New to Jig Tying! Help!

Good morning! I am in the process of getting material to start learning to tie my own crappie jigs. But, like most hobbies it's a bit overwhelming. Trying to figure out what thread to use. Chenilles, Feathers, Synthetics, Flash, Fur, etc. Then there is all the different sizes. Will mostly make 1/32, 1/16, & 1/8 oz. I need some basic go to material. Marabou size? What other tail material works well? Flash? Chenille size? Possibly sites beside YouTube that can help explain all these materials. Thanks

I'm sure some of the pros on here will respond . a good start go to woods and waters most everything you need to start tying and very fast shipping ,great place .I'm new to tying but I highly recommend them .

Assuming you only asking about materials here, in the size jigs you mentioned a Medium chenille works great. Thread size, starting out, till you learn tension control, I would recommend 140 or 210 denier thread. Remember, the larger the thread, the faster it will build up. Feathers, I use neck hackle and saddle hackle. Starting out, I would stay with the strung stuff, just stitched together, and smaller amounts. Marabou, just regular Marabou. Flash, well that to me is personal taste. I would pick a style of jig, that's head body and tail, and stick with it. Tie it a bunch of times, and get it to a level of perfection you want, before jumping to the net style. Colors can run the gambit, what ever you can dream up. I will say this much right here, and it's not to scare you, just give you a heads up. This stuff adds up real fast. Worse than grocery shopping for sure...just sayin'. Hope this was a help for you. Also, I'm no Professional tyer, just a hobbyist tyer who's been here a couple years. Good luck and enjoy the addiction.

I liked tying jigs, I moved out of my house into my RV and now all my stuff is in storage. I need to figure something out.....

Grey Ghost is a popular pattern. Maybe get the materials for that to start with. Try to get to the point where you can tie 6 jigs that are exactly the same size
Good luck, it is fun.

I will provde a list for you.

1. Thread 140 or 210 flat wax thread in black and white.
2. Two bobbins with ceramic tips
3. Whip finishing tool
4. Chenille size medium and large
5. Vice Peak & Renzetti are the most common. If you want save a few bucks the Griffin Spider is a good option. I like a vice with a rotating head (it's personal preference)
6 Tail material Marabou and Hackle. I personally like hackle because it is easier to work with.
7. Flash/Tinsel is pretty straight forward. Get the colors you like.
8. Small scissors cheap works fine but get a pair with a pointed tip. I get the ones that come with the small a grooming kit.
9. Bottle of Sally Hanson hard as nails polish. I use this to seal my thread and attach eyes to my jig heads.

My advice is not to get cheap chenille and hackle because it will show in your work. For me the hardest thing to learn when tying jigs is how to use a whip finisher. Takes a few tries but once you get it down you will be able to do it in your sleep. Woods and Water has everything you need for good prices. Patrick ships everything the sameday if you make the purchase during business hours. He even offers jig heads and paint for them if need it. I find tying jigs to be rewarding.

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Originally Posted by gridiron

Good morning! I am in the process of getting material to start learning to tie my own crappie jigs. But, like most hobbies it's a bit overwhelming. Trying to figure out what thread to use. Chenilles, Feathers, Synthetics, Flash, Fur, etc. Then there is all the different sizes. Will mostly make 1/32, 1/16, & 1/8 oz. I need some basic go to material. Marabou size? What other tail material works well? Flash? Chenille size? Possibly sites beside YouTube that can help explain all these materials. Thanks

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I tie my tails with crystal flash and rarely some sili legs, I used UV Mottled Chenille and some single color chenille, I love to twist my chenille to make certain colorations


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Might as well sell your house as a start....you will use the money. This so addictive....once your are hooked ...you can;t stop. Ask any one of us and we buy enough to last 10 life times. Don't get me wrong...I love it. Seriously, look on ebay at someone who is trying to sell off and you can get everything you need cheap as a starter.

anyone who knows me knows I have a lot of stuff!! LOL These are 38 gallon totes and this isn't all of it!!Attachment 481860

Yeh...but you love it Fatman. :biggrin

Oh yeah!! It's nice not to have to worry about it!!

I have a ton of stuff I used for tying trout fishing flies and am somewhat of a purist for that. Haven't gotten into tying fancy jigs but find the marabou does great.

Would tie and fish brown, green, yellow, black marabou jigs - not with chenille but just marabou at the jig head - works great under a cork. Lotsa motion down there.