Artic Fox fur as hair on a jig

[hays47]

Somehow I aquired a small patch of black artic fox fur. I tied one jig up with it so far. Really liked how it looked. Now my question to those of you that have been at this longer. Is this a viable alternative to rabbit strips ?

The fox fur seems to really dance it the water. Seems to me almost if not as good as marabou. I would hate to get a bunch of it if it has some drawbacks that I am not aware of.

[skiptomylu]

Somehow I aquired a small patch of black artic fox fur. I tied one jig up with it so far. Really liked how it looked. Now my question to those of you that have been at this longer. Is this a viable alternative to rabbit strips ?

The fox fur seems to really dance it the water. Seems to me almost if not as good as marabou. I would hate to get a bunch of it if it has some drawbacks that I am not aware of.

I like it, but it always comes in small like 1" square of skin. I have a good bit of it and it's not as low cost as marabou so I like marabou at least as well and it's less costly.

As for the rabbit strips they do make zonker strips with arctic fox, but have never seen the crosscut type. The rabbit is less costly and you can do everything with arctic fox that you can with the addition of crosscut rabbit.

So even though I have a good bit of it, not only does it cost more you can't get it in the same type cuts and did I say it cost more? A lot of material say it's just like marabou and my thought is if it's like marabou and that is the selling point then why not buy the marabou since it cost less and is maybe even better for some things.

So in the end there are several other options that dance in the water and will do what Arctic Fox will do and cost less.

Just a though,
Skip

[fish_4_all]

I would say use it. I wouldn't order it though unless you can find a cape of it or a hat or something for a really good price.

If you really want to find good fur for tying, check out a local taxidermist. I got a ton of different furs and feathers for really cheap from a local one. Elk, moose, bear, caribou, duck, pheasant and other stuff for like $15 for a big box.

[smoothlures]

I got some plain white from a taxidermist. Made some #6 and 8 Clousers and the bream ate it up.

[HookUp]

I like artic fox fur, but like the action of rabbit fur in the water better.

For the price, rabbit gets my $$'s.

[gabulldog]

rabbit all the way fox cost to much and if yuor good with a blade can get whole rabbit skins and cut them how you want too and oh yea they taste good

[AWMiller]

I've really liked using arctic fox on several of my jigs. I will warn those that haven't used it that it will go all over the place and all over your jig. My trick... I moisten my fingertips and pull the fur down so that it stays in place while i'm working with it.

Here are some pics of a few arctic fox jigs I've tied up recently. I'll work on a video and get it posted up soon showing this material in action.

White arctic fox



Kingfisher Blue arctic fox



Purple arctic fox

[skiptomylu]

Just tied a bunch of arctic fox jigs for a guide that use to tie his own, but has not time now. So he didn't use arctic fox when he tied them, but wanted to try it out. His are tied very different than any I have tied before and he said if I want o offer them on my web site I just need to name them after him. So here is Harlo's Special and it has something you can't even see that was important to him. I have some micro ultra chenille wrapped around the shank from the head to the hook bend. Then all else tied on.

So see pic below...

Skip
Oh and the green on the right are the same as the others just a difference in lighting.

[AWMiller]

looks great Skip!!! and i know why he wanted that body built up.... one would totally see the difference once that jig was in the water!!!

[skiptomylu]

looks great Skip!!! and i know why he wanted that body built up.... one would totally see the difference once that jig was in the water!!!

Thanks and I never have tied any like this before, but he says they use these casting and catch the heck out of fish. I am not even sure they were for crappie and they have a big sickle hook.

Skip