MAKE YOUR OWN SKIRT UMBRELLAS FOR
SPINNER BAIT AND JIG SKIRTS
|
|
|
| Spinner bait and jig skirts are usually
reversed when they are placed on a lure so that the strands of the skirt
will flare out and give better action. This also gives the appearance of
more body to the lure. Better skirt strand action and a larger looking
body can be enhanced even more with the use of
SKIRT UMBRELLAS. |
|
Assembly of Skirt Umbrellas
A Skirt Umbrella is a very simple small plastic cone that is placed
under the skirt to flare the strands on spinner bait and jig skirts.
The skirts are actually loaded onto the cone and this assembly is
then placed onto the lure. The easiest method we have found for
loading skirts onto the Umbrella is to use a small piece of arrow
shaft (size 1816 or 1916) about 5 inches in length along with an
insert and field point. Screw the field point into the insert and
place this into the shaft. Place a little Vaseline or soapy water
onto the field point as a lubricant. Slide the skirt onto the arrow
shaft. Remove the field point and insert from the arrow shaft. Place
the Umbrella tube into the arrow shaft and slide the skirt onto the
Umbrella tube.
|
|
Trim the excess Umbrella tube up close to the skirt as
shown. DO NOT TRIM INTO THE NECKED DOWN PORTION OF THE UMBRELLA TUBE
AS THE SKIRT WILL SLIDE OFF WHEN THE LURE IS FISHED. After trimming
the Umbrella tube will probably collapse due to the skirt collar,
but that is OK. The Umbrella Skirt is now ready to put onto a
spinner bait or jig.
Arrow shafts, field points, and inserts are available in any archery
shop. We also offer this skirt Umbrella Tool in our mail order
store. The stock number of the tool is 420086 and it is $3.99.
|
Alternate Method for Loading the Skirt
An Alternate method for loading the skirt onto the Umbrella is to use a
metal shaft of some type such as a nail or drill bit. The metal shaft is to
keep the tube of the Umbrella rigid while the skirt is added. Slide the
umbrella onto the metal shaft. Slip the skirt up onto the Umbrella tube and
under the cone of the Umbrella. The skirt will slip onto the Umbrella tube
much easier if a lubricant is used. One of the best techniques we have found
is to place a little Vaseline at the front of the Umbrella tube where it
contacts the nail point. This allows the skirt to slip onto the Umbrella
tube very easily. Additionally, the finished lure will look better if the
skirt collar is in the middle of the skirt strands rather than toward one
end of the skirt. Remove the Umbrella and skirt from the metal shaft. It is
now ready to trim the Umbrella tube as described above. This method will
work, but is not as easy as using the arrow shaft tool.
 |
 |
When you place the Umbrella Skirt on a lure be sure to put
the Umbrella Skirt onto the lure so that the cone is pointed away
from the head of the lure. This will allow the skirt strands to
flare out properly.
Skirt Umbrellas are available in 2 sizes, several colors, and will
work with nearly any skirt and on nearly any lure. The large size is
best for spinner baits and jigs. The small size is used to make
skirted treble hooks for lures.
|
|
Skirt Umbrellas are also useful for adding skirts to treble
hooks on lures. The small size Umbrella should be used on treble
hook sizes 6, 4, 2, or 1. The large size Umbrella on larger treble
hooks. Assemble the Umbrella as described above, but don't trim the
tube. Place the eye of the treble hook up through the tube on the
Umbrella and the skirted treble hook is now ready to add to a lure.
The small size Umbrella works best with a 20 or 30 strand skirt made
from fine cut silicone layers.
|
Good Fishing
Barlow’s
|
