Wild Turkey Feathers

[Len]

Any of you guys use turkey feathers in some of your jigs? I know marabou is used but any of the other feathers suitable for jigs? Someone I work with bagged a turkey this week and is giving me the feathers.I know they are used in flies but I don't tie flies. I found this article on the use of turkey feathers for flies...
http://www.northcentralpa.com/article/o’brien-outdoors-fishermen-let’s-talk-turkey

 

[quivira kid]

I use the tail feathers in place of pheasant tail for some things! The body feathers work well to add a natural dark buggy shine when wrapped for small jigs. I have a couple huge bags myself.... but they can be awesome to play with.

 

[Fatman]

If you take the barbules off you can use them for bodies. There are some soft feathers under the wings that are good for collars. If you get the wings there are 4 on each side on each wing that are really great for wet fly wings - know as cinamin colored feathers.

Great link!!!

 

[StumpHunter]

I have a bag full of turkey feathers also. I use them a lot in flies but not many while tying jigs unless I'm tying micro jigs then I sometime use some for tails and maybe a body.

 

[plateboater]

Just picked up two full body's and three wings from buddies over weekend. You guys have any good jigs to post for us rookies?

 

[Fatman]

If you got fresh wings or skins you need to cure them with borax!!! and on the wings get the meat out of the wings - you really don't want the stink from them!!!!!!!!

 

[plateboater]

In the freezer and borax is out this weekend!

 

[redman]

They are one of our sacred animals the wild turkey. My wife has several fans made from the wild turkey wing feathers. These fans are ceremonial and she uses these in cleansing rituals and healing ceremonies.

As far as what patterns I would use them on it would be on bug patterns on bream jigs. Some of the smaller feather could be used as Palmer hackle or collars. Don't waste anything use them if you got them.

Redman

 

[StumpHunter]

I tied these for bream fishing with a fly rod but you can tie them on a 1/100, 1/80 or 1/64 jighead. They make great gill baits and when the crappie are spawning they work great also. You tie in the tail then use the rest of the material to wrap the body.
I'll look in my files for some jigs tied using turkey feathers.