mop jiggin' variations

jiggerjohn

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Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
During this season so far, I've discovered how to totally" mop up" trout ,crappies, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and even carp and catfish ! Yep, I studied the trout fly fishers use of 1" mop nubs from auto cleaning mitts, which has been so productive for them as bright ,fat little grub imitators. Then, lured on by spirited you tube videos by a fellow with the handle "crappie hippie", I saw the value of expanding the fly tier's art to our warmwater jig species. Once on to this inexpensive, glowing chartreuse or flo orange material ,my catch rate of rainbow trout and crappies went through the roof, with continuation into early summer for Lake Erie largemouth & smallmouth bass, panfish, sheepshead, and channel cats. Lately, large local carp have become HUGE fans !
Of course, it's extremely easy to simply lash a single mop nub below the neck of a small jig in the 1/32 to 1/16 oz size,using those nifty leadfree roundheads, with no 8 O'Shaughnessy hooks from our own Hawnjigs! This is actually the only tie needed, tho I sometimes spiral on a wool or dog hair collar to cover the wraps. Fished alone, with tiny rod twitches while slowly sinking, the soft ,sensitive microfiber moplet fidgets enticingly, sometimes wobbling side-to-side, or jukes up and down. It's caught around 15 species so far, 16 if you include the irate snapping turtle that grabbed on the other morning!
As famed Nebraskan jig fishing Ace, Keith Okimoto constantly chastises me, though, I'm never satisfied to let well enough alone ! I started wondering if the mop action swinging so loosely and attractively below could possibly mimic a very colorful "underspin" effect ,minus a weed catching metal blade. SO I placed a small paddletail straight out from the very rear of the hook on my mop jigs, and found this extra swim and vibration, actually creating a double action, was sheer dynamite on bass and crappies! (any slim soft plastic will work as this backside tipping, and will greatly benefit from a brilliant chartreuse, actionized belly). Then remembering how small double tail, crab like jigs always produced, I started tying a twin mop tail, each leg splayed out to the side, just at hook bend, and spiraled some material up front to cover the hook shank ; fished on a twitching drop with UL gear, hard fished pond bass and panfish went nuts! Oh, and my carp? Since the jig is essentially a MOP, I soaked my one inch jig in corn juice, tipped with a corn kernal, and let the slow descending wobble catch their eye ,let it rest on bottom for a few seconds, reel a bit more & drop again, etc. They grabbed on to this aromatic little morsei, held on to the soft tasty offering, then TOOK OFF to long battle !!
Oh, I'll still continue to play with new variations, but this may be the only jig I'll ever tie again for most freshwater fishing!! Get yourself a light jighead, a mop nub, and a length of tying thread, then you'll "mop up", too!
 

jiggerjohn

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Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
eddieb, I just go to ebay, under "auto cleaning mitts". Lots of colors, tho I'm a big fan of chartreuse mop nubs for most of my ties.
 

jiggerjohn

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Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
Here's a recent update and discovery on the double tailed mop jig >>

I ventured out to our local ,hard fished Pine Pond,late morning on a cloudy day, hoping to have a better chance at bass and big 'gills. BUT very dismayed to see the lake very calm and still, and totally covered with that awful slimey green algae. Unlike a previous time out there, there wasn't even a thin open water lane near the dam to dip my double tailed mop. Even any weedless jig wouldn't have helped in this slop! Casting anywhere was an invitation to pull in a lot of greengunk wrapped around my jig. So, standing on the dam with that thin carpet a mere foot below, I was fairly frustrated, but determined to figger out the puzzle. It came to me that if i raised my jig above the surface ,then quickly plopped it down, that I could penetrate the thin green layer without gunking up (too much). Or firing a hard cast straight down and thru. The fast dipping worked best, and I got the clean mop jig in clear water beneath, SOME of the time! Of course, EVERY time I pulled my jig out again,keeping a short line-maybe 5' , I'd haul in a heap of moss!

SOOO, I left the little jig underneath,in what reminded me of a massive flat of green cheese, then slowly jiggled up and down, moving it around - had me recalling those thin wire cheese slicers that we used as kids to cut down chunks of velveeta cheese blocks! As I walked down the dam, the line was taut with a 1/16 oz jighead giving me fairly good tension, and straight tight line as it carved right thru the algae -did look like the wire of our old time cheese cutters! But every now and then my rod tip would shoot down- strikes were very hard- and I'd have me another largemouth, big crappie, or vicious bluegill ! Not tremendously fast action, but one of my better bass days in summer out there! And amazingly exciting, cause ya never knew when that big strike would come! Half the time,in fact, I wasn't sure if the jig HAD submerged weed-free ,but on the short line, this was easy to check (tho when it did break the surface, I would then tangle into a load of crap -that part was very frustrating,I think I still have algae on my finger tips from constant removals!)

Crazy thing was, the fish only seemed interested in the "mop-Claw" that I tied with one chartreuse leg and the other in purple ! Maybe the contrast offered them something they could see easier., or else they thought a Martian invasion was on (maybe that is not too far out of a concept -the little town of Mars,PA is just over the hill!!!), Anyway, I'll certainly be playing with two tone tails on my mopjigs fer a while. The fish sure seem interested in the simultaneous subtley twitching 2 legs, or maybe it offers twice the vibration to call em in?!
 

