Look Ma, No Thread!

Try using a zip tie to secure material around a jig collar some time.  The jig below has its leather tail tied in with thread.  However, the body material (Hay-Lites Buffalo Hay) is secured with a zip (often called cable) tie.  I got the idea from this fine article, Fishing Jig Making - Without Expensive Moulds?.

It worked fairly simply.  I kept the body material in place, temporarily, with a twist tie, the type you get with a loaf of bread.  Rubbed a little beeswax along the inside of the zip tie.  Once I wrapped and firmly secured the material with this zip tie, I simply removed the twist tie.  Clip the tag end off of the zip tie and you are ready to fish the jig.

See if this method won't work for you.

Lessons Learned

I would like to make a couple of points pertaining to jig head appearance.  First, when designing jig eyes with Tulip Fabric Paint, use their Slick product.  The eyes in the photo are made with a combination of Puffy and Slick paints.  When Puffy paint is used as the basis of the eye (not the pupil), it results in a thick eye that does not adhere well to the head.  Hence, it doesn't form around it very well, leaving gaps.  Always use Slick paint as your basis.  Puffy paint can be used for pupils in a pinch as long as you don't mind its thickness.

Secondly, be careful to keep your epoxy topcoat away from the jig eyelet (line tie).  Both jigs above required a poke with a hobby awl to open their eyelets that were coated with epoxy.  This resulted in damage to the finish atop the jig head.  Just something to think about if you worry about appearance.  Should this happen again, I believe I'll use a micro drill to clear the eyelet(s).

Well, I think I'll fish them anyway... :)

Alpaca Ties

A few hair jigs tied with alpaca wool.  The wool is incredibly soft and fine with good length.  Hair fibers are hollow which make them buoyant.

There is chance that I'll be dying some of the white wool to create several different colors in the future.  So, stay tuned...