New jig I have not posted

I have a guide on my Pro Staff that has me make him some small 1/32 #8 Sickle hooks with some new material I got a few months back. I was disappointed with it at first because it is small, but when he was here he wanted to test a couple and took 2. Caught a bunch of crappie with these and just ordered more and my disappointment has changed to thinking maybe these will do well. The only down side is they don't last as many fish as my chenille jigs and these start to have trouble after 50-60 fish.

So I want to know what you guys think? Oh and I think it is impossible to make these smooth due to the material.

Thanks,

Skip

While they look much alike the two sides are different.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...8/DSC03747.jpg

50-60 fish!?!?!? If they last that long what is the problem? I am happy if a jig lasts though 6-10 fish let alone 30.

Is it semi transparent/translucent? I kinda like it and think it could have some serious applications put over body material of some sort.

I have found out at times that a narrow body profile is just what the crappie want.Look like killers to me!!

Looks good. Keep up the good work and posting pictures of the jigs all the time.
pete

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Originally Posted by fish_4_all

50-60 fish!?!?!? If they last that long what is the problem? I am happy if a jig lasts though 6-10 fish let alone 30.

Is it semi transparent/translucent? I kinda like it and think it could have some serious applications put over body material of some sort.

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Well I understand what you mean and I lose mine before I can wear them out, but have a few customers that say they caught over 300 on the same jig. I would be disappointed if one of mine came apart before 100 for sure. Maybe I am fooling my self, but that is my target, to have them last for many fish.

Some of this does seem translucent while some is clearly not, like black and dark blue, but the light blue and some others are that way.

I do love the looks of this material and you may have a good point to use it over some other chenille and I will take a look at that.

Thanks everyone,
Skip

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Originally Posted by Len

I have found out at times that a narrow body profile is just what the crappie want.Look like killers to me!!

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Yes and the jig I tie that is a thread neck jig using red thread with a black & Fl Yellow tail and oh yeah the white head are really great. Some don't even want to try them, but if they do I feel sure they will end up likening that jig a lot. I tried them a year or two back and was really surprised with how well they do work. So with no chenille it is really a skinny jig especially when the tail gets wet and I thought the first time I used it that it looks like a small stick, but what a killer it is.

Skip

Skip,
Those look great! :)
I use that type material a lot for flies and jigs and love it.
I have coated it with Sally's and it does seem to last longer.
I've used them for several days (25 x 3 or 4) before a hangup
and bye bye. ;) When I make striper flies with it I always coat
it with Sally's or Superglue for longevity.

I promise you Skip...those are slab slayers! Great job as always.

Mike

They look good and I would not worry about the longivity....I lose most of mine on hang ups anyway.

Those look great!!

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Originally Posted by G-3 Fisherman

They look good and I would not worry about the longivity....I lose most of mine on hang ups anyway.

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me too! :eek:

Thanks guy.

Just got back from a grand opening for a guy that sells some of my jigs and has been a good friend for a couple years and never met face to face until this weekend. Had a good time and also got to meet some guys from anther crappie board I go to, so had a good time.

I am wore out from that drive even if I did spend the night near there. 183 miles for my old sorry back is too much.

Guess I will add these to my web site, I just was not sure what people would think of them even though I like them. Sometimes a really small jig is just the ticket too.

Skip

50-60!!!!! Buddy most store boughts last maybe 20-25. Your jigs look great as always and if on the 50-60 due to the material I sure as heck wouldn't complain!!!!!!!!!!

Fatman

I would pay $5 each for a jig that lasted through 50-60 fish! I am happy if it catches 4-5 before falling apart. I have paid $3.50 for jigs that didn't last through 5 fish and was happy at that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fish_4_all

I would pay $5 each for a jig that lasted through 50-60 fish! I am happy if it catches 4-5 before falling apart. I have paid $3.50 for jigs that didn't last through 5 fish and was happy at that.

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Man I got to tell you and am surprised by this. Now not about all igs I am not because that was one reason I started tying. I had some well know jigs (not to mention name here) that had use a long time and in the 1990's I bought a bunch, and I mean bunch. Bought cards and cards of them in many colors. Well I had been gone from fresh water for 11-12 years and this time after a few fish I would see the thread coming undone. I couldn't believe it because I had used them a lot before and didn't have that problem so much.

Anyway I feel that a jig of mine that is a regular chenille jig should be able to last at least 100 fish and that may be over a few days, but my problem is I hand them up and lose them before that. I have been able tho hang on to one that I caught like 70-75 with the same one, but lost it then too.

If any jig I make comes apart after 5 fish (actually would go way more than that on my regular jigs)I would replace it at no charge and day.

Oh and he said they started to show some break down of the body materials, but not totally done after 50-60 fish.

Skip

All I can say is Kudos!!! I do have a few flies that I have put a lot of fish on the bank with but none of them stayed "together" through all of it. Granted I was using peacock herl and the herl broke and kinda served as legs but all the same.

Add them to your site, the quality will sell them alone. The fish catching ability will have them coning back for more, after they wear them out or lose them that is.

I would never send back a jig from you that came undone after 5 fish let alone 50. I know what it takes to make a quality jig and anything that outlasts those POS that are sold now in the stores takes time and real effort to make last. Steelhead fisherman retire jigs here after 2 fish because they start to come apart or would if we tried to use them again. Some them are $5 each for basic simple junk.

Maybe someday I will have to get some from you and put them through the ringers of salt water fishing here just to test them out. Store bought ones are done after 2 small fish let alone 1 big fish. With yours going through 50 crappie I bet they will last through at least 10 toothy salt monsters.

I think those look great and have no doubts that they would put fish in the bucket. I like those long hackle tails and the tight, flashy body. Looks like they'd make great profile I know you may be used to catching 100+ fish on a single jig, but a life span of 50-60 fish is pretty dern good.

Looking good, sir :D.