is my method with Living Rubber.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11031570/#11031570

If you dont want your skirting material to slip down then hand tie your skirts
Coats & Clark upholstery thread it come in 150 yard spools and several colors and its easy to tie with and you can get it at any fabric store.I order it direct and get all available colors when i order. Ive been tying with this thread for over 25 years now and its never failed me.and i hand tie all my blade baits also

I tie my own jigs with thin copper wire, I used to use a vise but figured out its easier to tie them on my lap. Just take 2 or 3 tabs of skirt material and lay it on ur lap, set the jig on top of the strands, then u can slide the pre cut wire under and wrap it 3 times, then twist it tight with small pair of pliers. the last part is glue in ur weed guard. it gets in the way of tying. I ve made jigs before with the rubber bands and after a year or two the band will rott and u will have a tackle box full of all different kinds of skirt strands lol. What I have done is leave the rubber band on like mentioned above, that way u could cut the wire off if your out on the water to move skirt to another jig.

I always bend the hook or lose the lure before the skirt rots. I do like making my own though, I just use a rubber band.

Word of caution,your jig box is about to get real heavy...

Rubber collar first, then small zip tie or wire, then cut off rubber collar.

I do like to leave some just with the rubber collar--makes for a quick punch rig (can slide the skirt through the hook onto the line below a pegged weight)

You got that right hillbilly bob lol