Keeping it simple

[bdorman]

I just starting tying; I think I'm on my 15th jig. I also think I've made a beginner's mistake: too much stuff! Add another color, another layer, another material and so on.

It's the same mistake beginner's make in my other hobby - music. Just keep adding more instruments and it's bound to work sooner or later...but it never does. The best music is simple.

So, in the last 10 minutes I tied this one:



The paint on the head was a mistake; It's actually a glitter coat with little to no color in it, but I didn't realize that when I poured it into the fluid bed. Oh well, if the fish don't like it they can complain to the maitre de.

One thing I've noticed about marabou is that different marabous have different amounts of "fuzz", particularly at the tip. The chartruse marabou I used in the above jig has almost no fuzz on the tips. As you can see in the picture it looks like very thin deer hair. My black and red marabous are very fuzzy all the way from stem to tip. Is there a phrase for that difference I should know when shopping? Or is it just "You pays your money and you takes your chances"?

[Mike Andrews]

It'll catch fish! Don't get so wrapped up in details that you forget to have fun with this. I had a buddy years ago that showed me the basics of fly tying, I must have called him every day, twice a day for about two weeks with questions and he finally told me one day "Hey, do whatever but remember nobody is gonna' die". That was his way of telling me to quit sweating the small stuff and have fun.

As for your feather question it's pretty much pay your money and take your chances especially after the "feather in the hair" craze. Try some neck hackle for tails too.

[shipahoy41]

Fish won't mind eating that one at all. Good job.

[VaCrappieMan]

Good looking jig it will catch fish for sure!

[Crappiehappy]

nice jig...

[PA_Slabs]

I use only blood quill marabou any more. I've never been happy with loose marabou.

[Fatman]

If that's your 15th jig and you're taking 10 minutes bud you're well on your way!!!!!!!! You can fix the paint IF you want to it's a clear coat just put some colored powder paint in it. some of the paint jobs going on for crappie jigs are amazing!!! Need some video instruction to learn it all LOL.

X2 what Mike said - there's just to much fun tying to worry about stuff. And home mades are IMO way better than store bought, you determine the quality of the materials that go into it.

have fun and keep posting.

[Hair Jigs]

I've been tying for the past month and have about 100 jigs tied up. I've asked alot of experienced fellers on here for the best combinations of colors. They have helped me get better when choosing these combos. After the 20th jig or so... I've realized that combos are endless... I have a feeling that some of my mistakes or creations may catch fish... So... The way I look at it... One of them there slabs are bound to bite somethin'... Nice Jig!

[bdorman]

I have a feeling that some of my mistakes or creations may catch fish... So... The way I look at it... One of them there slabs are bound to bite somethin'... Nice Jig!

I agree completely Mr. Hair. I've got some mistakes that look like they are intended to scare fish away! But my honest belief has always been that if the fish are hungry and you put a lure in front of them, they'll bite it. The jig tying is more for my benefit than theirs. When I see Skip's and NightProwler's and others jigs, I think "who cares if they catch fish, they're works of art."

[bxn]

don't sweat it! some guys on here make beautiful works of art with their jigs,and im not putting them down for it,but you are trying to get the fishes aprovel on it.the fish won't care about 100% emaculate details with perfect paint jobs and the whole 9 yards.it doesn't take much at all to fool the fish.just make your jigs like the one in the picture with different colors n stuff,maybe a little less material give or take depending on what size and species your goin for.like for bluegills i wouldn't have the hugest bushiest tail on a jig,because bluegills mouths aren't as big as say a crappies mouth.i throw small size jigs 1/100 ,1/80,1/64, most the time with not that much material for tails.i guess im most confident with that.find what works for you and what you are confident with tho.that jig in the pic not only looks good but will catch fish! id recomend doin some jig heads in bright orange too!