mistakes

Wondering what mistakes you guys make when tying jigs? My mistakes would make for a long list that would include: 1)not tying duplicates(at least 2 of each jig). 2)allowing my tying area to look like a tornado strike. 3)not field testing some of my "creatures"soon enough for results.4)Allowing my fingers to turn into toes thus causing extreme frustration.5)Buying too much stuff and then buying more stuff-thus feeding my addiction! 6)not keeping accurate notes on my successes/failures. 7)Repeat of #3-even if my wife disagrees!! Please feel free to add to the list.

First I guess was buying 3 Vises before I got the one I like best, LOL! Tie colors you know work and more than a couple each, but new colors to try a couple is plenty to see. Learning to tie is so much easier now with all the info out here and there. When I started just had to find what I could and best was something I know was right, FAOL Written lessons with good step by step pics. Then found some streaming lessons, not sure if they kept doing them for long as I got away from that when I just got too busy. One mistake that makes me a bit crazy is when doing my finish and every once in a while I use to let one loop get on the other side of the tie on spot and wouldn't see it until I had it tight and ready to cut! Of course breaking the thread use to make me crazy when using smaller thread, but I am better at that now as we learn at some point!

buying the wrong vise.

Leaving my jigs out on the desk and having the cat take off with em. [emoji15]

Breaking the thread has to be the most frustrating one of them all.

Don't buy cheap thread, buy quality thread made for tying. I like Danville's 210 Denier waxed flymaster plus for my jigs. The cheap stuff breaks, very frustrating. I still use a cheap vise, wish I had spent more up front on this item.

A few that I would offer:

A) Proportions are critical - not having too long a tail or too short for example.
B) Use good materials and tools
C) Tie often to keep your capabilities sharp - I try to tie a few times per week instead of a jam session the night before a big trip.
D) Get good at a few patterns instead of diving in to a complicated jig with 48 materials and 97 steps

Good post.

That is the best part of tying jigs is my tying table always looks like a tornado hit it 's far as field testing goes I usually let you guys tell me it's going to work or not:biggrin and of course I have a little bit of everything to work with Wheelwright collector of materials I know you guys have not seen all the materials that I have into a jig and materials I used to use years ago when my mother was racing poodles is I love the champagne hair it was quite effective on crappie course I tried to cut a chunk out of my cat and got my arm tour of so I give that up maybe if I catch him sleeping if I do it fast enough I might get a piece of hairnonono

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Originally Posted by Micropterus salmoides

Leaving my jigs out on the desk and having the cat take off with em. [emoji15]

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I had to cut a sickle hook jig out of my cats lip, couldn't believe he just set there and let me get it out. Guess he was ready to get rid of it!! LOL

I have a lot of sizes of threads because of tying jigs and flies and it still burns my behind to break it while tying. I guess finding that I have a wrap of thread around the hook eye after I have all ready wiped finished the tye gets my goat more than anything......

You just have to enjoy everything that comes along with tying. Such a awesome hobby to be a part of.

My favorite is to not use my head and turn on the fan because I was getting warm and watch the feathers and hair explode in the room. I'd like to say I've only done it once.......Can't.