Best Way To Add Tinsle To Your Jig?

[aaarneson]

I want to add some tinsel to my black and blue jigs...How do I add that in?  What is the best way?

 

Thanks

 

[smalljaw]

I add Krystal flash and flashabou to my jigs as I'm tying, if you want to add flash to a jig already finished, it will be easy if the jig is made with a band, if it is tied you'll have tie a little more. To add flash to a banded jig simply take a sewing needle with a large hole for the thread andput the flash through the needle and then thread it up under the skirt band and then trim to your preferred length.

[aaarneson]

Thanks Smalljaw.  Sorry I was not clear.  The tinsel will be added to jigs I have not tied yet.  I just tie with wire....Can I tie on tinsel with the wire or do I have to use thread?

[cadman]

If you are using tabs, put it with your tabs and then tie it in like you would do the tabs.However if you do it this way, the tinsel or krystal flash will have a tendency to not lay right, it will want to stick out. On these, I like to use thread to tie the tinsel and the tabs. Reason being the thread holds the tinsel better. Also if you decide to tie with thread, you can position it where you want and build the tinsel into your thread wraps. Start wrapping your tabs and skirts like normal and then bend your tinsel down, and over wrap it with thread. To me it makes the tinsel look like part of the skirt instead of sticking out oddly. Does this make sense?

 

Guess I'm too late. Smalljaw already answered this. Can't delete my post, so I'll leave it, just another way to add tinsel. Use what works easier for you.

Edited July 15, 2014 by cadman

[aaarneson]

Yes...Makes sense. I just never tied with thread before.  What if I add the tinsel to the the tabs...wrap once...bend the tinsel back and then wrap the wire again...then tie it off....would that hold the tinsel down a little better and hold it in place?

[cadman]

I know exactly what you want to do, however I don't know if 3 wraps of wire will hold the tinsel down and I don't know if you can put more than 3 wraps of wire and tighten everything. I guess it will, and the only way to know, is try it. So you are going to incorporate the tinsel to the full length(or longer if you want the tinsel to act as a trailer teaser) into the tabs, put one wrap of wire around everything, fold back the tinsel and put on more wraps over the tinsel and the skirt strands, correct? I know this will work in theory, however I don't know if you will get it tight enough to hold the tinsel in.  Try it and let us know. I know for sure thread will work and hold.

Edited July 15, 2014 by cadman

[aaarneson]

Thanks I will try and send out an update. 

[cadman]

Sorry, double post.

Edited July 15, 2014 by cadman

[BassBull]

Hello ... Thread tieing... If you want your accent flash to show up on your finished jig, on the out side of your rubber skirt mat. you have to put it on by itself FIRST. Put on about 5 our 6 wraps of thread on your jig and then get your flash mat. By the way you lay it on the jig you can put it all on the bottom or devide it down and put the strands down the sides of the jig. What ever works for you. I put mine down both sides but thats the way I like it. Then wrap 4 our 5 turns and then put on your tabs. If you don't want it to show so much tie it on last, your skirt tabs will cover it up more when it flows back when being fished. Just another thought. I hope this is explained ok. Have a good day. STEVE

[aaarneson]

Question for thread tying. How to I start and end the threading. What knots are used?

[cadman]

This is hard to explain. The best way to visualize this is going on You Tube and look at some videos on tying flies. The way I start is like this: You will need thread and a bobbin. A bobbin is a tool that holds the spool of thread on snugly, which then you thread the  thread through the neck of the bobbin out the other end.

 

Before this you should have your skirt tabs banded with a skirt band collar, makes it easier to put on and stay in place. Also if you want to
cut the tab ends, it will make it easier as well.

 

#1 All your tying is going to be on the neck of the jig. Jigs with round ball collars work best for tying thread, as there are no obstructions of the deep double collars in the way.

#2 Lay your thread, tag end at the head of the jig, with the bobbin holding the thread at the end by the ball. Hold the thread in place with your finger. As you start making your first wrap, overwrap the thread along the collar and start wrapping the thread working up the collar to the head. You should now have nice tight wraps. You can go down and up again but that is up to you.

#3 Now take your banded skirt tabs, and slide them over the hook point and close to the jig collar. Make sure you skirt strands are even. If you like the way they look on your hook shank, slide the entire skirt with the band over the jig collar. At this point you should have your threaded bobbin hanging at the head of your jig, and your skirt also snug up against the head of your jig.

#4 Adjust you skirt accordingly, and then take your bobbin with your thread, and fish it through the strands, and then make 4 or 5 tight wraps over the skirt strands holding your bobbin tight. This will keep the strands from moving, slowly roll your rubber skirt collar down past the jig collar but not off of the hook shank. This will keep your skirt strands held in place, in case you screw it up and have to roll the skirt back up onto to jig collar.

