Confession

I have a confession to make and it is that I have been tying a jig every now and then for about a year while reading your posts. I read most of the stuff you guys write and use your photos for examples of colors and to compare my jigs to. I have read your thoughts on how long to make your jig bodies, how to paint eyes, and lots of other stuff, but what really determines how long the flash materials should be in your jig bodies? Should the flask materials be longer than the bodies, the same length, or is it just personal preference? Curious minds want to know and I do not think I have see that subject mentioned. Thanks for any input.

Olgrey

For me it is a personal preference. some times its long some times it shorter than and body or tail. I don't think that there is a hard or fast rule to adding flash. Just have a jig that its well perportioned is the main thing. Most of the time if it is pleasing to your eye it will be inviting to the fish.

Jump in show us some of your work add some comments we don't bite and glad that you came out of the closet. I wonder how many others out there are closet jig tiers. May be a whole lot more that we don't even suspect. Most of them very good but are afraid of the criticizism because of all the great tiers that we have on this board.

Redman

like every one said its up to you. myself i cut it to the length of the jig and i put 4 strands. but every one is diff come up with your own stile and just have fun.

I usually keep the flash even with the tail. 0.5 to 1 inch pass the hook.

As already said, personal preference. I tie some with a strand or two that are 1/2" longer than the tail, or 2 or 3 the same length as the tail. I will tell you that I tied one with about a dozen strands of crystal flash, figuring more was better. Haven't caught a fish on it yet. The stuff is pretty rigid with that many strands together. I also change up the look by adding it first, before feathers or hair, or by adding a strand as I tie now and then.

Many thanks for your replies. I appreciate the information.

I use a 2.5-3'' piece of crysalflash or flashabou doubled over the thread

Post up, looking forward to seeing your jigs

My jigs talk to me. It depends on what they say that day. When I tie a jig my flashabou is usually a smidgeon past the last fibers on the tail. If you look at the word "on" then the size of the o and the n is about my preferred length. Why, I believe that extra flash away from the fibers works.

The most important thing you can do when tying a jig is to have CONFIDENCE in your work that it will work. Personal preference works for me.

I usually just tie them approximately the same length as the tail. Sometimes shorter depending on the individual strand. If it's longer than the tail material, I cut it. I usually use a single strand of Krystal Flash or tinsel doubled over and cut, then doubled over again when I tie it in. That gives me two strands on each side. I have both Flashabou and Christmas tinsel. If I use the Christmas tinsel, I only use one strand since it's thicker and a little stiffer.

i usually just use 3 strands of it

Personal Pref. for sure, but most of my customer seem to like the longer flash I put on and some even say they like it like that as it has a little action too since I use the thin strips. I started off using the wider strips and a fit shorter, but have just about completely stopped using the wider stuff even if it does last longer. I did this after talking to some asking questions about it, like does it wear off completely, yes it does, when, well about 75 - 80 fish later, then does the bite drop off and if so how much, yes it drops off a little, maybe as much as 30%. Still they catch fish after the crappie have worn it off.

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