Squirrel Tail Jigs

When I first starting tying, I mainly tied flies for trout; but where I live, there's not much need for trout flies!! So now I stick mainly to crappie, bass and some saltwater jigs. But when asked what was the first thing I ever tied.... it was the squirrel tail jig.

I was fishing the White River where it runs through Calico Rock, Arkansas. I kept watching this old man sitting down and delicately tying a squirrel tail jig (by hand no less!!) and it was beautiful! Needless to say I spent many days watching him tie those jigs. So one day I did it... I tied my own squirrel tail jig on the morning we were heading to Bull Shoals Lake. That jig was deadly to those crappie and I found my go-to jig that very day, although it took a few years for me to really realize that!!

A short while back one of our Crappie.com brethren posted that he had some squirrel tails. A short while later, some of those tails were at my home and on my desk. And soon... some jigs were being made!!

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...-tail-jigs.jpg

The top jig is tied on a 1/8 oz #4 bronze sickle hook. The head is Pro-Tec Ruby Slipper powder paint with white/blue eyes. The body is squirrel tail (fine North Carolina squirrel!!) tied down using lime green 3/0 thread and sealed with "Hard As Nails".

The bottom jig is tied on a 1/16 oz #4 bronze sickle hook. The head is Pro-Tec Ruby Slipper powder paint with white/blue eyes. Same squirrel tail tied down using neon tangerine 3/0 thread and sealed with "Hard As Nails".

I'm sure some of you love to tie up squirrel tail jigs so post them up and share some of the details!! We all love to see them!

That black hair jig I sent you was a Ms Delta black squirrel, 2nd cousin to a fox or red squirrel. Actually its the same squirrel, just has a black coat.

I thought that it was but just wasn't for sure... thanks for clarifying it!! I'll be sure and update my notes on that one!!

Good looking jigs there AW.

Nice jigs, the only problem I've ever found with squirrel tail is it's a bit slippery when your tying but once its on it's on.

Like that Ruby slipper powder paint

Fatman

Where do you get the pro-tec powder paint and the "hard as nails" sealer. I tie a few jigs the quality is no where near you all. I primarily use skeins of colored yarn from the hobby section of Wally Martaa for the body along with maribou or faux fur. They catch fish but dont look as refined as yours.

cricket george

love tree rat tail jigs...caught my biggest crappie to date on a 1/64 oz white head black thread and sq tail (black and white in color). It was just a wee bit over 3 lbs. I thought I had a largemouth bass...instead it was a largemouth crappie...lol

hard as nails is, sally hansens clear fingernail polish, found at walmart and kmart etc, they also have alot of other colors and the stuff is tuff and works well for the small quantity jig man. the pro tec powder is sold by many outfits, ( barlows etc. ) and another small business that I can't rememberrthe name of but he had all the colors and cheap too. you have to heat the jig head and then swish it thru the powder, it liquifies and then cools hard just that fast.

TJs has a good selection of Powder Paints and on his site you can view or download several Videos on "How To Powder Paint" it is worth your time to view these videos even if you have been Powder Painting for a while.

The little "Brim Jig" I made many years ago and have started back to making a few .. were first tied with Suirrel Tail and sold a bunch of them for a while. Gills really loved them .. it was a Winter time Pond special for me fishing it below a spin bubble.

As refered to earlier "Tree Rats" tails do make good fish catchers,

JSC

:)

wow...impressive...good job

A.W.

You are getting to be pretty good man. Nice job! I use hard as nails also.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shipahoy41

A.W.

You are getting to be pretty good man. Nice job! I use hard as nails also.

---

Hey bud!! Thanks so much!! I think it's important for folks to love to tie but, moreover, tie out of love! It never fails that when I'm tying up some squirrel tail jigs I lose a day cause I'm traipsing down Memory Lane!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ncnat

Good looking jigs there AW.

---

Thanks Nat! You made these possible my friend!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fatman

Nice jigs, the only problem I've ever found with squirrel tail is it's a bit slippery when your tying but once its on it's on.

Like that Ruby slipper powder paint

Fatman

---

Here's what I do..

I start up a base of thread and put juuuuuuust a dab of Hard As Nails on. I'll grab up the amount of squirrel tail that I want to use and split it into 3 smaller groups. Run 'em through my stacker and tie on the first small bunch... a tiny smidgen of Hard As Nails and then the next stack goes on underneath that top stack already on the jig. A smidgen more of Hard As Nails and the last stack of hair goes on (here's where I'll be a bit more strategic and place the hairs where they even out the body as much as possible). Put on the final wraps of thread... give her 2-3 whip finishes and snip off the thread. Then a final coating of Hard As Nails to ensure that the wraps are completely wet but not soaked and then let dry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cricket george

Where do you get the pro-tec powder paint and the "hard as nails" sealer. I tie a few jigs the quality is no where near you all. I primarily use skeins of colored yarn from the hobby section of Wally Martaa for the body along with maribou or faux fur. They catch fish but dont look as refined as yours.

cricket george

---

For the Hard As Nails it's as close as your neighborhood department store. The cashier at Wal-Mart looked at me a bit strangely when all I laid down was three bottles of Hard As Nails. I smiled and said, "These help cause my nails are soft!" (hahahaha)

For the Pro-Tec powder paint, I go to my main supplier Barlow's Tackle Shop (http://www.barlowstackle.com).