I have been making pouring and painting my own jigs for multiple species of fish for about a year now. It makes a big difference especially on highly pressured waters when I’m fishing a jig/fly that’s different than everyone else’s.
I have to make these. You familiar was the "walleye " style jigheads? They're somewhat round, but they're wedge shaped to help it get through rocks. Idk if they exist for fly fishing. I use spinning and pins along with the fly rod, so I use a ton of jigs and have wanted to find something to try craft fur on. And start painting my own heads.
Right on. Fun to experiment. I've tried many different styles of jig heads. Nothing beats a round ball, for me. Any wedge shape tends to . . . well . . . wedge into the cracks of rocks rather than bounce off. Bottom structure matters greatly too. For example, I use way different kinds of jigs in saltwater on sandy beaches than in boulder fields. Cheers.
Go Birds lol, great beer though! Thank you for all of the information you put out there! I am jealous of your studio, I am hoping to have something different than my dining room table one day, but that will require a different house probably. Keep it up!
Ha. That's right. It took many years of living to have my own office/studio. Seriously, it's nice to not share this space with anyone else in my family. :-)
This is a perfect pattern to utilize production tying techniques! Paint 12 hooks, lead & thread 12, dub & fur 12 and finally UV 12. Bam! 1 doz killer flies.
Glad other folks are taking this approach in, awesome on a tight line. Just started experimenting with the craft fur recently as a sub for marabou. Love the watermelon paint, but only with the red sparkle flakes. Give the yellow chartreuse a try - you might be surprised
Good stuff. Marabou jigs work well too. But they perform differently for sure. I like the way the craft fur holds its shape better, especially in complex currents. I think the glossy quality of the fibers, as opposed to marabou, is also a big trigger for the craft fur. Cheers.
Very nice tie. Though I consider myself more of a traditionalist, favoring natural materials as opposed to synthetics - I'm going to give craft fur a try.
Have you tried this fly with polar fiber instead of craft fur? Also, thank you for providing such a wonderful resource for all of us - I learn SO much! :)
Thanks very much. That's kind. Yes, I've used a bunch of different synthetic hairs on this kind of platform. I keep returning to Craft Fur, for good reason. It doesn't matte together at all. It's long enough to make long flies, if I want. The best stuff has a nice crinkle to it. And the three levels too it (which I kind of showed in the video) are all different types of hair, really. Most of the other synthetic stuff I've used is really just one kind of fiber. Craft fur is pretty special. That said, there's a lot of stuff from the saltwater world I haven't tried. Then again, I probably fish this Crat Fur streamers with a lot less stripping and motion than most salt water anglers. Different styles may be best suited with different materials. Cheers. Dom
Thanks Rick. I suppose I don't ever fish a normal euro rod or leader as you say. I don't care for a rod that is too long and too limber, and fishing streamers is one of those reasons. (Streamers on a two weight sucks.) I have a lot of thoughts on rods that are best suited for tight line tactics. Here is a full article that I published on the topic: The Best Fly Rods for the Mono Rig and Euro Nymphing troutbitten.com/2021/09/22/the-best-fly-rods-for-the-mono-rig-and-euro-nymphing-my-favorite-rods/ Cheers.
This is a tantalizing pattern. It looks like fun to tie. I know y'all chase the wild browns like crazy, but how do the wild brookie take to this pattern? Thanks for all the content. I absolutely love the podcast and articles. Keep up yhe great work, gang.
@@Troutbitten sorry, this comment was meant for the Blue Collar Worker. The video for the Craft Fur Jig popped up right as I hit send. Sorry about that.
I have poured, tied, and fished lead jigheads for many years. I got into tight lining and Euro styles of nymphing several years ago shortly after George Daniels book "dynamic nymphing" was released. I have really enjoyed your articles, videos, and podcast on the mono rigs. It has helped me very much to refine my casting. Thanks "Tom" LOL. You mentioned you carry these and often fish from size 1/32nd up to 1/16th. I fish a lot of tail races down here in Central Mississippi and use a mono rig modeled after yours with 30 lb. OPST In our muddy waters that are often foam covered is just much easier to see. These are very heavy flows that we are fishing. Generally, 3000 cfs to 20,000 cfs is normal at the dams. When casting these heavier jigs, say 1 to 4 grams, do you alter your casting stroke? I tend to find myself slowing my stroke down so I don't get as much bounce on both ends of the cast. I feel like this helps me stay in control a little better. I still generate pretty good speed coming forward, especially if I'm trying to get a little more distance or deeper tuck. I just don't feel as comfortable firing these out there like I would with say a 0.5 gram fly.
Good stuff. Regarding altering the casting stroke: I guess that all depends on what I'm trying to accomplish. You mentioned trying to avoid that bounce at the end of the cast. Done well and under control, that results in a good tuck cast, and it's my standard delivery. But yes, I might alter that at times. You mentioned fishing these at 4 grams. I just don't fish them that heavy. So your needs and your casting may be different than mine. Lots to be said about casting, but I don't feel like I can address it all here in this small space. Only thing I might change much is the width of the oval at the top of the cast. If you haven't seen this video, check it out. This might help: ruclips.net/video/kSJQxHpNxkE/видео.html Cheers.
