Skirt

A skirt gives a jig its profile and its breathing motion. On the fall the strands flare outward into a wide, living shape. On the pause they collapse and pulse with the smallest movement of the rod, which is what makes a jig sitting still on the bottom still look alive.

Construction matters more than the number of strands. A hand-tied skirt banded with thread keeps its flare and lasts seasons. Cheap skirts held on with a stapled collar mat down, lose strands, and go stiff.

Color is where most people overthink it. Green pumpkin and black-and-blue cover the overwhelming majority of freshwater jig fishing, one for clear-to-stained water and one for dark or dirty water.

Skirts are replaceable, which most people never realise. Skirt bands and a cheap tool let you rebuild a worn jig or change color on the bank for a fraction of the price of a new one.