EasyKasting

New member
Joined
Sep 6, 2019
Messages
9
Here's a recent update and discovery on the double tailed mop jig >>

I ventured out to our local ,hard fished Pine Pond,late morning on a cloudy day, hoping to have a better chance at bass and big 'gills. BUT very dismayed to see the lake very calm and still, and totally covered with that awful slimey green algae. Unlike a previous time out there, there wasn't even a thin open water lane near the dam to dip my double tailed mop. Even any weedless jig wouldn't have helped in this slop! Casting anywhere was an invitation to pull in a lot of greengunk wrapped around my jig. So, standing on the dam with that thin carpet a mere foot below, I was fairly frustrated, but determined to figger out the puzzle. It came to me that if i raised my jig above the surface ,then quickly plopped it down, that I could penetrate the thin green layer without gunking up (too much). Or firing a hard cast straight down and thru. The fast dipping worked best, and I got the clean mop jig in clear water beneath, SOME of the time! Of course, EVERY time I pulled my jig out again,keeping a short line-maybe 5' , I'd haul in a heap of moss!

SOOO, I left the little jig underneath,in what reminded me of a massive flat of green cheese, then slowly jiggled up and down, moving it around - had me recalling those thin wire cheese slicers that we used as kids to cut down chunks of velveeta cheese blocks! As I walked down the dam, the line was taut with a 1/16 oz jighead giving me fairly good tension, and straight tight line as it carved right thru the algae -did look like the wire of our old time cheese cutters! But every now and then my rod tip would shoot down- strikes were very hard- and I'd have me another largemouth, big crappie, or vicious bluegill ! Not tremendously fast action, but one of my better bass days in summer out there! And amazingly exciting, cause ya never knew when that big strike would come! Half the time,in fact, I wasn't sure if the jig HAD submerged weed-free ,but on the short line, this was easy to check (tho when it did break the surface, I would then tangle into a load of crap -that part was very frustrating,I think I still have algae on my finger tips from constant removals!)

Crazy thing was, the fish only seemed interested in the "mop-Claw" that I tied with one chartreuse leg and the other in purple ! Maybe the contrast offered them something they could see easier., or else they thought a Martian invasion was on (maybe that is not too far out of a concept -the little town of Mars,PA is just over the hill!!!), Anyway, I'll certainly be playing with two tone tails on my mopjigs fer a while. The fish sure seem interested in the simultaneous subtley twitching 2 legs, or maybe it offers twice the vibration to call em in?!
It looks like you're on to something! Thanks for splitting the text up; it makes it easier to read.
Thanks for sharing!
 

jiggerjohn

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Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
EK, thanks for your comments and interest. Below is another version of double mop tie that has been really effective on crappie,bass, and bluegill!The single mop tie on the right (with small golden retreiver collar) has proven devastating on very wary local carp (of nice size and power!) when soaked in corn juice (a mop jig really "sponges up" the juice for terrific smell!) and tipped with a kernal of corn!

1628084244344.png
 

jiggerjohn

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Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
Forgive my over-enthusiasm (again!), but had another good weekend(8/7) with a mop variation that I just have to share!!

Now about that fishing! For once the weather, wind, and current were all tame over in Western Ohio ! But always something - they were busy dredging the upper ends of BOTH the river mouths that I like to work from piers, right as these productive waters enter Lake Erie ! So lots of noise, some added current, and silty water. Don't know if it totally spooked the fish,tho, as every session I got largemouth, white bass, white perch, and sheepshead (missed some big stuff!) on the little mop belly and Brewer swim tail combo on a 1/16 oz jig! Son Rob even saw a guy land a small muskie as he walked out to see me on the V pier one morning - I may need to attach longer plastics to my mop-based jigs!! Maybe all those big barges and their pounding (adding new stone to the adjacent pier on the other side of the channel) and the dredging at the breakwall are scattering the fish from deeper water into the pier area and down the river ? Yeah, I still had to work for them, but very enjoyable weather to do so ! One evening I could casually walk the pier and pick up bass as I went, then the next,just before a sudden Lake Erie rain storm engulfed me (picture a drowned rat with a wet smile on his face!!), I found one small pocket, where one thick bodied sheepshead after another BLASTED my chartreuse necked paddle-tail ! Man, was it great to have the parabolic bending power of a new (but old fashioned,anniversary model) Charley Brewer original fiberglass 4'9" rod -gave a lot more playing control than typical UL outfits!Them Erie drum iz fierce!



I did find that the fan tail plastic along with the swishing mop strip underneath was totally the key to success last weekend. It had some LOCAL pier jockeys talking to themselves -of course they didn't have mops !! But I tested the plastic tail without the mop belly at times, and would get no strikes. Sometimes I'd get an immediate hit with a new jig on , and discover since I didn't hook the fish, that ONLY the moplet was gone or shredded ! The cool thing was, in "skidding" it across bottom rocks, the protection of the mop underneath the hook shank, seemed to yield an extra layer of snaglessness -very important around the rock laden pier areas! And, as usual, the subtle rod shaking on my part supplied a nifty under-wag of the mop and created a unique style of roll to the total lure,which musta triggered a lot of strikes with that sorta "death thro" of the artificial bright bellied critter ! At any rate, that trip sure offered tremendous incentive to keep on rock moppin' in other areas, to see what miracles can come!
 

