Am I getting any better

Here are a couple that I tied,they aren't as pretty as most on here but I think they will work. Attachment 193769Attachment 193770Attachment 193772

They will catch fish and to me that's what's important

Pretty is as pretty does, and they pretty. They look good to me. Watch a couple of videos and use some bead chain and put some eyes on one or two. Something new to fool with cheap.

Those will catch fish. Like that patriotic one.

Look pretty good to me.

where I have trouble is the rubber sticks up after I put my first wraps of thread on, so I just trim them down and then continue wrapping but sometimes I cant get the rubber completely covered. Is that that way to do it or am I messing up somewhere along the line.

Try this and see if it will help you any.
Tie in the rubber near the head end of the hook first then pull slightly on the rubber as you finish wrapping the thread to the hook point (where I stop the bodies). Let off the rubber then finish building up the thread body. Be sure to cover "all" the material at the body. This will give you a nice finish look to your tyes.

What Stump said. Rubber is like deer hair in that the tighter you pull the more it flares. I tie mine tight near the head to make sure it holds firm and then back off enough to let it lay the way I like it, which is just a little flare. Covering the rubber can be frustrating but you'll get it down soon. Some small tying yarn could also be used to cover and create a head of sorts. Even some of the Wife's embroidery floss has worked for me when I was foolin with them.

thanks, I know the fish probably don't care but I want them to look nice.

Lookin good! You doing good buddy keep it up.

These Gnats will do well especially with a minnow attached. The guy that ties them a lot on here is Donnie on the MS board and advertises on the member sponsor board. Here on CDC he goes by Donald@CrappieLogic and here is a link to one of his ads on the Gnats!

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/-memb...0-packs-gnats/

Look good. Stump is spot on with getting the stray ends covered. The more you tie the better they'll look, but the fish should jump on them now!!