Curly Tails

More for the jig boxes.

These are tied on 1/8-oz. ball head jigs with #2 bronze hooks.  Their leather is quite supple.  I look forward to testing them in the coming weeks.  Will tie a dozen more, then it's off to designing and tying my version of the popular Zoom Brush Hog.

Often Overlooked (Or Snubbed)

So many times I read opinions about jig tying materials on the web where, if a product isn't marketed by a fly or jig tying supplier, the vibe is negative.  If you read these same opinions, do not give in to them without seeing what hobby, craft, and fabric stores offer first.  You just might be surprised.

Here are photos of a couple of feet of craft fur that I purchased at Hancock Fabrics in Carmel, Indiana.  So, where have you found grizzly craft fur either locally (to you) or on the web?

Granted, I haven't field tested either of these and so it remains to be seen if the material is colorfast.  Regardless of the outcome, it's going to be fun doing the tying and testing! :)

Weedless Leather Grubs

I really enjoy leather work.  Here are two grubs that I tied this evening.

Each is tied with a 1/8-oz. weedless insert head jig having a 2/0 bronze hook.  The leather tails are traces of an old Galyan's Performance Series 4-inch grub that are cut out with scissors.

These will be heading south to Hixon, Tennessee soon for a Tennessee River swim. ;)

The Grub Crawler

This jig combines the best features of two of my favorites, the curly tail grub and the ugly bug.

Materials:

• A 1/8-ounce weedless insert tube jig with a 2/0 bronze hook
• Tandy Leather Factory Premium Leather - brown
• Lion Brand Suede Yarn - coffee
• Kiwi Boot Lace - brown
• Coats & Clark Machine Embroidery Thread (Trilobal Polyester 40-wt.) - chona brown
• Harbor Freight Powder Paint - brown mixture

Spiketail Minnows

Tied these yesterday for clear water fishing.  Hope to attract a bass or two with them.

Materials:

• Two 1/8-ounce weedless tube insert heads with 2/0 bronze hooks
• Harbor Freight Powder Paint - gray mixture
• Tandy Leather Factory Premium Leather - off white
• Herrschners Bulky Chenille Yarn - gray
• Coats & Clark Machine Embroidery Thread (40-wt.) - light slate
• Black and white acrylic paints for eyes
• Devcon 2 Ton Epoxy for topcoat

Another Bug...

This jig has a spike-like tail of leather.  Its body is made of a dark green chenille.

Materials:

• A 3/8-ounce football head jig with a 3/0 hook
• Lion Brand Thick & Quick Chenille Yarn - basil
• Pro-Tec Powder Paint - orange mixture (hot pink + green chartreuse in a 1:1 ratio)
• Tandy Leather Factory Premium Leather - brown
• Kiwi Boot Lace - brown
• Danville Flymaster Plus Thread (210 denier) - olive
• Coats & Clark Machine Embroidery Thread (40-wt.) - dark olive

Chocoate-Caramel Bass Dessert

I hope that this jig becomes a dessert, or the main course, for hungry bass. ;)

 Materials:

• A 3/8-ounce football head jig with a 3/0 hook
• Kiwi Boot Lace (quartered) - dark brown
• Tandy Leather Factory Premium Leather for spike tail
• Lion Brand Suede Yarn - caramel
• UTC Ultra Thread 140 denier - rusty brown
• Harbor Freight, Pro-Tec, and Orbit Powder Paint - caramel mixture (HF red + PT green chartreuse + Orbit clear in 1:1:1 ratio)