"preacher" Jig Help

[taylor1595]

I'm a plastic guy but I have a friend that ties crappie jigs that I want to get the material for him to tie me a few up since they are out of stock pretty much everywhere. Could anybody recommend what I need to get him and a link possibly? I can get jig heads but don't know what feathers or hackles I need to buy him for the longer 5-6 inch preacher style bass jigs. I'm just wanting white. Thanks!

[RayburnGuy]

I have yet to tie my first bucktail, but have spent no telling how many hours on the internet over the last few weeks looking at materials, vices, jigs, tying videos, etc. in preparation to start tying jigs, feathered trebles, etc. My suggestion would be to first go to an online website that sells "preacher jigs" and look at the different varieties being sold these days. While the term "preacher jig" refers to a particular jig tied by a specific person it has gone the way of so many other baits with multiple companies offering different styles and options of what is basically a 5 to 7 inch bucktail jig. Some are tied with traditional bucktail and others with synthetics, feathers and other embellishments. Tackle Warehouse is a good place to look at a number of different companies offerings and you can get an idea of what you want and the materials used.

 

Another good option is to go to YouTube and watch any of a number of different people tying their versions of bucktail jigs. Smalljaw is a member of this site and he has several worthwhile videos that are well worth the time spent watching. Most of the folks making these instructional videos will tell you what materials they are using to tie their jigs. There are also videos showing you how to fish these large bucktail jigs.

 

This may not be as easy or quick as someone telling you to use Hook A, Thread C, Feather G, but gaining knowledge isn't going to hurt you.

 

good luck,

 

Ben

[smalljaw]

Ben is correct,, tying a crappie jig and a large bucktail are two different animals but more than likely he has some experience with buck tail which like to flare out when you tie it. What you will need is is the material and the buck tail will be the hardest to find because it requires a special super large buck tail usually called giant or behemoth and they sell for much more money, if you can find them, and that is hard because of the larger manufacturers buying them up. The next deal is thread, you want 210 denier flat waxed nylon, it will allow the person tying to cinch down hard on the buck tail without breaking the thread and the wax treatment helps grip so you don't end up with a jig you can pull the hair out. As for hackle, what you are going to be looking for is strung hackle, it is inexpensive but you'll need to find ones that have the length listed, you need 6" to 8" minimum. The rest of what you need depends on how you want them made, if you want some flash you can use either flashabou or you can use Flashabou accent or Krystal flash, both are basically the same thing, or a combination of flashabou, which is wider than accent or Krystal flash, and Krystal flash, that is up to you. If you can't find long enough buck tail, 5" and 6" hair, you can use synthetic, yak fur is the most common because it comes in long hanks. That is basically it, good luck on finding the buck tail.