Not bad for your first one and mostly all you need is practice tying. As far as tail length a lot of people have critized my tail length and some I do tie shorter, but most I tie longer and I have a lot of customers that like the longer tails. I feel that sometimes longer tails get bit more because they have more action. On the other hand sometimes crappie don't want a lot of action, like very early spring and a couple years back I started using kip tail jigs then more and they do very well at that time.

I say tie them like you want to fish them and take some long and some shorter and see what does better for you. I know I sure catch my share every spring with longer than most using marabou Roadrunners in 1/32 and no one can tell me they are too long because the fish prove it to me every year, over and over again. I also tie my hackle tails a bit longer than many, but feel it's a personal thing as to what each person likes.

If someone tells me they want a jig that is within a certain length I try by best to tie the jig the length they want.

So just keep tying and use both kins and see what you end up liking, but you have to fish them at different times of the year to know what really works best. I think I know, but that's me and not anyone else. Be true to your self and make your self happy as it's a great hobby so as long as they work who cares how long or short the tail is.

The single most important thing is make them durable so they don't start coming apart after just a few fish.

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