That video really helped. I had seen it a couple of times before but your thoughts here in your reply really help me focus in on a few things. Thank you! I guess I was intuitively doing the circle cast, but watching you and hearing your explanations will certainly help me improve.
Oh I wouldn't spend money on a dedicated "fly tying" light. The markup is unnecessary. It's an LED desk lamp. Works great. The long strip covers the fly from every angle you need to see. It's here: amzn.to/40ElYvZ
Thanks Dom, another nice tie. I had to laugh at 8:00, I literally had a conversation with a buddy last week that I had watched some streamer tieing vids and said "beautiful fly but nope not putting all that time/material/effort into it lose it, probably on the first cast" 😁 Am I right in assuming the smaller heads would be more conducive to fishing skinnier water?
Right on. I keep these simple because I like to fish them low and kind of risky (the ball jig versions, anyway). But I also tie and fish streamers that I have over a hundred hours of water time with -- same fly that I haven't lost yet. It's all in how you fish it.
@@Troutbitten Im trying to start a business making them. I think you'd like them. I use internal flash tail and a variation of the hollow body construction to make the head and top look clean and sculpted. As well as keep the top flash in, and make a lateral line.
Deadly fly! Nice tie, Dom. As an aside, gosh I with First Lite would stop putting those bright orange logos on their gear. Best wool shirts I own but can't stand that gaudiness their branding.
Have a look at the MARTINS Minnow from the UK. Similar tying but the MM has a more realistic look due to the eye. I wonder if the Craft Fur version would benefit from a similar addition? It’s a very very effective pattern. ruclips.net/video/3-OcMClqwjM/видео.html
Right on. I've seen plenty of similar patterns that employ eyes. Fly Fish Food has a good one. Rich Strolis also has a good one. I've tied and fished the eyes, but I notice zero difference in the response from trout. I think it's more for the fisherman, than the fish. The eyes just take more time to apply, and they eventually fall off, especially if you fish these real low. I think the tendency on these super simple patterns is to add things -- it's hard for us to believe in something so simple, but most of my patterns are this way. Cheers.
@@Troutbitten one the MM the eyes are encased in UV resin so are robust, but I know what you mean. Many of our rivers are very clear and I think when they are high by clear, the eyes act as trigger points, but if there is any colour in the water, I think you are right, they become redundant. A little UV along the lateral line seems to work well in these conditions though.
@@Backs4more Right on. Lots of ways to look at it. I believe the eyes turn trout off as much as trigger them. Do eyes make it look more like a minnow? Maybe. But I don't think trout eat many minnows down there anyway, compared to sculpins and crayfish, for example. Lastly, I've coated the eyes with resin and done all that. They still fall off, given much actual time on the bottom. The ice dub in this fly takes care of your UV along the lateral line if you want that. Gotta think too what all these flies really look like when they're in the water. These materials puff out on a stall or drift. They only slim down and have that minnow shape, I think, when they're stripped and moved through the water. Neat stuff to think about.
Glad that works for you. Tungsten is a great option too, up to a certain size. As I showed in this video, I also use tungsten beads on this pattern. Cheers.
Thanks ! I have been hearing about this streamer all over the latest podcasts !! Can’t wait to tie these myself !
Cheers.
New subscriber! I like your style with your B-Roll, calm music, lighting, and excellent editing. I look forward to more from you.
Thank you.
Nice one! I need to try it out. The music was very soothing.
Hey buddy
Another fantastic tying video. These are so incredibly helpful. Keep up the great work. Thank you.
That's kind. Thank you.
I have been making pouring and painting my own jigs for multiple species of fish for about a year now. It makes a big difference especially on highly pressured waters when I’m fishing a jig/fly that’s different than everyone else’s.
Right on
Oh great, another fly I have to tie this winter 😀
Cheers
I have to make these. You familiar was the "walleye " style jigheads? They're somewhat round, but they're wedge shaped to help it get through rocks. Idk if they exist for fly fishing. I use spinning and pins along with the fly rod, so I use a ton of jigs and have wanted to find something to try craft fur on. And start painting my own heads.
Right on. Fun to experiment. I've tried many different styles of jig heads. Nothing beats a round ball, for me. Any wedge shape tends to . . . well . . . wedge into the cracks of rocks rather than bounce off. Bottom structure matters greatly too. For example, I use way different kinds of jigs in saltwater on sandy beaches than in boulder fields. Cheers.
When I see the first step in tying flies is cracking a beer I think " I really need to start trying my own flies"
That's right. The two go hand in hand.
I was just looking for this pattern tutorial!! You read my mind 😮
Nice
Going to give a try using Clouser Deep Minnow colors, as well as some barred craft fur.
