After tying jigs for only a few months, I am addicted. All are tied with hackle tails. I've had great success so far, but was wondering what I should be doing for winter. I fully understand that conditions change each day, but what is your favorite ties for winter, and why?

Thanks!

You'll get a mixed answer here, but here is my usual winter gameplan:

I go super small AND really big (almost always hackle, but bucktail is really good if you don't want much action and it's perfect for dead sticking)

I use 1/32nd to 1/64th oz jigs following a major front as it seems they will hit those better when they get finicky.

After a few warm days I will tie up some 1/16th oz jigs on #2 hooks for my bigger jigs (2 to 3 inches long). You are dealing with the largest baitfish of the year during the winter as you haven't had a shad spawn in awhile, so 3 to 5 inch shad seem to be the preferred food source at that time.

Again, you will undoubtedly get several answers and they will all be good as they are formed from time on the water and personal experiences. My opinion is based solely on my experiences and what works for me.

Anyone who has ever fished with me will tell you that I have 300 to 400 jigs with me every time I go just to be sure I leave no stone unturned. Hopefully this helps and as others chime in, you can pull bits and pieces from their experiences to help you form your game plan.

Good luck and STAY WARM.

Chris

Thanks for the reply Chris.

I'm glad to hear you still prefer hackle. I figured I would hear a great number of folks changing to marribou.

Understanding they are feeding on large bait fish, I tied up some that are longer than what I normally tie. With muddy water, and changing colors many times, orange/chart. was yesterday's color they preferred.

Sounds like I need to get to work, and spend some "more" money on small heads.

Wow Chris, Seems best I can do is maybe a dozen and they are mostly my screw ups. LOL

People seems to say smaller jigs for winter, but believe lakes have a lot to do with it. Sell a lot of 1/16 and 1/8 during winter. On smaller jigs, I usually go 1/24th or 1/32nd with #6 hook and only use hackle v's for tail and tie a little shorter jig.

I just never can narrow it down...lol
I have a trip coming up, so I threw another 30 together just in case.

And thats how many rods you have with too !!

This is accurate Roger...lol. And, I just added 3 more G-Rods

I was one that had no faith in kip tail jigs, but was shown the error of my ways maybe 10 years ago when I had to make some for some guys. I think bing the water is colder they will not be chasing for food much and the action of feathers will still have the action, but the kip tails will not have near as much ands maybe pay off. I will say the first I ever fished with were a couple samples I tied and went down to my bank and popped one in under a cork in early spring and water temps still near 50. It did't take but a few minutes for me to catch 3 crappie and the small one was 14". Needless to say I was sold, lol!

Skip

With that said, marabou would not be the action one would look for in a winter jig???

Thanks Dan, this makes a lot of sence.

Even though it's now confirmed, you have "a few" issues, I appreciate your input.

Sounds like fishing with wtex...

For me marabou is the best action material there is, but colder water I think kip tail has a lot to the time and it's also a shorter material so making a small jig should be easy and will probably pay off big!

Skip

I have better luck with smaller jigs in cold water...