Bird is the Word
by Jason Durham
With
the proliferation of remarkably lifelike and creatively composed plastic
bodies accompanied by their ability to hold scents and flavors, a long time
favorite panfish bait has been mistakenly left in the tackle trays. Feather
jigs have been a staple throughout time for rounding up big bluegill and
crappie and have remained a top choice over the years, existing much longer
than plastic, and since the beginning of anglings annals. Even though the
feather jig has paid its dues, been around the block, and survived wars,
progress and passing decades, its effectiveness remains premium.
A variety of plumage is available for feather jigs, and different birds obviously have different colored feathers used to tie everything from trout flies to muskie baits. Most companies use feathers that have been bleached first and then dyed to create bright colors not available naturally, which also grants some consistency in creating jigs of identical color. Feather jigs are created by winding thread around the feathers and shank of a jighead, then sealing it with a clear enamel or glue.
When placed in the water, feathers act much differently than
hair or plastic. Hair expands, or “fluffs” in water, plastic
doesn’t change shape or consistency, but feathers actually cling together
and compact to create a slim, flexible “stick”. The unique characteristic
emulates a tiny minnow or even an insect or worm, which are all highly desired
meals sought out by big bluegills and magnum crappies.
From the beginning of spring and continuing through the fall, feather jigs
will catch panfish.
Earlier in the year they function best accompanied by a tiny minnow suspended under a balsa float, but as the water heats up into the summer period, live bait is no longer needed to persuade fish to bite. Casting a feather jig free of bait, uninhibited by a bobber, over moderately deep weed beds, around brush piles and adjacent to log cribs will put you in position for landing a limit of fish.
Two favorite feather jigs used by hoards of anglers for years are the Lindy Little Nipper and Fuzz-e-Grub. The Little Nipper is a classic feather jig available in 1/64th, 1/32nd and 1/16th ounce sizes in various colors while the Fuzz-e-Grub is a combination of marabou feather and soft plastic available in numerous colors and sizes from 1/32nd ounce up to 1 ounce. However, the sizes you’ll want to employ most frequently for panfish are 1/32nd and 1/16th ounce baits because of their gentle fall and ghostly glide while retrieved.
Even though both bluegill and crappie will sit near the top of vegetative growth and submerged wood, sometimes suspended several feet above the bottom, the fish love to eat feather jigs once they’ve completed their ascent through the water column. In weeds, the bait will typically come to rest entwined within the vegetation. The fish then assume it is a water insect seeking refuge within the underwater growth and greedily nab the hook.
This process of letting the jig fall into prime territory and having a substantial bluegill or crappie eat the offering is usually achieved on the initial fall of the bait after your cast. The gentle “plip” of the bait hitting the surface gains attention from the awaiting schools, while the slow fall, because of the recommended lighter weights, stays in the fishes field of vision for a longer period of time, giving the angler a chance to catch their breath before fighting yet another fish caught on one of the greatest baits of all time- the feather jig!
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