Advice needed

[Joey Clark]

Hey guys just ordered a vice and tool kit. I have been interested in learning how to tie my own jigs. But I have absolutely no clue where to start on materials. I have read a lot of the post on here but I'm still lost. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance this site is awesome for learning the sport of crappie fishing.

[QPassage]

I started out tying hair jigs. Basically deer tails, thread and flashabou. If you start this way I would probably look at buying a group of different tail peice colors on ebay. I found it is a very addictive hobby. I started out with reg thread from walmart but quickly found I needed the other after testing and the cheap thread swells and comes apart. If you start with deer tails buy yourself a couple spools of 210 denier fly tying thread. As you tie you will find you will become interested in trying something different and that's where you will learn to tie other things.
I moved from deer hair jigs to using duck mixing the 2. Then started in with adding chenille and other things. I found as I moved into things like beaver hair, rabbit , and arctic fox it not only became a need for using those but as well a need for having several different colors and so on. It's very easy to one one wake up and wonder where all this stuff came from

[kickingback]

I started with a $20 vice, a spool of black 120 denier thread, a finishing loop tool, some black medium or #5 chenille, and chartreuse short feather marabou. I got all my supplies from online. MANY stores out there. Just buy where you feel comfortable and don't buy too much at first. Tie some and see if you like it. Then you can buy more as needed. Careful as you will spend a lot!!!
I now have drawers full of many color chenille and another drawer full of marabou, hackle, flash, and skirts. One other drawer is full of jig heads. I would say I have about $500 worth of supplies now. I still use the same $20 vice!!

[Fatman]

check out this thread getting started http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-t...m/49489-tying/

Determine what you THINK you want to tie and buy supplies for those to start and then branch out from there. I started tying bucktail jigs in the 70's for my Uncle and his friends then in the 90's went to strictly fly tying and came back to jigs also so I have stuff for both and they can be used for both.

Enjoy and welcome to the madness!!

[skeetbum]

We all do things a bit different, so there are no hard and fast rules for this. What appeals to you is what you will follow. You've probably been around enough to have an idea of what you want to try. If you decide on hair there are many kinds from super soft to stiff and it all behaves and ties just a little different. The fun is learning how they act and how to make them turn out like you want. This is where you will begin talking to yourself. 2 tools that I feel you shouldn't skimp on are bobbins(I have 4) and a Materelli whip finisher. The others you will get in a kit or upgrade as you go. The bobbins need to have a ceramic bead in the tip to cut down on abrasion and keep from breaking the thread. The cheaper ones without the bead wear quickly and will break thread regularly, this is super frustrating. You'll begin having a fun time and catching fish with your own jigs and a few years from now you'll be teaching folks too. Keep us posted.......

[Joey Clark]

Thanks for all the replies. When I get my first one tied up I will post it. If I can ever learn exactly how to add pics to this site. Again thanks for all the advice

[skiptomylu]

Sorry to be slow, but have been out of town for a few days.

Hey telling someone what kind of materials is kind of an individual thing, but most will tie either hair or feathers, personally I like feathers best and I tie both. Probably 95% are feathers the last 10 years, but some like hair better and that is what they use. I know hair like Kip Tail can be really good especially early spring in my experience. Just tie what you like to fish with for a start. If it's feathers, get some Strung Neck Hackle and if marabou get some Strung Blood Quills and get after it. Maybe you want chenille or maybe not depending on what you want to tie???

[Joey Clark]

Thanks skip. I like the mylar jigs and feather with some flash in it.

[skiptomylu]

Just look at all the supplies out there and see what you like, but check all the places we have posted links to in the sticky post at the top of the page for materials.........
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-t...s-start-tying/

When you see jigs you like, ask what they used to make them.