Marabou jigs "breathe" in the water, meaning they expand and contract depending on how the water current is pushing on them. The marabou pulsates in even the stillest of waters. Sounds like the jig you had probably had something on the marabou i.e. some kind of oily residue. Jigs are like any other kind of lures, they need to be kept clean and in good working order to perform their best. I have a little 1/8th oz marabou that had about 15 Steelies on it going into the trip this morning and got 3 more today and is still ready to catch a number more....cleaned in river water at the end of the day and air dried.