[King Bait Co.]

I have seen jigs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits hand tied is that better than the rubberband style? If so what the benafit of hand tied?

[Basseducer]

King Bait,
I tie all my wire baits unless otherwise requested. The reasons I like it this way are. The skirt does not slide down the shaft of the hook even after application of scent oil. I can also get better patterns that don't rotate, if I put some accent color on the belly it stays on the belly. Plus 12-15 wraps of threat is cheaper than the skirt bands. I use nylon upholstery thread and seal the knots with super glue and it does not dry out and crack like the bands.
Some companies claim that the bands allow you to make quick color changes, but I figure thatif you are going to change the skirt you might as well change the jig cause its probably time to re-tie anyway. After saying all that you'll probably loose the jig before the skirt becomes an issue.

TJ

[turkeylegs1246]

Hand tied is that better than the rubberband style. Maybe, When the rubberband style oxidizes the stands fall off or they slip on the bait. As Basseducer pointed out you lack the ability with hand wrapped skirts to make quick color changes. That sucks but nothing like opening a tacklebox and finding all your skirts won't stay on your lure. Think I'm going to start hand tying myself. Thanks for the stimulus.

[King Bait Co.]

Thanks I have noticed on some sites that tie theirs they have a better color choice than your banded ones. I think when I start making my own jigs and buzzbaits I am going to tie them on. Thanks agian!

[cadman]

KBC,
Definitely hand tied. Whether you use wire or thread. I hand tie all my spinnerbaits for my own use for the same reason Basseducer said. Spinnerbaits are notorious for skirts sliding down the hook shaft with banded collars. Jigs on the other hand are not so bad. Believe it or not lot of my customers do not want hand tied jigs and spinnerbaits, even though I explain the benefits. Oh well.

[FishinME]

What type of thread do you guys use? I am not familiar with upholstery thread.

[Basseducer]

FishinME,
I use nylon uphlstery thread from the Walmart fabric section. It is very strong, resists rotting and comes in a variety of colors.

[Troul Hawk]

Any of you fellas ever try that acetate floss and then the solvent to weld it together?

I like to tie in at least three or four whip knots to my jigs ( never have figured out that whip finish tool) and if I could just tie one knot then hit it with solvent, it might make it a touch faster.

Then again, some times these things just don't work like I would imagine.

[FishinME]

Thanks Basseducer... That will head me in the right direction. Unfortunately, they are slowly getting rid of the fabric departments in Walmarts around my area. My wife does enough sewing and visiting of fabric shops that she can keep me informed. Basseducer, what colors do you use and what colors of the threads are available?

Troul Hawk - Youtube has some great videos that show how to use a whip finish tool. It does not seem that difficult to do, but I have yet to do it.

[Spike-A-Pike]

As I start to feel some of the consequences of my exciting, mis-spent youth, I find that eyes and fingers no longer allow me to pursue my tackle making the same way I used to. Getting old !!!

One recent addition to my tackle making process includes adding a skirt collar (either rubber or brass) to help keep the skirt in place. For bass and pike applications, this has worked very well and keeps the skirt in place. Muskies can really beat up tackle and I have taken to using a "Zip tie" (aka: wire tie), in addition to a skirt band, to really anchor the skirt in place. Good luck and tight lines.