Printable View
This is my first attempt at trying to tie a hair jig. I recently received a goody bag from Stump Hunter that had some black bear in it. The jig is a 1/16 oz collarless head that was powder painted (first attempt also) with Pro-Tech hot pink paint. This is the result.
Attachment 138267
Comments welcome. :yikes
Bobo
Looks good Bobo! I tried loose hair too but had a hard time of it. I much prefer rabbit strips. It might be easier with a hair stacker but IDK.
That jig looks very good Bobo, that one will catch you some fish.
Nice job bobo! A collar will help keep the hair from Turning or twisting around the bare hook. Looks like you did fine on both new tries. I am probably too picky, but I also take a hand file to the heads before painting them to take off any little lead that is extra like seams from the mold. I don't think most go that far, but I just can't leave that on them, LOL! I think in the back of my mind that any sharp edge could make the paint chip easier. Don't know if that is fact of just my obsessive nature.
I can't stand that either... Is a file easy? I've been using a razor blade... Nice looking jig by the way!
A file is pretty easy. I bought one of the cheap ones with a wood handle that has several different type of files that you can change. I like it, but a regular file may be a bit much.
bobo You did a good job on tying that jig you may want to take a match and burn off excess hair behind the head just take it easy when you do it or trim it off with a pair of scissors is cultures you can get you are doing a good job keep up the good work.
Thank you guys for all of the kind words. This has the hair on hide and it was a new experience to say the least. LOL
I have some small files that I will dig up to fix the problem on future heads. Thanks for the tips.
Bobo
Also you can cover that hair with a few more wraps of thread too, I do that all the time. I do also have a little tool to burn off stuff from the eye of a fly, but have not used it on jigs because I am scared I will burn through the thread, LOL!
good looking jig, i usually trim it with scissors then hit it with a few more wraps .
That's a good looking jig. The excess hair can be a pain. I sometimes capture the hair and stay away from the head with the thread a little, then take a NEW single edge razor and trim it off the head and continue the finish. I tried scissors, clippers and soon and have the best luck with this. You will cut the thread occasionally til you see hoe to do it. If it doesn't fall completely apart I can sometimes just continue over the cut and add a spot of sally just for insurance. Done this with bucktail and fox so far.
I have the same burn tool skip mentioned an it works ok... kiptail burnt really stinks lol
I also clean every head before painting them but I use a pocket knife. The thread bodies looks the best when all the hair is covered with thread, but with this being one of his first jigs that he has tied I think he is on the right track and with this great info he will improve as all of us did.
I have one of the burners too but like y'all I don't use it on jigs :)
They look good for your first ones - one thing I've learned with bear hair whether it's black, brown or grizzly - tie in small clumps. Cut as close to the hide as you can get - measure for length then cut off more if needed by the original cut, hold it tight and use a small comb to get some of the underfur out of it (save the underfur you can use if for dubbing on flies and or trade it to fly tyers) and it makes it way easier to tie on your jig. I always tie it on about a 1/16th of an inch from the bottom of the jig head and this allows you to 1- clip any long hairs you missed and really makes for a nice clean collar. Really saves on having to use a burner.
Tying Polar Bear is another whole story!!!!!!!!!!
Keep em coming they get easier.
Polar Bear I have been told to use old Medical bottles from Rx, the large one and divide the different lengths in to their like sizes and use on different ties. Seems smart use and avoids waste since it such a high cost material.
Yeah either med bottles or a small tupperware container to hold it. I always make sure to keep any underfur it makes really nice fly bodies.