Have to agree, never cut a tail after it's tied! If you are after crappie they have a big mouth so would not have eny reason they wouldn't eat a longer tail. I have used longer tails for years and had plenty people tell me when I started that I should make my tails shorter, but I found that just as many like a longer tail just like I do. Anyway I catch plenty crappie and I have tied plenty jigs for guys that liked them.

jigs look really good for your first ones!