Float and Fly hair jigs

[Bterrill]

Hi, just cast up some 1/16th oz ball heads to tie Float and Fly hair jigs. Was wondering if there is any advice for tying these jigs. Or any online articles. I will be using craft hair and mallard feathers.

Thanks

B

[LedHed]

Try a word search for "tying jigs" - threads at the bottom are probably more helpful.

[BigTimeBuzzer]

Both materials are great for tyin' FNF's. I tied them most of the day yesterday and alternated between the two. As for patterns, just image the forage you are trying to mimic and go from there with your color choices. Most of all, Have Fun Tyin' & Then Catchin'....

[Bterrill]

Both materials are great for tyin' FNF's. I tied them most of the day yesterday and alternated between the two. As for patterns, just image the forage you are trying to mimic and go from there with your color choices. Most of all, Have Fun Tyin' & Then Catchin'....

How do you keep the craft hair from coming off while you tie?

[Mac10]

If the craft or natural hair is long enough, you can tie it on with an equal length sticking on the front and then after 4 wraps of thread, bend it back and wrap some more. This bent hair is locked in. If tying with bucktail hair which is thinner at the rear end of the fly, tie it on the jig with 4 wraps, cut off the front excess with a slanted cut by pulling the hair upright in front of the wraps, then cutting with the scissors slanted down so it's tapering the hair down towrard the ball head....then, apply some nail polish or head cement to the tapered hair and wrap with thread. This cementing will hold the hairs in place once the cement dries.

[Spike-A-Pike]

How do you keep the craft hair from coming off while you tie?

Bterrill,

Make sure you lay a good foundation before you actually apply the craft hair. Put some head cement down first, then a layer of sturdy tread, more head cement, then your craft hair, followed by more thread, and then, you guessed it, more head cement. Put several good half hitches to ready hold that thread to the jig before you cut it.

Bruce

[stream stalker]

I have never had any problems keeping craft hair on the jig. I just lay down some threads initially, add the craft hair and wrap. When the jig is completely done, I coat the threads with Hard as Nails.

[stream stalker]

Here are a few of mine. Not my best work but you can get the picture.

[Bterrill]

GREAT TIPS guys, that was the kind of stuff I was looking for! I'll post them up when I get rolling.

Thanks!

[Terry Anderson]

Take up golf!!!

[captsully18]

Bterrill, don't know how much you know about the float n fly (possibly more than I do) but you may want to check out Punisher jigs on Bass Pro site. Down here on Cumbereland and Dale Hollow these jigs are just about the only ones used. The dressing is somewhat sparse but pics will give you good idea of how they turn out. Some are mallard feathers, some are craft hair, and some are a combination of both. BTW, I have my best luck tying craft hair using Zap A Gap ca. cement instead of head cement. Dries quicker and bonds better.

David

[Bterrill]

Take up golf!!!

LOL, we don't want to unleash that on the golfing world now do we?

[Bterrill]

Bterrill, don't know how much you know about the float n fly (possibly more than I do) but you may want to check out Punisher jigs on Bass Pro site. Down here on Cumbereland and Dale Hollow these jigs are just about the only ones used. The dressing is somewhat sparse but pics will give you good idea of how they turn out. Some are mallard feathers, some are craft hair, and some are a combination of both. BTW, I have my best luck tying craft hair using Zap A Gap ca. cement instead of head cement. Dries quicker and bonds better.

David

Yep, I use a modified version for stream fishing.

[captsully18]

Hey B, those look great. You got it goin'your way for sure. Lots o' luck with 'em.

David

[Bterrill]

Hey B, those look great. You got it goin'your way for sure. Lots o' luck with 'em.

David

Thanks, may try them out tommorrow!

[Ogajiga]

I realize there are probably good reasons, so why build a wrap and cement foundation on the shank rather than using a collared jig head?

[captsully18]

Hawnjigs, this a much better base to hold feathers and/or craft hair. Helps to keep them in place 'til done.

David

[Pickerel Pete]

HAWNJIGS.

By using the jighead with out the collar it lets you tie more material on the hook shank giving a little fuller body on the jig.

Also with out the collar the head is a little larger giving a little different look to the jig and supposedly get a better hook up with the fish.

Steel headers here use a lot of this style with Maribou.

Hope this makes sense to you.

Garry.

[stream stalker]

I can't stand trying to tie a jig without a collar. Makes for a real mess. I will say again, I have never had any problem with keeping craft hair secured tightly?

[Pop]

When you ty a jig without a collar and build a collar with thread and tying cement you are actually putting on a collar with the thread, and the cement will hold the material better, but; it's not as thick as a lead collar. This will give you a neater finished collar and not come over the jig head which I think looks sloppy. There is no need to buy separate molds as the collar can easily be removed with the snippers for cutting off any flash. One other item, you will see alot of fnf jigs with aspirin heads. You can do this also with ball jigs. Before painting, just take a pair of pliers (smooth surface) and squeeze the sides of the ball jig, and you now have an aspirin jig head. Pop

[Mac10]

I make aspirin jigs by crimping splitshot onto jig hooks.....this is an inexpensive way to make the jigs. I start by squeezing from underneath to position the shot on the hook, then squeeze from the top down with the pliars to shut and seal the seam. I then use powder paint to finish the head. After curing in the oven, the paint holds the splitshot shut. Have never flung a shot off the hook and can vary the weights by using different size shot. New innovation....use some Bass Pro Shops Clam Shot...it's an oval splitshot and when compressed, makes a nice minnow shaped head for FnF and Swim Jigs too. Been using 1/0 Eagle Claw jighooks with the number 5 Clam shot, both from BPS.

[stream stalker]

Here are some fnf jigs I tyed up last night. They are tyed with primarily Arctic Fox tail, rather than with craft hair. The Arctic Fox tail gives the jig much more body and provides for a much slower fall below the float.

[Biscuit]

Hey John those are some nice looking jigs. I have a question how do you make the black bars on the jigs? Do you use a permanent marker?

[stream stalker]

You guessed it............permanent marker.

[Biscuit]

Thanks John, I am just starting up tying jigs and thanks to this site and members like you I am advancing quickly. Much appreciated.