Hi, I'm still pretty new to jig tying. I tie crappie jigs and was curious what the best material to use for the tails? I have marabou, and curious about using hackle. I see most of the hand tied jigs you buy are hackle. Is this just for the durability? I'm really not worried about the durability, just about fish appeal.
Best Material?
- Thread starter SlabHappy
- Start date
........you will get many different answers on 'the best' of anything. 
I don't tie with a whole lot of feathers anymore because i feel that fur or synthetics do last longer and can take a beating. If i find a pattern that is working, i don't want the tail to get eaten off after only a few fish.
As for favorite material, it would be rabbit zonkers. Lots of action and very easy to tie with once you get used to it. Both KipTail and CraftFur probably tie for the next on my fav list.
I don't tie with a whole lot of feathers anymore because i feel that fur or synthetics do last longer and can take a beating. If i find a pattern that is working, i don't want the tail to get eaten off after only a few fish.
As for favorite material, it would be rabbit zonkers. Lots of action and very easy to tie with once you get used to it. Both KipTail and CraftFur probably tie for the next on my fav list.
papaperch
Active member
Best advice I can give you is don't get married to just one tail material. Look under jig fishing and read about Red Denmark's wool jigs. Stundy up on Junglejims duck jigs tied with duck flank feathers. Make sure you read up on the rabbit zonker jigs too.
One other piece of advice get in on the Jig swaps. They will accelerate your learning curve. Some of us on the site have been tying for 40+ years and some of us have been tying for 40+ minutes. But nobody on here ever acts superior. Rather its a we are all learning together kinda thing. Which makes this site the best in my book.
Post some pix of your creations. They provide a back ground to everybody to know where you are at in the scheme of things.
One other piece of advice get in on the Jig swaps. They will accelerate your learning curve. Some of us on the site have been tying for 40+ years and some of us have been tying for 40+ minutes. But nobody on here ever acts superior. Rather its a we are all learning together kinda thing. Which makes this site the best in my book.
Post some pix of your creations. They provide a back ground to everybody to know where you are at in the scheme of things.
ragged edge
New member
AF and PP are right. We are all learning from one another and willing to share with others. The prettiest and fanciest jig don't always catch fish, regardless, of what you use for the tail it is the presentation of the jig that counts!!!!!!!!!!
Jig Man
Active member
Try um all....
BucktailJiger
New member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2011
- Messages
- 1,166
Just DO IT !!!!!!!!!!! All of them !
Well, got all the marabous, guess now I got to get something different. Really like the zonkers, might have to get some and try. Plus, like the idea of using them for craw claws. Got some CA craw heads, and want to tie some good craw jigs. One place i fish in spring is a rock drop off that you can slay the big males on craw jigs. Have the crawlrs, but want to catch them on ties.
redman
New member
SlabHappy don't forget the Duck flank feathers. Like them all use them all. Don't know what your location is but down here on Caddo Lake on the Texas and Louisiana boarder just above Toledo Bend we use every thing up until it gets cold. When It gets cold we switch to kip tail for tails. The reason is that minnow/Baitfish slow down in cold weather.
Just a tip for catching more fish in the winter. You have heard the old adage don't take a knife to a gun fight. This may be one time that it might be well to take a knife. Something with slow action will out do a very fast acting tail. A very active jig might not be your best choice for that time of year.
Redman
Just a tip for catching more fish in the winter. You have heard the old adage don't take a knife to a gun fight. This may be one time that it might be well to take a knife. Something with slow action will out do a very fast acting tail. A very active jig might not be your best choice for that time of year.
Redman
Thanks, everyone, I'm getting some good info. Problem is, I have already spent a small fortune on supplies, melting equip, and tools, now I need to get all the materials? Got all the marabous, ordered some zonkers, got plenty of paint, just need to play around with mixing. I;m just kidding about the materials, it will be fun tying different material. Main problem is, I don't have enough time to tye and fish! Plan to get some kip tails. By the way, I only tye for crappie, does this change anything?
PanfishHunter
Member
Slab, I tie for Bluegill and Crappie. I do not have many materials, but i do have marabou and chenille. for simple crappie jigs, thats all you need. For bluegill it's a bit different, and also a fun experience, also many BG patterns can double as Crappie patterns, when they are finicky. For BG patterns i tie a goose biot tail with chenille, or just chenille with a hackle wrap.
Get creative, and tie outside your comfort zone!
Get creative, and tie outside your comfort zone!
As far as my own personal tying, i would say no. Kip works well for both crappie and bluegill. Rabbit zonkers are excellent for crappie, but you may want to trim it off the leather hide to shorten it up if you plan to use it on small bluegill jigs. Most materials can be adapted to what ever jig/fly you want to tie somehow.
SlabHappy said: