Experimental and Opinions Acceptable

[Micanopy]

Please keep it up, Micanopy. These last photos look amazing - really nice.
Bob

Jungle Jim showed us exactly how to make these, however my results varied wildly. I still cannot determine exactly why these heads kind of did the effect. I went back and tried again and bam there it was. I have couple dozen solid grey heads from previous attempts.

My wife loved the Lizard Skin and wants to learn how to make them herself. Hah.....the addiction maybe contagious. I would love to get her to make me some m0re jig heads so I can play and experiment some more with rubber legs.


I am liking the twisted rubber leg sticking out the bck of my jigs, too. Very easy to manage, quick and simple. They do not require a bead but I feel they will give a better flip flop effect with it. Seems to me that rubber skirts can garner attention, a flipper thingie would as well. I also tried my hand at adding legs out the sides as if a creepy crawly bug thingie. Not too difficult.

My jig collection has grown to unmanageable levels and a distribution is needed. I poured about 30 Bat Jig heads yesterday to tie stuff onto. I like the shape of the head as it is a wedge and will swim better than a ball head. I also am using the larger sized heads lately because they will be pulled behind my planer boards. So 1/4 oz with a 2/0 Eagle Claw sickle. I also made a pile of smaller sized Bat Jig heads using the Whacky #6 hooks. These become very very short and with the wire keeper make a great match for my smaller soft plastic baits. I rigged up a few using Mr Crappie Shadpoles and they looked to be great matches and the rear end of the bait has freedom to get in on the action. Exactly what I was wanting. Longer shanked hooks lessen freedom, and too small doesn’t work. I plan to alter hooks to fit mold (seen here) and see what can be made doing that.

All in all my skill set is improving and even though perfect ties are a ways away for me, they will come eventually. I fiddle in the quiet of the early morning and it beats reading the news.

[GrumpyLoomis]

Those legs look good for sure.

[MCG1]

Maybe instead of a bead at the end of the twisted legs, try tying a knot? Less weight, maybe better action. Can paint that knot different colors with nail polish. I enjoy viewing your experiments. Thank you.

[skiptomylu]

It's just fun to do things a little different at times. I always just say enjoy!

Skip

[JUNGLEJIMJIGS]

The twisted rubber legs is something I've never seen or tried before but I think it's a winner, especially with the reptile rubber which is round rubber. When baking try a cold oven before turning on the heat and colors start coming through before it even reaches the desired setting, and never open the oven door until you are finished. I believe that opening the door while baking lowers the temperature and stops marbling of the heads. I'm addicted to painting these heads and the results are amazing now.

[Fridays86]

Very good! I look forward to seeing all of your experiments!

[Micanopy]

Alas......My problem centered around my ex wife and my daughter. Just kidding my oven was old. The new oven works so much better.

BTW- I put an oven thermometer inside the new oven and learned that the dial might say 300 degrees but the thermometer says 250. So I set the oven at 350 and end up at 300, but it takes it’s dear sweet time getting there and that has made all the difference. Painting the heads exactly the same way as before. Just as has been surmised in other threads, the trick is completely dependent upon the baking process. The silver wrinkle must be allowed to melt early on or else.

UV light yields.....Lizard Skin.



Now I need to figure a pattern to tie using these.

Thanks again Jungle Jim

[Micanopy]

C R E A T U R E

[DockShootinJack]

C R E A T U R E

A fella could wipe out the local bream population with those. They look awesome

[Micanopy]

The silicone material does not like to be twisted up. It does it but the middle jig with silicone legs looks odd afterwards. Best side legs though. Also the Living Rubber can be separated into single strands, as with the top jig, but double strands gives bigger look, jig just under it.

Been watching fly tying videos and picking up little hints and tricks and such. Obviously more materials will be useful but I am at the point where I want to be careful what I buy. No need for bags of stuff just laying about.

I have some feathers I got at the craft store and plan to play with them soon.

I have a chance to fish these rubber legged creatures soon and the fishing been tough lately. I am catching fewer and fewer each time. The jigs I made with spinners are working better than the soft plastic jigs.I can put spinners in front of these and may do just that using a plastic clevice that rides on the leader out ahead of the jig. Worried about making everything too big though.