Craft Fur Crappie Catchers

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Acey posted about someone making crappie jigs from the hair on Troll Dolls. In my followup post, I mentioned that I have been using "craft fur" on flies, jigs, etc. for a long time. Had a request to post a pic or two.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Almost every craft store in the country carries a variety of types and colors of fake fur. It is used for a wide range of crafty type things. Fly tiers discovered it long ago. There are quite a few fly patterns that include the stuff. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Some fly tying supply outlets even offer "fake fox fur" in their synthetics lineup. I picked up some patches with the longer fibres at a sports show a few years ago, and have used in on quite a few jigs and flies.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When I got out the patches to make up some of those crappie bugs, I was reminded why I don't use the stuff more often. It is NASTY to work with. You have to cut off a patch with scissors, and then you need to pull on the longer fibers to pull them out and reallign them with the shorter fibres, so that the bundle is fairly even. The fibres are too soft to use a hair stacker.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I can tell you that stuff is great on flies and jigs. It is translucent, and looks good. It also is LIVE. When it hits the water, it turns absolutely LIMP. Even the slightest motion makes it wiggle and jiggle. And, it is great to throw on a fly rod, because when wet it collapses around the fly and makes for less wind resistance.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In the attached pics, I show only about six colors. However, I plan to pick up some purple, dark green and dark brown soon. I may even add hot orange. Oh, what the heck, I might as well get all the colors. Never know when those silly fishies might want something new and exotic.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[Lobina_Mosca]

Yes, craft fur sucks. If you want to use something that is WAY easier to work with and has an almost better action, give this a try:

[url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0030391318441a&navCount=3&podId=0030391&parentId=cat20546&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20546&hasJS=true"]http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0030391318441a&navCount=3&podId=0030391&parentId=cat20546&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20431&catalogCode=IG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20546&hasJS=true[/url]
[signature]

[d-mack]

Good looking stuff Pat.

Have you ever considered hosting a handcrafted "swap" where you get 10 or so people to join and everyone make 10 or so handcrafted fish catchers and sends them in. Then you sort 'em all out and send a mixed bag back to everyone. Of course they are sent in to you with a prepaid return envelope. I've done this with flies but it would be fun to try on some jigs too.

Most guys "toe tag" each one of their jigs/flies expaining how it was made and what's the best way to present it to the target species.

Just a thought....

Dave.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]No doubt about it, there are LOTS of synthetic hairs and fibres easier to work with than the craft fur. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I think I have at least samples of almost every new kind of stuff that has come out in the past 30 years. Some works better than others for specific applications. It always takes some experimenting to get to know the properties...both for tying and for fishing.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Sharing, trading and show and tell are all fun things. But, don't look to me to start a "send your stuff in" program. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]We have had several "jig parties", where we gather a few jigophiles together for pouring and painting sessions. There are more of us around now, so maybe a "swap meet" kinda thing might be fun and interesting. We could have open trading or those who make the stuff could put a price tag on some of their surplus to peddle off for more funds to buy new stuff.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Actually, why limit it to jigs. Heck, a lot of us are pretty handy with building rods, tieing flies and making neat looking fishing oriented craft stuff. It could be fun to find a "venue" where we could all bring our goodies and set up tables to show off and sell some stuff.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Somebody better bring salsa or I ain't gonna play.[/#0000ff]
[signature]