How to Fish Hair Jigs for Smallmouth Bass

Hair jigs have slid under the radar as a super-effective lure option for smallmouth bass, but the cat is finally out of the bag. Canadian bass pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson grew up fishing smallmouth with finesse marabou hair jigs and shares a wealth of information about where and how to fish them using lightweight spinning setups.
TACKLE USED
• HAIR JIG - (Gussy hand-tied)
• FINESSE HAIR JIGS - wired2.fish/3z...
• OTHER HAIR JIG OPTIONS
OutKast Tackle Feider Fly Marabou Jig: wired2.fish/3x...
VMC Dominator Marabou Jig: wired2.fish/3M...
• TRAILER - Berkley PowerBait MaxScent "The General": wired2.fish/3x...
• ROD - G. Loomis NRX+ Spinning Rod 7'6" Med LT 901S SJR": wired2.fish/3M...
• REEL - Shimano Twin Power FD 2500 Spinning Reel: wired2.fish/3z...
• LINE - PowerPro Spectra Braided Line, 8-pound: wired2.fish/3H...
• LINE - Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon, 6-pound: wired2.fish/3x...
• TACKLE STORAGE - Plano Guide Series Worm Wrap: wired2.fish/3x...
• SUNGLASSES - Costa Del Mar Reefton Pro Sunglasses: wired2.fish/37...
As Gussy notes, hair jigs have long been reserved as throwback lures for smallies chasing boat-side hooked fish but are now mainstay lures throughout the Great Lakes states and Canada. Hair jigs shine when bass are cruising shallow flats, in clear water, or in general, are spooky, whatever the reason. Their effectiveness stems from a natural and stealthy appearance in the water.
Long casts and a sensitive rod setup improve success. Gussy adds a chunk of stickball for added weight (improves casting distance), scent, and body bulk, while a light line and a longer rod help launch baits further. And when it comes to rod action, a slower rod loads progressively for forgiving hook sets and keeping big fish buttoned.
Gussy notes that color can be a factor. While black is his all-around go-to, he’ll use brown around bug hatches and even play with non-natural bright colors to move and trigger curious smallmouth.
FISH FINDERS & BOAT SETUP
• LIVE SONAR - Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging: wired2.fish/Hu...
• FISH FINDER - Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP GPS G4N: wired2.fish/HE...
• TROLLING MOTOR - Minn Kota Ultrex, 52'', 36v (112 lbs): wired2.fish/Mi...
• SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR - Minn Kota Talon, 10': wired2.fish/Mi...
• BOAT - Lund 2075 Pro-V Bass: wired2.fish/Lun...
• MOTOR - Mercury Pro XS 250hp: wired2.fish/Mer...
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[@bernjwallace6877]

Hair jigs will get you back in the game when fishing gets tough. Good video.🎣👍🏾

[@douglasspickler4925]

Very nice video. Well done. As a Susquehanna river and Potomac river smallmouth fisherman I agree with Gussy hair jigs are great. 👍😎

[@The.Rooster469]

I’ll take that first comment being one of the best anglers

[@daleporter9162]

I use a ML 7'4" Dobyns Champion Extreme with a Daiwa Whisker SS1300 and 8lb braid with 8lb flourocarbon leader.....I can throw a hair jig a long ways because of the spool design. One of my favorite ways to fish smallmouths here in Michigan.

[@kevinyangfishing4585]

i have a 901s in the original NRX with a Stella FJ and it can really send! so much fun here in WI.

[@anderson8869]

Just ordered a 901s, any issues setting the hook with this soft, parabolic rod?

[@kevinyangfishing4585]

@@anderson8869 I use my 901 for spybaits and hair jigs. when I have a spybait tied on, I usually just reel and lean back when I feel a bite due to the small trebles. hair jigs, I tend to set the hook just a little bit, just enough for the single hook to penetrate. my hook up ratios are great and I hardly ever lose fish on my end. get a reel with a good drag and hold tight! the 901 is a lot of fun! :)

[@rich5916]

@@kevinyangfishing4585 Kevin do you have a 902 as well? How is that rod for stuff like ned rigs?

[@rodcashman4793]

Awesome fishing great jigs

[@grizzlysquatch9874]

Gussys the best

[@midwestfischerman]

I've always wondered why these are called "hair jigs" when marabou is feathers. Whatever you call them, they are dynamite, for sure!!!

[@matthewcritchfield6997]

In the old days they were actually made from deer hair

[@jackritter4805]

How do you fish it for winter river smallmouth

[@ryankiesel4610]

What reel are you using that allows you to reengage the bail by turning the handle without causing horrible line twist? Or is it just not a problem with braid?

[@Wired2Fish]

This is a Shimano Twin Power FD 2500 Spinning Reel: wired2.fish/3zkYYa2. Braid isn't impacted nearly as much by line twist as mono or fluorocarbon.

[@julianojanuario4012]

We’re you using the 901 or 902? Description says 901, but you called it the 902 in the video.

[@rich5916]

Pause at 1:45 it shows its a 902 :)

[@augustnordine807]

Why the yellow line?

[@toozwraps]

I’ll take first comment being best angler with a profile picture lol

[@robertcox9226]

I get a kick outta them calling a feather jig a hair jig. Marabou is a feather

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

Those are not hIr jigs. They are marabou

[@joshbirtchetfishing5196]

If u where to take that jig and put it on a drop-shot u will hook up on the SM 10× more.

[@fish4life226]

One of my favorite anglers, but please flip that bail by hand instead of handle.

[@mikeantes9597]

Tighten up the drag a touch so it don't slip on the hook set 🤣🤣

[@firstlightangler6049]

Absolutely. Hard to believe people can go pro that make mistakes like that. Gives me hope but on the other hand time and opportunity is responsible for success more than skill or talent.

[@N2theBlue1]

@@mikeantes9597 pros use such a light drag with spinning reels it’s ridiculous. I don’t even want to think about how twisted their line is after a day of fishing with all the reeling against the drag they do.

[@fishinfrenzy2544]

When u get your gear free it doesn’t really matter I guess lol

[@firstlightangler6049]

I winced every time he closed the bail by cranking his handle. Good way to ruin the bail return spring and twist up your line. Hard to take the advice of someone who makes those kind of basic mistakes. I like the tip for plumping up the marabou with a scent of max scent worm.

[@paulwalleyefisher8983]

It's not like he's using junk equipment. Really not the end of the world

[@firstlightangler6049]

@@paulwalleyefisher8983 But my cranking your spinning reel bail shut you will turn a good reel into junk. It wears out the bail return spring, then the bail won’t close. Maybe the reel he has is made to do it, but it’ll still twist your line.

[@N2theBlue1]

@@firstlightangler6049 before I started using braid I did that for years and never ruined a bail spring. The main benefit is reducing line twist and resulting wind knots in braid. You’re not gonna wear out a bail spring unless your making an unbelievable amount of casts a year

[@firstlightangler6049]

@@N2theBlue1 ok well, I work at a bass pro, I spool a lot of reels, I handle ALOT of spinning reels. Tons of guys come in wanting to know what’s wrong with the reel when it has a broken bail spring, 99 times out of 100 they admit they crank the bail shut. It will wear out the spring, maybe a year or two years, but it will happen.

[@Twangtown7]

Nice job spitting the tag of the line into the water. SMH.

[@paulwalleyefisher8983]

Lmao what damage is that gonna cause

[@Twangtown7]

@@paulwalleyefisher8983 Are you serious

[@bruce3579]

Are you guys doing a give away on Instagram for $1000 bucks? I'm pretty sure someone is using your guys name