Jamesddean

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Joined
Dec 15, 2018
Messages
23
As A NewB to the site, I am bouncing around and catching up so to speak. Found your thread here and find it very interesting. Lots of great information for sure, Of which I am thankful. You mentioned the wash mitts for cars, but I think this type material can also be bought in skeins in the craft dept. in walmart as well as craft stores in their yarns. No real sure on colors available. Looking around here, all I can find around here, Springfield, Mo., are the blue colored mitts. I will keep looking. Thank you again for sharing.
 

jiggerjohn

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Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
Hi Jamesddean. Almost missed yer question, being waylayed with a quad/knee surgical repair (gotta be able to WALK fer the 2022 season!). Lots of tying time right now! But I did locate a couple of colors under mop fly tying materials at Amazon of continuous length strands on cardboard holders. These can be cut to various lengths, and swim very well - one trick I discovered with this pre wrapped material is to tie a tight KNOT in the far end, which creates a rather unique swimming motion, similar to paddle-tails. Hey, it's winter -tie a bunch to prepare for Spring!
 

Microbaits

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Joined
May 2, 2021
Messages
42
Welcome to the site. I have seen these mop jigs and I'm going to tie some. And since I use a lot Gulp Alive, these might be a good choice to dipping them in the juice. I do pretty good on the Gulp.
 

jiggerjohn

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Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
Hey Microbaits, I couldn't agree more that mop material is fantastic to dip in Gulp juice-- the fibers suck the liquid right up! Also the smaller Gulp bodies, or even ones which you "carve" from bigger Gulp forms are terrific tippings behind a mop jig :the mop tied at the neck wags enticingly beneath to offer superb color, motion, and vibration, to lure in fish and have them munch on the trailing juicy Gulp! Bottled Gulp Alive is especially good on the hook bend of Mops in the smaller minnow and hellgrammite shapes. Tho, don't discount tinier Gulp maggots or waxworms for trout, bluegills, and crappies!
 

SPOONMINNOW

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Joined
Oct 9, 2016
Messages
211
John. coupla questions:
What's the largest jig weight and hook size do you use to make the mop jig?
When using a #8 hook, do large fish stay on most of the time?

Heal fast man! All of us want more JJ expositions to experience your outdoor adventures and benefit from your lure-craft expertise.
Your friend,
FrankM
 

jiggerjohn

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Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
Hey Frank, Thanks for the well-wishes! I'd certainly rather have a tight line,than this stiff,braced leg !! As to the jighead weight, usually I tie em on 1/28 or 1/16 oz roundheads (and once any sized fish are stung with my old fashioned no. 8 long shank O'Shaughnessys, they stay WELL pinned during even the longest ,hardest fight!), but do put some on 1/12 to 1/8 flat heads (hook size 2 to 4). Yet I was experimenting successfully with tying a bright mop neck onto heavier, pre tied bucktail jigs(hook size 1 to 2/0) and they looked great in the water, with the usual side to side nodding action of the mop nub ,underneath the bucktail hair. I've had such good response from bass,trout, crappies, carp, and catfish with the mop necked varieties, that I may fix all jigs in this manner to carry trailers of soft plastic fused creations (wonder who makes those??!!), 1-2" Gulp bodies, or even live bait pieces!
 

SPOONMINNOW

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Oct 9, 2016
Messages
211
soft plastic fused creations (wonder who makes those??!!)
I have nooo idea who does that.;)

they looked great in the water, with the usual side to side nodding action of the mop nub ,underneath the bucktail hair. I've had such good response from bass,trout, crappies, carp, and catfish with the mop necked varieties,
1. looks great in the water - coming from someone that has used many many different lures for almost as long as I have and knows a winner when he sees one.;)
2. side to side nodding action - a classic small-lure action you and I know get slammed
3. multi-species confirmation of the above

Some label lures as natural-looking or resembling some prey animal - thus playing the match game. Fine and good as long a 1-3 are taken into account.
Once you're on to a basic design that proves itself, variations are forthcoming that will do as well if not better than the prototype.
 

jiggerjohn

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Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
547
Spoonminnow, Yep, I tie a bright mop nub to the collar (underneath) mostly as an ATTRACTOR ;doubt that these short jigs look like anything in nature - I even call 'em "peckernecks". Fished alone they coerce lots of curious fish to strike, but with, say, a soft plastic tail on back ,such as a swimming tail spoonminnow ( hey, there's a coincidence!), I consider the underslung ,squirmy mop nub to be almost like an underspin metal blade for pullin em in. But, additionally, I've read in scientific underwater vision studies that the bright, solid fiber of mop or chenille is far more visible to fish optics than any dyed hair,metal,or fur.
 
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