Finesse jig thread and skirt options?

[smalljaw]

Here is a pick of my latest finesse jigs, the left side is 5/16oz and the right side is 7/16oz with the color being Missouri craw. The question I have is do I go with a sparse skirt like the 5/16oz or do I go with a heavier multi layer skirt like what is on the 7/16oz? I'm asking because I have always made them for myself with a sparse skirt and trailer and I have done well but fishing with a friend the other day he was using a booyah bed bug and it had a lot more material and it was working well, I caught more fish but not a lot more but his were bigger on average so I'm thinking the bigger profile will be better but then is it really finesse? I would also like the opinion on the thread color, I normally tie that color with black thread, but I can't remember were I read it but someone was tying jigs and they would tie in red hackle around the head in order to represent gills flaring so I decided to tie one like that and while I will let the fish tell me if I should keep it I thought I would ask the TT crowd of their opinion. BTW the thread is Danville flymaster 210 denier flat waxed nylon sealed with hard as hull cement, the hook in the 5/16oz jig is an Owner 5326 cross-eye hook and the 7/16oz has a Mustad 32798, I should have included that since this is Tackle Tour.

[Imavol]

Here is how I do mine. I like the smaller skirt for a faster fall. I tie with wire also instead of thread.

[smalljaw]

Here is how I do mine. I like the smaller skirt for a faster fall. I tie with wire also instead of thread.

I'm curious to how many strands or tabs, my jig with the sparse skirt I used 20 strands of base color and then 10 strands of black with those being the only ones out the top of the collar. The jig on the right I used 30 strands on the bottom and 20 strands on the "2nd level" if you will with all of them coming out above the collar as a crop top. I know this is going to slow the fall some and that is good for this type of jig but I just have a hard time wrapping my head around it being a better alternative to a traditional style jig, but I'm going to see how the fuller skirt heavier jig does when fished side by side with a regular flipping style jig that is close to the same weight and let that determine how to proceed.

[Imavol]

I tie mine with one tab. If I want to add a second color it will only be about 7 or 8 strands. Cut the tab in half and make a one piece skirt. I feel that I get more flare that way.

[Gleedaniel13]

The question I have is do I go with a sparse skirt like the 5/16oz or do I go with a heavier multi layer skirt like what is on the 7/16oz? I'm asking because I have always made them for myself with a sparse skirt and trailer and I have done well but fishing with a friend the other day he was using a booyah bed bug and it had a lot more material and it was working well, I caught more fish but not a lot more but his were bigger on average so I'm thinking the bigger profile will be better but then is it really finesse?

I think you should have to pick the bigger one so that you can have the bigger caught. I think the bigger is much accurate and applicable for small and big ones.

[NJ Jigman]

I like the thicker skirt on your jig. I make jigs too and tie bucktail under a tab and a half to get a slow fall needed for finicky smallmouth in the spring and late fall