Printable View
New to jig tying and also to this forum. My question is as follows. I am loving kiptail as a tail material, my dilemma is the amount of waist. I am tying 1/8 oz jigs with #2 hooks. Once im a third of the way down on my kiptail the hair is too short, Is there a alternative i can try so i'm not wasting so much material?
I have never tied any kip tail on jigs that large and especially that large of a hook. Almost all the ones I tied were using g a 1/16 Oz head and a #6 Sickle hook. Here is a pic of the first two I ever tied and on samples of the heads I used. Had a guy make the mold for the head and make the heads for these jigs. I got this head made from some copying heads some guys from Louisiana sent me to see if I could make some for them. Their guy had quit tying so got these heads made and then tied them a lot of jigs.
I never have some #2 Sickles on 1.8 Oz heads, but would tie some other material on a hook that large. Maybe try some fox or Squirrel tail?
Skip
Attachment 385989
The longer hair on the tail is for larger jigs, the shorter down the tail for 1/32 or smaller.
That said, if you are only tying larger jigs, perhaps you can trade your short-haired kip tails with someone that only tyes small jigs, or sell them off to recoup some funds.
I always put a lot of hair on my jig's tails, but was surprised to see how small an amount of hair is used on commercially tyed jigs. I don't know if it's economics or the correct way. This company is 40+ years in business and has always sold the kiptail jigs. They use about the amount of hair that I drop.
Sent from my SM-T580 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Most jigs and flies are tried with using less, think going by the old saying less is more? Sometimes the less hair or feathers will allow for more action than if filled up with as much material as you can.
Skip
I have toned it down a lot since looking at the commercial stuff. Previously, my jigs may have attained neutral buoyancy from all the material.
Here is a photo of some of the commercial kiptail, albeit in 1/16, along with a 1/8 that I tyed in the new slimmed down version on the right.
Attachment 385996
Sent from my SM-T580 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
As already said, I also use a minimalistic approach to kip after tying them for a few years. I was given some at the ramp once that had no more than 15 hairs on them, and they worked as he said they did. I was very surprised. I think that too much kip actually cuts down on the action as the hair doesn’t have room to move, and it doesn’t move much in the first place, compared to other hair. I would tie a smaller jig to use the shorter hair, or find a shorter shank hook to use the same weight maybe. The fish will tell you.
Well let me tell you a true story It was 2010 early March, I had no faith in kiptail jigs, but someone wanted them, I would tie them. After getting the guy to make a mold from the head sent to me by they guys he sent me these two heads as samples. So I tied them like you see above and went down to my bank not knowing if crappie were in yet or not, just thought I would see if anything would hit these. As I stepped to the bank which had a lot of wood and other junk lining the bank from high water I saw a spot and put it in right there. Had the jig maybe 12” above the jig and the spot was maybe 2 feet off the bank. After just a few seconds I saw what I thought a better looking spot just a short distance from where it was so I lifted it out to move, but as soon as it reached the top of the water I saw a gold color flash under it so I put it right back in. Just a few minutes later I had 3 crappie with the shortest one at 14”. Well that was the end of my skepticism, lol!
Anyway I tell you this so you can see this small 1/16 oz head with short kiptail and small hook will absolutely catch big crappie!
Skip
Try some craft fur for longer fibers.
I'd use Arctic Fox for larger jigs but don't use as much, craft fur will also work. Squirrel would be a crap shoot as it would depend on the tail. Coyote might work also.
Coon tail might work too.
each kiptail will have several lengths of hair suitable for different sized jigs. I used to cut the tail in pieces with a side cutter, and have a gallon ziplock bag to store the short hair butt ends etc. I love kiptail but my nerve disease has messed up my hands so much that I can't much handle it any more.
Sorry to hear that about your nerve issue, I worry about my hands in the future due to arthritis and Corpal Tunnel issues, but so far can still tie.Quote:
Originally Posted by redear
Skip
Y’all hush. I’ve noticed the changes in myself also. Some Arthur but upper back starts to spasm if I don’t sit right. What little time I get on the vise now, I’ll just take the punishment. Hands OK so far.
I did tie some 1/8's a while ago and got it done for a friend and just maybe with some experimentation hopefully can come up with a way to do it again. thinking about doing more of the size 10 crystal chenille jigs as they would be easier to tie. Skip's style of jig, they sho are pretty too.
That stuff is easy to tie and look good. Best part is that large Mylar is soft and when wet it lays back and makes a beauty of a body.Quote:
Originally Posted by redear
Skip
Wow, I thought I was hurting, I fell off a ladder to concrete, broke my clavicle, damaged rotator cuff and banged my head pretty good. It is amazing what I lost temporarily. No tying, no fishing or even get in the boat. Also a whole host of other thing like trying to type. Hang in there guys, hopefully this all temporary.
Hate to hear that. That sounds painful! Hope you get better soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrumpyLoomis