need help on tying jigs

[spare link]

I am new to tying jigs and dont know a thing. I need some [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] ! I have a vise, marabou, schlappen, danvilles flat waxed nylon, yarn, jigs, bobbin, hackle pliers, bodkin, scissors. Do I need any thing else? If you know of and web site that might help or a step by step book, or even a movie please let me know. I would be very greatful.

thanx,
spare link

[SSPey]

I would recommend that you go to your local library and check out a book on fly tying with step-by-step pictures. Everything you ever wanted to know about tying jigs will be in there, plus enough other stuff for you to add your own personal touch. Its important to build good technique and a sense of proportions. And remember that "less is more" when it comes to tying in materials.

Many jigs are basically two schlappen hackles tied in together, tip first, and then wound together and tied off. Pretty simple, and deadly.

Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple by Skip Morris is a goodie for starters. The Nymph manual by Randall Kaufmann is also very good. There are many many others, so just leaf through them and find one that you like. I think that its best to avoid books published prior to 1980, since they usually lack good clear step-by-step instructions. Your library probably even has videos, too.

have fun!

[ampersat]

I was once like you: I was given a quite nice vise and no idea what to do with it. I bought a bobbin and hackle pliers to go along with it. Although I own a fly rod I rarely use it. My main interest was with jigs. My first jigs were very ugly "Uncle Walt" knockoffs. I searched online and this is what I found.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/beginners/
This site gives you all the basic techniques of tying flies. All a jig is is a fly tied onto a hook with extra weight added. Actually, with the surge of interest in jigs, a lot of fly fishers are turning to using an indicator (float) with a barbell weighted fly (jig).

I'm still tying jigs (in fact, just did one minutes ago) and I'm doing it a lot better than I did last year and the year before. Believe Floatnfish: less is more. This year's focus is on making the jigs smaller and believe it or not it's really hard to do. Tie jigs, fish them, then cut them apart to get your hook and basics back so you can tie more.

[greenbuttskunk]

I have a system that works really well and is fast. I have a jig supplier in wisc. and buy about 100 at a time in assorted colors I like. They are pre-painted and cheap. Maybe first cast jigs sells jig heads too, if so that's the way to go. I buy a bag of translucent red/orange beads and drill out the holes just big enough so they can slide over the bend in the hook shank.
Then I take the maribou (hot pink) and a dash of white, plus a few strands of crystal flash or whatever you want to use and I wet the ends and roll with my fingers to form a point. Then slide it into the one or two beads you've put on the jig and add some crazy glue. Sets up nice and very quick. Having a fly tying vise helps to hold the jig correctly. just experiment until you get the hang of it. I like a pearl pink head and hot pink marabou, with a little white, plus two beads. They work great for me, and can be tied super cheap.
GBS

[fishin]

Be sure to get good hooks. Most of the commercially available leadhead hooks are for bass fishing and use light wire hooks. It's no fun having fish pop off because the hook gave out.
O'Shaunessy style are the least expensive, Owner and Gammie both have a good heavy wire hook.

It's lots of fun trying to find that combo that will catch all the fish.

[C-lice]

I agree that good hooks are important. I pour my own so I can get what I want. Send me your address and I'll mail you a dozen or so.

There are two ways, as far as I know, to make non-bead bodied or chenille bodied jigs--palmered (with the Schlappen or marabou) where you tie the feather to the hook behind the head and wind it around the hook, and "regular" (for lack of a better word) like Bradbury's and Uncle Walt's are.

With Palmered I like to tie the feathers in by the stem from the bottom of the feather (the end toward the bird). Tie in the stem about 3/4 of the way toward the head, then take your hackle pliers and grasp the feather by the tip (the end away from the bird) and wind forward. You'll use 2-4 feathers per jig, probably.

With Regular I like to tie the marabou feather to the hook immediately behind the jighead. I don't trim the feather until AFTER I tie it in--you get more plumes from each feather that way. My preference is to put the jighead in the vise with the eye pointing down, tie two feathers on the top side, then turn the jighead so the eye is pointing up and tie two more feathers on the same side as the point and the eye . Use lots of thread--there's nothing wrong with a bulky "neck".

Also, there is no real reason to paint the heads. There is certainly no harm in it, but I don't believe the fish care a bit. It's just one extra step.

The best glue I've found is Quik Tite. It's a superglue that comes on a brush-on bottle like nail polish. It works best for me.

[FishSniffer]

C-Lice

Where does one find this QuikTite glue?

Thanks

[C-lice]

I get it from the office supply section at Wal-Mart. It's with the other "super glues".