Dragonfly jigs need advice

[tntjigman]

My 16 year old daughter likes to pass the time (on a rare occasion) tying jigs with me. She has come up with a jig she calls the Dragonfly. They look neat when dry, but the "wings" fold under the body when wet. Any suggestions to keep the "wings" outright? She is very disappointed! Your help is appreciated. Ever tried to live with 2 cranky women at once?

[tntjigman]

Here is a pic of the Dragonfly. Will a bluegill eat these?

[Jiggin_Joe]

Those look Pretty nice I would think that gills and crappies would eat them. I dont know what to tell you about the wings caus ei never made any with wings. Maybe some of the more talented tyers can give you some ideas.

JJ

[LedHed]

Good looking jigs.
How about double up the wings and cover with a thin coat of Pliobond (rubber cement). Make up a couple of sets before you sit down to tie.

Or make wings out of cellophane…..

[grubfarmer67]

OH YEAH"I like the one at the top w/ the red purple :D
They the ones your daughter did and sold to the science teacher?

Maybe try some goose biots Jigman"??? lil sturdier maybe what she's a look'n for bud"
Jungle Jim Is my go to man for the feathers may try him on at subject"...

[radtexan]

TNT,a good friend of mine,who's no longer with, us used to tie some of the best DF's Ive ever seen..Ive not tried to duplicate them yet but watched him tie a many of them.
Simple foam wings,mylar tail that has been wrapped,and a deer head trimmed down to a ball shape.He made them look so easy.Ive still got a couple dozen of them,but a few will remain unfished forever.

[mikeb]

My 16 year old daughter likes to pass the time (on a rare occasion) tying jigs with me. She has come up with a jig she calls the Dragonfly. They look neat when dry, but the "wings" fold under the body when wet. Any suggestions to keep the "wings" outright? She is very disappointed! Your help is appreciated. Ever tried to live with 2 cranky women at once?

TNT,Used to be 4,,thats right FOUR,living here at one time..
things have calmed down a bit now.
mikeb

[skiptomylu]

I think if you got some goose wing or maybe even shoulder feathers they may stay in place better, but not totally sure.
Forgot to say you will maybe need to check out wings they make in fly tying to see how it's tied in and all. They even match different colors and marry them together.

On the ones you have there I would put a little Flexament on them from the body out maybe 1/3 way and when I dries it should offer some stiffness missing in the ones you have. Not totally sure this will work either, but I think it has a shot.

Skip

[fish_4_all]

Try mono filament glued to thew under side of the feather. Lightest weight line that will keep them out in the water. Worked for me when I wanted to have marabou wings on some funky stuff I tied before.

[brimreaper]

My 16 year old daughter likes to pass the time (on a rare occasion) tying jigs with me. She has come up with a jig she calls the Dragonfly. They look neat when dry, but the "wings" fold under the body when wet. Any suggestions to keep the "wings" outright? She is very disappointed! Your help is appreciated. Ever tried to live with 2 cranky women at once?

Hey jigman tell her to try this.......place the two feathers that she intends to use as wings with the butts of the feathers touching each other pointing in opposite directions on a small piece of smooth tile. Take a small disposable paintbrush about the size of a pencile lead and dip it into clear varnish and then "paint" a coating over both the wings. Give the varnish time to dry take a safety razor and gently raise the feathers off the tile. I like to paint the other side as well but you don't have to. Trim the rough edges off and then tie the wings onto the jigs with a figure 8 wrap. If you cover the wrap with peacock hurl it makes a pretty nice iridescent upper body segment for the dragonfly. I tie up a damsel fly jig pattern similar to this if you will pm me your address I'll send her a few to look at to maybe help out some if you like....brim