Thread: Tying Jigs

Originally Posted by BleuGhill

Okay Miller - here's hardcore, specific advice; let's find out if you're gonna like tying jigs!

Go to WalMart and buy some plain leadhead jigs. The walk back to the craft section and buy a pack of marabou feathers. Now you're out $2-3 total. Now go back to the sewing section and get a spool of any kind of thread if you don't have any. No need to worry about painting heads - trust me on this. If you can't afford factory leadhead jigs. just crimp a split-shot onto a regular hook; presto - instant jighead.

Got any clear fingernail polish? If not, go to the Dollar Store and pick some up or grab it while your're at Wally World. So now you've got less than $5 invested - less if you already have thread and fingernail polish (your head cement). Check all the MacDonalds Happy Meals for those little dolls with pink or blue hair; there's some craft hair. Raid the Christmas tree decorations for gold and silver tinsel. Man you've got a ton of materials already LOL. Oh - got a dog? Snip some of his fur! Do you have access to chickens? If so, get some hackle feathers from around the neck and dye them with RIT or Kool-Aid...or use them natural. Now do like "England" did in the above post and get your ViseGrips rigged some way to hold the hook.

Finally, go to YouTube and do a search for tying jigs and you'll see at least 3 great videos on how to do it (posted by a Crappie.com member). I believe it's 'Ded' something-or-other.
Do your research on this forum for a ton of links to basic fly-tying . Make a few to get the feel of it and if you ruin them, cut the thread and feathers off with a razor blade and do 'em over. Good luck, and hope this helps you get started!

I did just this very thing tonight except I already have a vise from my jig kit. Bought some Marabou feathers (various colors), some painted lead heads, clear fingernail polish and some bright green, yellow and orange thread. Here are my 2nd, 3rd and 4th jigs in that order, starting from the top. They ain't pretty, but i'm a beginner :D

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...r/PICT0222.jpg

...at's what I'm talking 'bout!! You're The Man! And I'll bet that you catch fish on those! Now that you know how to 'fish', you'll never need anyone else to 'feed' you ha ha.

Besides fishing, my other passion is practicing primitive skills (flintknapping, making self-bows, fire with bow drill, cordage from plant fibers, bone tools, bone fishhooks, etc.). One thing that I have learned from all this is to make do with minimal resources. This 'minimalist' approach will serve anyone well in any endeavor, and *learning* does not require a bunch of money.

Good for you Bobberwatcher!

Those are some fine looking jigs bobberwatcher

Here's a couple of pics of jigs I tied last year. Nothin fancy, but it does not take much to fool a big 'ol Crappie.
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5931/homespun3mc.jpg
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7537/jigs3fq.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQJsUD2cyiQ
fly tying class on internet

Miller, post some pics of your new jigs once you ty up a few.

get a 10$ AA vise,a few spools of prewaxed mono cord thread at 1.50$each,a bottle of Fleximent glue at $2.50 and a few colors of kiptails at 3$ each.
A good scissors and a box of razor blades which is 5$ in the painting dept. at fleetfarm.
Cabelas makes prepainted heads for about 17$ a hundred.They sell 25 count packs as well for less.
It took me several hundred to make them look like these.


I paint & pour my own heads as I like the process.It's a great hobby & to get fish on them is awesome.
These pics will give you an idea of the size of an 80th oz. the second has a 64 & 100.

Hey, I notice several of you paint your own jigheads...what kind of paint do you use? I just started tying my own this weekend, and the only decent jigheads for sale around here are not painted. Thanks!