How to Build a Tougher Jig??

I think there a lot of reasons for tying your own jigs. Color selection, better hooks, and curing the aggravation of "unraveling". I think I tie a tough, durable jig. I believe a tight wrap and most importantly a good finish tie-off with good thread. I glue the knots with a little water based cement and have never had a problem. However, I tied up some RoadRunner type jigs for a buddy who fishes for White Bass and I actually put a little glue along the thread where I wrapped the hook before attaching tail and body materials. He said they nearly wore the blades out, but the jigs stayed together.

Anyone do anything special that you feel makes your jigs a little tougher?

I glue my starting wrap as well. Works great specially on those nasty bluegill

Coat the head with Epoxy.

JSC

I glue my start and wet tie out on My collars.

i dont use glue but put in 2 knots 2 wraps 2 knots 2 wrap 3 knots to finsh off my tie...i used 1 marabou jig so long last summer they ate the tail off of it and it never came apart...but i tie big jigs(1/2oz)i might coat the neck in some clear finger nail polish....but dont really tie anything over 1/8

Depends on the kind of jig I am tying, ball head or Roadrunner and then even what kind of materials I am using makes a big difference in mine. Example when I make my new bunny jigs I super glue the spot where I tie in the zonker and then the crosscut rabbit and finish with a whip finish as usual and then that last drop of thinned home made head cement.

Other jigs have other things I do as I don't use super glue for any other jigs.

Skip

My marabou must be old, because most of mine gets nipped off. Wraps stay together, but the marabou nips off. Aggrivating. I think that's the main reason Ive switched to primarily kip tail. I still tie marabou, but mostly use it in black. I think Im going to try a side by side comparison to see how much difference it makes I know marabou is more fluid like in the water and better action, but I love how bright and strong that kiptail is. I wouldnt say I do anything to make them more durable than anybody elses. I generally don't worry over it too much, because I generally loose em before they can get too worn out.

That being said, what's clear coat to put over a head to protect them?

I finish off all of my thread with a little bit of glue sometimes i will put on a second coat dont know if it acctually helps but makes me feel better....

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Originally Posted by TreednNC

My marabou must be old, because most of mine gets nipped off. Wraps stay together, but the marabou nips off. Aggrivating. I think that's the main reason Ive switched to primarily kip tail. I still tie marabou, but mostly use it in black. I think Im going to try a side by side comparison to see how much difference it makes I know marabou is more fluid like in the water and better action, but I love how bright and strong that kiptail is. I wouldnt say I do anything to make them more durable than anybody elses. I generally don't worry over it too much, because I generally loose em before they can get too worn out.

That being said, what's clear coat to put over a head to protect them?

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Try hackle tails, they will still be a feather and are a little tougher than marabou, but I have not noticed a problem with my marabou getting nipped off. Maybe it's because I lose them before that happens, I don't know that, but I do know marabou is great for action.

Now if you want something though and still have a lot of what makes marabou great then get your self some Arctic Fox. I know it's not cheap selling by the Sq. Inch, but it's nice. Even Craft Fur would have more action than kips tails.

I think this next order I am going to try out what they call Pseudo marabou and Pseudo hair to see how much I like it. I will let you all know what I think of it in the next couple of weeks.

SKip

skip i have tons of pseudo new in the pack i will give to you for free if you pay the $4 for shipping i hate that stuff way to clumpy for my taste...doesnt look very good but they do have some nice bright colors

[QUOTE=skiptomylu; Maybe it's because I lose them before that happens
SKip[/QUOTE]
Same here Skip.

I've been doing the head cement thing and use extra knots - depending on the jig and number of materials, I've tied off some on each change of materials....the knot I use is the half hitch (haven't mastered the whip finish yet), or sometimes 2-3 overhand knots if I've broken the thread. I try to seal all knots w/ head cement.

UG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Uncle Grump

I've been doing the head cement thing and use extra knots - depending on the jig and number of materials, I've tied off some on each change of materials....the knot I use is the half hitch (haven't mastered the whip finish yet), or sometimes 2-3 overhand knots if I've broken the thread. I try to seal all knots w/ head cement.

UG

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UG I make my own head cement with Lacquer and thinner and I like it on the thin side so it soaks in very fast and does not leave a hard spot at all. Never had any trouble, but I do use a whip finish and once you learn that tool will make it easy and pretty much as fast as anything else.

Have been told use the double hitch and it is faster, but I doubt that it can be much faster than when I use a whip finish tool. The only down side is you have to take the time to pick the tool up and pit it back down.

Skip