Unruly tails

[Crappiekiller3]

Need some advice from you great jig tyers on this forum!

Been making some barred rock jigs for smallies and walleyes. No
matter how careful I am to line up the feathers, when I'm done
sometimes they stick out and aren't smooth flowing "like the pictures".
I lay down a line of thread before tieing the feathers so they aren't slipping
around the shaft of the hook. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for your help!

[smoothlures]

Pictures? Not sure what you mean but hackle feathers have a natural curve to them, make sure they're pointed the way you want when you tie them in.

[OKSTATEjiggy]

Not quite sure what the feathers are doing, but you just have to keep unwinding the thread and redoing them. But there is a trick that works sometimes: build a large ball of thread at the back of the hook shank by the bend (or wherever you want your tail to start). Tie in one feather one one side of the ball and the other feather on the other side. The thread ball should keep the two feathers pointed in the same directions and not move because the stems of the feathers are pressed against it. I will take pictures and make a little tutorial for you later

[AtticaFish]

Have you got them wet yet? Tie some line on and put them in a large glass jar or aquarium and see how they look. If the hackle is soft enough they should just slim down all together.

Only thing that comes to mind is good old trusty glue. :D A little dab will do ya..... I'd also love to see some picts, make quite a few smallie jigs myself.

[skiptomylu]

It will all come with time and practice. Takes a bit of that mainly. Sometime just let them tie on like they want to if they are really being stubborn which sometimes if I take the thread off and on and off and on, then soon it will be as it wants to be. Besides when they get in the water you will just see a stick like colored thing sticking back there most of the time.

Skip

[redear]

I have seen pro tyers, tying saltwater streamers, grasp the feathers between thumb and index finger, close to the tie in point, and push forward, kinking the quills of the feathers, then stroke them back, they lay straight then. another trick is to take a tiny wisp of dubbing and wrap it around the hook shank where you'll tie the feathers on, this helps keep the feathers from rolling when you tighten down with the thread.

[Crappiekiller3]

Thanks fellas, all good tips. I'll try them and see what works.
I don't think the smallies care, but dammit I do!!!