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Here is my first jig. I powder coated the jigs last night and just got one tied up. I plan on getting a few more cranked out today and will post up some more pics.
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...psguwocait.jpg
I already trimmed my thread on that one. I think I made the tail a little long. Any thing else I should do to improve these style jigs? I have a pretty tough hide and can take any input:biggrin
Thanks in advance
Personally I think the tail is just like it should be. I know lots of guys like shorter tails, but I like them a little long and don't have any trouble catching crappie! Hard to tell on the picture, but did you pull off all the feathers off the stem to tie it in? If not that is best way and I only use a small % of tips of marabou on my jigs, but save the tips for other things later on, like maybe some really small jigs?? Jig looks great for a first!
Also on Photobucket if you pick the bottom link to copy and paste here the picture will show up here and not have to have another tab open to go to Photobucket.
Also just FYI. I use a wood toothpick to get some of the paint out of the eye right after I dip it. I keep them to use over and over because I usually have to whittle the point down some. Also if it still has too much and closes during the cure, then I will use a thin needle bodkin and heat it up, stick it through to melt the paint out, clean up with thumb nail.
your jig looks good for the first one .
I did just remove the stem from the jig. I have tied a few more and they are definitely coming along nicely. The paint in the eye was definitely my fault. I was in a rush last night and pretty much said it was going to work for this batch.
Thanks for the tips guys I will definitely take them to heart!
Lets see if this pic works...
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...pstpyur2ly.jpg
I will put up a few more this afternoon after I get them tied up!
Looks good! I would fish with it! It will catch crappie for sure!!
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps2ogojhtq.jpg
Here is the first batch...I better go to some field testing!
Those should get you some
Good looking first ties. Although a like mine with fewer feathers, sometimes more can be better.
PC, try holding hook eye with forceps or needle nose to keep it clean while dipping/coating
start playing the dusting a second color on, those shaded jigs seemt to outperform single color jigs
play around with some chenilles for body material or even use hackle and wrap a nice clean body
Good start to tying, all look nice.
Good looking jigs for first efforts. All good suggestions for improvement. One I will tell you works for me is a variant of what some call a Gray Ghost. Bare lead head, black body and gray tail. A black head with a light dusting of white on what will be the underside is another good addition. A strip or two of flash and it's a real winner. Have fun, you're already doing well.
My tackle tray is filling up nicely with some decent jigs...there were definitely some "moments of learning", but so far I think in the past week my skills have come a long way. I really need to get the boat out this weekend and test out some of my new creations! Thanks for the help guys!
Nice ties. Looks good and they should hunt just fine.
Well I have definitely got the bug now! I am going to have to figure out a way to organize all of my supplies, sitting in a box is not the easiest way to find my stuff! I will be casting some 1/16th and 1/32nd oz jigs in the next few days.
Here is a pic of my tray all filled up, I started with 25 1/80th, 1/64th, and 1/32nd oz jigs with most tied up. I had a student take a few last week and he tried them out over the weekend and said he caught some specs with them, so something is working! The three on the lid are 1/16th oz ones I tied up, that pattern should be killer on perch, smallies and maybe a few eyes this fall.
Thanks again for the help guys!
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...pszpdyjxnq.jpg
The more you tie, them more you will want to tie and the more you see new from materials. the more materials you will have, LOL!
Oh this I know! My girlfriend asked why I wasn't keeping some feathers from the doves and pigeons we shot this weekend...it hadn't crossed my mind. I passed on them, but will be keeping woodduck, mallard, turkey and pheasant feathers this fall, not to mention a few squirrel and bucktails...I am going to need some serious organization. What have I gotten myself into?!?Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
Make sure to check the laws on using different kinds of birds, some will be fine, but some not so much and some absolutely don't even pick one up off the ground, like the Eagles feathers, not to pick up at all ever unless you are one of the few in the country that is allowed. Song birds is out even if just found in yard. Some like Jungle Cock only the ones that have passed through what ever legal things there are should be bought. There are some that don't take the proper road here and they are not for us. These are just examples and you should probably just take a look at the game rules a bit, bit most of what you talk about is fine!Quote:
Originally Posted by TeamAsgrow
I have looked into this before. If I legally shoot a duck, say a mallard or wood duck, I can use the feathers from that bird for my personal use as I see fit. I think that if I tried to sell those feathers or products with those feathers is where I could get into a bit of a bind. Since I wont be selling any of my jigs I should be fine...I may just wind up with tons and tons of jigs!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by skiptomylu
Thanks again for the heads up.
Looks pretty good to me!
Nice looking ties, you should join our jig swap. Great opportunity to fine tune your skills as well as see some outstanding examples of other peoples work
here is the link to save you time searching
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-s...p-outside-box/
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeamAsgrow
You're a natural. ANDhighly productive. I cant do but 5 or six complete jigs in a sitting. I get bored. What's your motivation?
Field testing is mine and your field testing should be sweeeeeet from the look if your work.
I am a teacher, and at the end of each day we have a time dedicated to work on projects that interest us, teachers and students. I have always wanted to learn to tie, so I thought this would be the perfect time to learn. I have about half a dozen testers that rummage through the trays and I let them take 2 jigs, if they catch fish they have to bring me pics of what they catch and report which ones work the best. It is like I have my own Junior Pro Staff!!! I just need to find time to do my own testing!