#5 Now just continue to make even tight wraps going down the jig collar  towards the bottom.

#6 Now continue to wrap going back up.

#7 Now you can add your flash,by wrapping it up and down. You're done.

#8 I like to finish at the top of the jig with my thread, so I can tie it off at the top.

#9 I like to use 2 sets of 3 whip finishes( see You Tube and type in whip finish or Materelli whip finish tool) to tie off and lock my thread wraps in place.

#10 When done, I trim the thread off of my bobbin close to my jig, I also trim off my original tag end I started with. It should look good. Then I take some head cement, and apply it over all the thread wraps to keep it from coming undone.

#11 Let dry then fish

 

There is a lot to take in here, it is best you look at some videos, as it will be easier to understand. This will definitely take a lot of practice, so don't worry if you screw it up. Practice makes perfect. Also remember this is the way I do it. There are a million ways to tie, and everyone has their own way, so don't get hung up doing it my way. Some guys like to put the tinsel on first or vice versa, depends on what look you want. That is up to you. Your creations will be endless This is just a start. Also a fly tying vice will be a necessity here, as sometimes it looks like you will need 3 hands and 15 fingers.

 

Good Luck. Others will hopefully chime in and add more info, which will make you more confused. It all takes a lot of practice.

Edited July 16, 2014 by cadman

[BassBull]

Cad hit it on the head and check out as many U-Tube vids that you can. This is the way I finish up my thread tieing. If you look on U-Tube under Rod biulding and putting the  eyes to the blanks. The way they lay  a thread under the raps and pull the tag end of your thread back under itsself to lock it down is how I do it. I hate to admit it but I have trouble trying to wip finish any lure with skirting out the front of the jig. I get every thing all tangled up. For the thread that I use for a pull back is just a short piece of 2/10 Power Pro fishing line, I've done this on jigs, buzz bait and spinnerbaits with no problems. I use 210 DEN. thread to tie. I don't glue my own ends (tie offs) because the fish have the skirting beat to heck before the thread ever goes bad. Just another way of doing things and good luck. STEVE 

[aaarneson]

So this stuff will just tear up?

 

http://www.barlowsta...-132-P1311.aspx

 

Thanks

[BassBull]

What happens is the natural wear an tear from the fish on the jig, it will break down the flash and what ever skirting mat. you use. Up here Northern Pike and Dog fish (BOWFIN) beat up a jig real fast. All skirting mat is not going to hold up equally. I have real trouble with Watermellon Candy breaking down way to easy . As the solid colors like plain black our black and blue hold up very good. These things I hate to say don't last forever. Like tie on a new jig you just tied at home and make the first cast with it and a pike bites you off. After you catch a few bass on your jig take a good look at it and you will see at least a few strands of mat. missing. That's the price we pay for catching fish. Have fun and good luck.  STEVE

[flippinfool]

I want to add some tinsel to my black and blue jigs...How do I add that in?  What is the best way?

 

Thanks

Only if the skirt is banded try this tool

http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Tying-Tool-Wasatch-Threader/dp/B00DGGIEJY

 

I used to do this all the time before I started tying my skirts. Insert flash into the threader and pull down as you would your line to a dropshot weight. Slowley pull the flash out of the bandThe tool is very strong, thin and flexable.

Good luck.

[mark poulson]

This tool will also work:

 

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mojo_Lures_Sinker_Stop_Tool_Kit/descpage-MJSSTK.html

[aaarneson]

I received the tinsle I ordered and was on a spool...it was all twisted and curly so I didn't even try to put it on.  May have to look into that flashabou stuff.

[BassBull]

AAA Good Morning....I have used the spool Tinsle a lot, it can be a mess for sure. If you haven't thrown it away, get some zip ties our light wire to use in tieing it down into smaller useable parts. Their should have been at least one spot on the spool tied together ??? I unwrap the spool and stand up and lightly shake it while it hanges down in one long piece. Then take and pull up on it(with your free hand) and put it into smaller bunches in your hand that is holding it up into the air. Then when you have it all sized down to lengths that you feel you can work with. Take your zip tie and tie it off at the top. Now take a good scissors and cut the bottom to sep. and free up so you can use it now in workable smaller bunches. You can leave it in one big bunch, our like I do, cut and use more ties to make more smaller user friendly bunches. I leave mine about 10 inches long and grab about what I think is the # of strands (6 to 12?) and have a damp sponge sitting on the counter top. Then swipe the tinsle across it and that holds the tensle together so it doesn't want to go all over the place when I put it on the jig to tie.  I take the wet strands and fold it up and cut again at the bottom to  get enough strands for two jigs from the set . Boy I hope this helps anyone !!!!! Have a good day. STEVE