Griffin Enterprises

Just wanted to give a shout out to Griffin Enterprises of Kalispell, MT.  I like companies that stand by their products.  Griffin is definitely one of them.

I use a 14-year old Griffin Superior 3ARP vise regularly.  More than my other two vises.  It's very dependable.  But like anything else, it wears with lots of use.  Man, have I used it.  It's without a doubt the most versatile and useful vise that I own.

Recently, I cracked a small adjustment knob/screw on the vise jaws.  I then contacted Griffin about it and now have a replacement for it just three days later.  I wasn't charged for the part or its shipping.  They've sent me o-ring replacements for my vise jaw assembly in the past too, free of charge.

Customer service lives.  Griffin is a great company.

Larger Tail Spinners

Tied these on jigs weighing 1/4 of an ounce.  My paint is a mixture of powders that form a color called 'rum raisin'.  The hooks are size 1/0.

More Tail Spinners

I've always had reasonable success with brown-colored baits for smallmouth bass, so I tied the tail spinners pictured below.  Each weighs 1/4 of an ounce and has a #1 bronze hook.  Their red eyes are made with fabric paint.  A bulky brownish chenille yarn covers the hook shanks.  'Root Beer'-colored flash is added to the jig bodies, just ahead of their golden #2 Colorado blades.

The swivel, split ring, and blade assembly clips onto the back of each jig.  It is easily removed and replaced by a feathered or fur-covered treble or single hook.

These are very fun to tie.

Clear Water Tail Spinners

Created some black and white-colored fabric paint eyes for larger jigs, so I decided to paint and tie 1/4-oz. tail spinners.  Used a gray powder mix to paint the heads.  The bodies are tied with gray-colored chenille yarn.  Each jig has a bronze #1 hook.

I plan to fish them in rivers when or where the water is clear and longer casts are necessary to avoid spooking fish.

Chartreuse Jigs For Bass And Panfish

Made a nice craft fur find at a local fabric store recently which inspired me to do some tying.  The fur is a fluorescent chartreuse color that seems comparable, to me, to the old Targus Foxx Fur.  I purchased a half yard of it.  It is a valuable and treasured find indeed!  A swatch of it appears below.

Tied the four of these jigs on Friday and Saturday evening.  Those to the far right are tailspinners.  The one furthest right has a tandem of flicker (00) blades behind a three-way swivel.  Each jig head weighs about 1/8 of an ounce and has a number two hook.

Each jig has eyes made of fabric paint and the heads are coated with gloss glaze for protection.

Here's a nice article covering hair jig fishing with jigs like these:  Fishing with Hair Jigs in the Fall - FISH THIS PA

Simple White Bass Jigs With Craft Fur

Tied the jigs pictured below with some great-looking pearlescent white craft fur purchased at a Burlington Store.  Included are two jigs that feature individual "clip" portions of jig spinners tied in to accommodate the attachment of a swivel and spinner blade at the end of their hook shanks.  The swivels aren't ordinary either.  I've used knurled screw clasps in place of crane swivels.  This gives me an option to quickly change their blades at home or in the field.

After-Christmas Sales For Tying Materials

Keep your eyes open for bargains on tying materials from after-Christmas sales.  I found some fine tinsel to use as flashabou on small jigs and floral wire for tied-in weed guards.  A silver craft fur stocking will provide a lot of tail material for many crappie, trout, and bass jigs.