Suggest you check out the First Cast Jigs site and perhaps e-mail Mark Anderson.

 

Marabou and Schlappen are similar materials to work with and the same technique should work on both. I think using a fly tying vise would make things a lot easier. Get some fly tying thread in similar colors of the schlappen to wrap the schlappen on the jig hook, place some head cement on the wrap, and adorn with beads, painted jig head, etc. A couple strands of krystal flash adds a nice finish to a jig.

 

jig tying techniques are simplified versions of tying flies

this website shows an example of how to wrap feathers around a hook.

http://www.tie1on.net/dryhw.htm

If you search google under "wrap hackle" you will get a lot of hits with photos

good luck

 

An Ifisher (Willow Drifter?) recently posted instructions in the Ifish "Tech Tips and Keepers" Forum . Has nice photos too. Look for the thread is titled "Steelhead Jig Tying Instructions" (or something very similar).

 

Although marabou and schlappen have similar action in the water, I don't think you tie them to a hook the same at all. Granted I'm a novice tier, but here is my experience so far.

Marabou you remove from the stem and tie. Schlappen you tie the stem to the hook, then spin or palmer it like you would a regular hackle. I trim off the thickest part of the stem, and then I only spin the bottom third of the feather before I tie it off and start a new one. The bottom part of the schlappen is bushy like marabou, the top part is not (more barbules ? )

 

Otolith,

you can "palmer" marabou as well as cut off clumps to tie in, just like a hackle feather. First tie in the stem. Next, find the 'tip' and hold it FIRMLY. Now start wrapping. Hope that helps. It makes an awesome fly and looks killer behind a pegged corky when drift fishing.

Ed

 

Otolith You can wrap marabou just like schlappen it makes the flies have a large profile. I love the way it moves in the water.Juat remeber when buing marabou always chekc and make sure the stems are not to stiff it will not wrap right. Tie on the end and wrap forward. rp

 

Thanks for the tips Ed and Ryan. I tried to spin a marabou feather but the fibers didn't open up and spread out for me like a hackle they just wrapped around the hook with the stem. I must have been doing something wrong. I'll have to try it again.

 

If you know someone who subscribes to Salmon Trout Steelheader, there's an article in the Aug/Sep 2003 issue with step-by-step photos on how to tie Schlappen Jigs.

 

I think the tutorial from Willow Drifter on the ifish tech page shows how to do it best.

I tie the schlappen feathers the same as marabou by wrapping or palmering them.

Mark

 

How do these look