Tying Marabou Jigs

[Bad cast]

I don't know if this is the right forum but I know alot of you guys tie your own. I have tied flies and crappie jigs for years but having trouble tying trout jigs. Is there a trick to keeping the collar small. I,ve tried the Pinch and the whole feather then trim still big and ugly. Maybe Im a little anal, they still catch fish but they are ugly. Any suggestions. One thing I've noticed most of the jigs I see at Phil's place are tied with round head jigs, and I use ball head jigs. Also my collars are to long, not to fat. I want a shorter segment from head to body.

Randy

[Randall]

This would be better in the fly tying part, but no worries.

Try fewer thread wraps and make them tight... really bind it down so it won't pull out. If you're worried that you're not getting enough of the feather tied in, build a one or two wrap thread base to create friction between the marabou and the feather and/or apply a small drop of zap-a-gap so it won't pull out.

Btw... you're from St. Clair? You know a guy named Matt Bethel?

[Bad cast]

This would be better in the fly tying part, but no worries.

Try fewer thread wraps and make them tight... really bind it down so it won't pull out. If you're worried that you're not getting enough of the feather tied in, build a one or two wrap thread base to create friction between the marabou and the feather and/or apply a small drop of zap-a-gap so it won't pull out.

Btw... you're from St. Clair? You know a guy named Matt Bethel? If its who I think it is my son played football together with him when St Clair went to state. Both of them RB and LB. I think Mat went to MO Valley.

Thanks for the tip.

Randy

[Gavin]

Heres a trick for marabou, bucktail or similar materials...measure the material, and cut it to length from the butt end before you tie it in...If you trim the butts after you tie it on, you end up with a big jig collar or a fat head. Cheers.

[Thom]

Heres a trick for marabou, bucktail or similar materials...measure the material, and cut it to length from the butt end before you tie it in...If you trim the butts after you tie it on, you end up with a big jig collar or a fat head. Cheers.

Gavin tip is a great starter for clean jigs. Also run your thread around the cut end near the eye two turns loosely then pull straight down hard and pinch those turns with your thumb and forefinger tightly then run several more turns up over the end and to the eye. You will find that this will keep the maribou in place and make a nice clean head for glueing and staying put.

[Phil Lilley]

Yea- never trim marabou after it's been tied on with scissors - you can pinch the ends off though.

Thom's tip is what I use.

Less marabou is better than too much.

[Rolan Duffield]

Depending on the size of the jig, use 8/0 thread for the small jigs up to about 1/64 and 6/0 thread size on the larger jigs. This helps to minimize the fat heads.

Rolan

[Randall]

Thanks for the tip.

Randy

That's him... he went to Central Methodist... he's one of my fraternity brothers

[Bad cast]

Yep CMC is where he went. Small world Randall. My son said he working with he dad, I haven't seen Mat for acouple years.

[Bad cast]

Thanks for the help guys, I've been using danvilles 210 for my jigs because I thought 6/0 would not hold up but I'll give it a try.

Randy