what makes a float n fly jig so special?

[yellowjacket]

what makes them float n fly jig? Any diffrent than a regular hair jig?

 

[smalljaw]

what makes them float n fly jig? Any diffrent than a regular hair jig?

I tie my float-n-fly jigs with a minnow head which is usually the most common but you can use just about any head as long as you keep it between 1/32 and 1/8oz, now I have seen guys using like 3/16oz and 1/4oz but very seldom. The other difference is hair jigs are usually tied so the hair flairs out a bit but float-n-fly jigs are normally thinner and more stremlined and often incorporate mallard flank or some other feather as they are made to represent a small minnow suspending in the water.

 

[Fatman]

From the guru of the technique "Just about any type of jig will work in the 16th and 32nd ounce range, but favors a Duck Feather jig. The scale pattern mimics a bait fish.

 

[quivira kid]

Most that I have seen are craft fur or duck flank. Subtle, lifelike motion of a baitfish is what you're after.

 

[AtticaFish]

What you hear about in reference to 'float-n-fly' fishing in magazines and TV shows is usually referring to a general fishing technique rather than a certain style of jig. The popular float-n-fly technique you hear about is mainly used in cold water for bass using jigs suspended nearly motionless under a slip or fixed float. Hear a lot about people preferring jigs made either with craftfur or mallard flank.... or even a combination of the two that i saw recently. The bobber is kept fairly still and the jig is given action mainly by waves on the surface or current, so a minimal fur/feather tie seems to be best to allow maximum action.

I do use just about any style of jig under a float for crappie and bluegill, just never really thought of it as the technique you hear about used for bass fishing. I tend to give jigs more action with my rod/reel when fishing for panfish. Some days it takes giving the rod sharp snaps to make the float really pop and other days it just takes very slow retrieve with no jigging motion at all. Of course there are some days when no action at all will catch crappie with jigs hanging under a float, but most of those days (for me anyway) are only when i find fish really schooling up tight against the shore of specific structure.

babble, babble, babble......

 

[yellowjacket]

i hear you guys. thanks for all your great explantions!!!!!