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I have watched a million You Tube videos and Understand how to use the end of the feathers to tie the jig. My question is can you use the rest of the feathers? Seems like a waste not too. No one of You Tube shows that just the end.
Any and all advice appreciated.
:biggrin
Side feathers are really too soft to do much with. You can align the tips and tie small jigs with them, but the tails usually end up being too delicate.
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You can pull or cut the barbs off the shaft to use. The shaft is too thick and stiff once you get near the end. That’s usually what I do anyway since it makes a very free moving jig without the shaft tied in.
I strip the feathers and then tie the individuals on in clumps. I do not use the feathers intact. Facing rearward gives a nice tail. Facing forward and then combed back makes a nice body. I tend to use too much material, but then again I troll so it’s fine. If I were jigging in a start stop movement I want want sparse feathers so there is freedom of movement. Flaring out when still is a nice action on its own. If you crowd the feathers you impede this movement. Of course once the jig gets wet, it gets real thin, so best to tie one, view it underwater, then decide how much feather to apply on the next one. The look in the water is the one that determines success, not some boa wearing dancing girl like this one.
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Here is one I made to be seen underwater.
Dry
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Wet
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Jigged in a start stop fashion you can imagine it flaring out. Again this one is for trolling where it takes on the shape of a baitfish.
That’s why I hate feathers,,it’s messy and way too much waste by the time I’m don’t stripping feathers, I use a soft foxtail either dyed or not there’s no waste really to speak of. Just cut to length and apply it onto the jighead,,,goes a lot further then feather as far as cost,,,,I can buy a full foxtail for around $10-15 bucks and get thousands of jigheads tied…,check out furtails.com
Tie in your tail then twist and wrap the rest of the feather for your body. You can add a rib, palmer hackle through it, etc.
I take the barbules off the stem and make a stack to pick up and tie in. I hardly ever use the stem in my tails unless it’s super thin and then maybe. I guess maybe 5% of my marabou tails have a stem in them and they do hamper action some! Here are a few of my ties!
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1/32 Oz
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That is a great way to get that two toned color on a jig like a clouser minnow. I never thought of that before. ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Micanopy