Maribou question...

OK, here goes...I'm reading and asking quetions about tying up some jigs. I'm all pumped up with all this knowledge and ready to tie up a storm... I get everything lined up - ready, set , whoa...
Last week I acquired a plastic baggie with some pink and some black maribou! I had visions of tying some awesome jigs and catching those monster rod bending fishes....well, (just a second, gotta shake myself back to reality) I've got the jig in the vise, I've got the bucktail on the jig, I reach for some of that black maribou and what the heck is this? Instead of maribou feathers it's like a long shoelace with maribou intertwined he whole length and the feathers are barely 1 inch long. Does anyone what this is and is it not for piscatorial pursuits...
Befuddled...
Imadreamer

have a picture?

Did you buy it at a craft store? Marabou from tying stores will not look like that. It can be strung as mine is, but they are a lot longer and just a cotton string holding them in line.

Sounds like you got something not for tying.

Not the best picture since I was comparing colors here, but this is some of mine.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...s/DSC01902.jpg


Skip

Hey guys,
Thanks for the replies... After I posted the question, I thought I would ask as to where the maribou might have come from. This individual told me that it may have been purchased to use as or with costume jewelry... Like I said it is to short to work with so I will have to buy some after all... Oh, well...
Thanks again,
Imadreamer

What you are looking for is strung marabou (blood quills).

Sounds like a feather boa or something, which is definitely usable.

Adam

I'd cut that stuff up and make the best of it. You might surprise yourself. Colors might not be set and might bleed so be careful whenever you first get them wet, or maybe wet some and put it on a paper towel to see. I have some red that bleeds real bad.

I don't agree with the thought that you can buy stuff made as a boa or some craft store and expect the same quality as you get from someone that has materials that were actually made for fly tying. Usable, probably, but I am not buying any of that junk!

This is my thoughts and opinions not everyone's. I am not saying you can't find anything at a craft store that is good to use on jigs, but I am saying it's not the same normally and I just don't buy that stuff.

I have been pretty successful tying and selling jigs because when I make a jig it high quality and I don't cut any corners with materials or labor. Have had several customers that say they caught over 300 crappie on one single jig so I know what mine will do and I make them to be the best I can make them. I have pride in quality work and materials!

Again this is just my opinion and no one is changing that!

Skip

IMHO it is best to get the real marabou quills that way you can expect positive resilts from your ties. Remember to lay down a good layer of thread base and to cut the feathers away from the stem before you tie them on your jig. Another tip is to use flat waxed nylon thread and hard as nails polish.

Hey thanks for the input,
I think if I was tying itty bitty fly fishing flies that stuff might work. However, I was interested in tying bigger hair, feather jigs for bass and other panfish...
I think it would be too labor intensive getting the short maribou in place with my fat fingers, it would be very frustating.. I think I would like to work with the
regular maribou and bucktails...
Thanks,
Imadreamer

It will do for 1/32 and under. Especially white since it won't have dye in it.