Re: [VFB] Jigs for flyfishing

[DonO]

Kevin, I use and tie jigs all the time.  The nice thing about most store-bought jigs is that they mostly come on aberdeen hooks.  The nice part about this is that the tip of the hook can be bent into the quasi-circle-hook shape (see the Czech nymph/scud article http://www.mustad.no/flytying/fly_of_the_month/cz_nymph.html ) without loss of the temper of the hook.  There are two advantages here- one, the hook-set is normally in the corner of the mouth, not the upper jaw, that's IF, two, you do not set the hook, but just apply tension and let the hook and the fleeing fish do the rest.   My favorite jig: Hook- home-made* or store-bought aberdeen jigs in the mini sizes- shaped to quasi-circle, barb mostly smashed. Tail- Awesome hair- any of the pearls, tapered, about 1.5 times the length of the hook. Body- roped white ice-dub Thread- mono collar, just behind head- red ice dub or red spun marabou  collar, in front of marabou over back half of jig head up to eye- gold braided tinsel. Head painted with gold E-Z body.   2nd favorite jig- same as above, but with yellow, brown, and orange blended to mimic the dace minnows in our rivers.   *I make my own 'jigs', too, with barbell eyes, by bending the bare hook (aberdeen) up, just like a jig blank (but not a full 90 degrees), and tying the barbells in the corner or just in front of the bend.   I save these for fishing deep fast holes, where there will be so much slack that it impossible to react with a limber fly rod to set a hook.  The fish takes the fly and line drag does the rest.   Oops, I've given away one of my secrets.   DonO From: Deb Duran   Kevin There is nothing wrong with thinking outside the box!!!