Tying Rabbit Fur Jigs

Its wintertime and that means it's jig time, but not for just steelhead, these work well for bass too! I've fished steelhead and salmon with floats and jigs for as long as I can remember and have been tying my own jigs for almost as long. The following is a tutorial of how to tie one of the easiest most effective jigs for steelhead, salmon, trout, and even bass... the rabbit fur jig.

Start by securing your jighead in your vice as even as possible and wrap your thread back until its even with the point of the hook.

Next, choose your rabbit fur color and size. The shown jig is using about a 6" strip of fur, but the length can be changed depending on how long you want the tail. Secure on your rabbit fur by pulling the fur apart so the hide is exposed and wrapping your thread about 6 times over the hide.

To ensure that the rabbit fur is secured, pull pack the rabbit fur and wrap your thread on the other side of the rabbit strip so it pinches the strip between the wrapped sections.

When the strip is properly secured, wrap your thread back up to the jighead and begin wrapping your rabbit strip around the shank of the hook towards the head. Remember to wet your fingers and pull back the fur so its not overlapping itself. This will allow the fur to stand out better and thus pulsate better in the water. Also make sure to wrap the rabbit fur close togther to make the jig fuller.

Once you've wrapped to the head, secure the fur on with the thread with a ton of wraps. The more the better. Make sure to increase pressure on your wraps as you go.

Now the part that most people get confused on. The whip finish... I take my middle finger and pointer finger and create half hitch. Than I put this over the thread.

And repeat about 6 times.

The finished product

You can even use your football head with your favorite color rabbit fur for finicky winter smallies. This one happens to have two tails as well to imitate a crawdad...

Good luck and I hope this helps.