Nice. That'll look great.
Steelers fan great job!!! Great video on the jig streamers!!! Never thought of going that heavy….
Well, like I said in the video, I don't always fish them heavy. This is a great platform for experimenting with different weights.
Have been tying this craft fur lure for over twenty years.....but we call it a jig! It catches.
Yup
Go Birds lol, great beer though! Thank you for all of the information you put out there! I am jealous of your studio, I am hoping to have something different than my dining room table one day, but that will require a different house probably. Keep it up!
Ha. That's right. It took many years of living to have my own office/studio. Seriously, it's nice to not share this space with anyone else in my family. :-)
Yes sirrrrr
Dr. Smith, I presume.
This is a perfect pattern to utilize production tying techniques!
Paint 12 hooks, lead & thread 12, dub & fur 12 and finally UV 12. Bam! 1 doz killer flies.
Good point. Never tie one of anything
Great video. That is one ugly beer glass though!!!
NICE
Glad other folks are taking this approach in, awesome on a tight line. Just started experimenting with the craft fur recently as a sub for marabou. Love the watermelon paint, but only with the red sparkle flakes. Give the yellow chartreuse a try - you might be surprised
Right on
I do lots of these pore and paint jigs. I find marabou works better but they are deadly on tight line with a twitch wiggle
Good stuff. Marabou jigs work well too. But they perform differently for sure. I like the way the craft fur holds its shape better, especially in complex currents. I think the glossy quality of the fibers, as opposed to marabou, is also a big trigger for the craft fur. Cheers.
Very nice tie. Though I consider myself more of a traditionalist, favoring natural materials as opposed to synthetics - I'm going to give craft fur a try.
Well, it is a fur, right? 😉
Go Steelers!
Damn right.
Have you tried this fly with polar fiber instead of craft fur? Also, thank you for providing such a wonderful resource for all of us - I learn SO much! :)
Thanks very much. That's kind.
Yes, I've used a bunch of different synthetic hairs on this kind of platform. I keep returning to Craft Fur, for good reason. It doesn't matte together at all. It's long enough to make long flies, if I want. The best stuff has a nice crinkle to it. And the three levels too it (which I kind of showed in the video) are all different types of hair, really. Most of the other synthetic stuff I've used is really just one kind of fiber. Craft fur is pretty special.
That said, there's a lot of stuff from the saltwater world I haven't tried. Then again, I probably fish this Crat Fur streamers with a lot less stripping and motion than most salt water anglers. Different styles may be best suited with different materials.
Cheers.
Dom
👍💪
Cheers.
Awesome video!! Do you fish these on your normal euro rod and leader setup or do you make adjustments?
Thanks Rick. I suppose I don't ever fish a normal euro rod or leader as you say. I don't care for a rod that is too long and too limber, and fishing streamers is one of those reasons. (Streamers on a two weight sucks.) I have a lot of thoughts on rods that are best suited for tight line tactics. Here is a full article that I published on the topic:
The Best Fly Rods for the Mono Rig and Euro Nymphing
troutbitten.com/2021/09/22/the-best-fly-rods-for-the-mono-rig-and-euro-nymphing-my-favorite-rods/
Cheers.
@@Troutbitten
Thanks bud!
Yup
Can the same results be obtained by using a Seahawks' beer glass?
Ha! No way!
This is a tantalizing pattern. It looks like fun to tie. I know y'all chase the wild browns like crazy, but how do the wild brookie take to this pattern?
Thanks for all the content. I absolutely love the podcast and articles. Keep up yhe great work, gang.
Thanks a bunch. Yes, it fishes well for brookies.
@@Troutbitten sorry, this comment was meant for the Blue Collar Worker. The video for the Craft Fur Jig popped up right as I hit send. Sorry about that.
I have poured, tied, and fished lead jigheads for many years. I got into tight lining and Euro styles of nymphing several years ago shortly after George Daniels book "dynamic nymphing" was released. I have really enjoyed your articles, videos, and podcast on the mono rigs. It has helped me very much to refine my casting. Thanks "Tom" LOL.
You mentioned you carry these and often fish from size 1/32nd up to 1/16th. I fish a lot of tail races down here in Central Mississippi and use a mono rig modeled after yours with 30 lb. OPST In our muddy waters that are often foam covered is just much easier to see. These are very heavy flows that we are fishing. Generally, 3000 cfs to 20,000 cfs is normal at the dams.
When casting these heavier jigs, say 1 to 4 grams, do you alter your casting stroke? I tend to find myself slowing my stroke down so I don't get as much bounce on both ends of the cast. I feel like this helps me stay in control a little better. I still generate pretty good speed coming forward, especially if I'm trying to get a little more distance or deeper tuck. I just don't feel as comfortable firing these out there like I would with say a 0.5 gram fly.
Good stuff.
Regarding altering the casting stroke: I guess that all depends on what I'm trying to accomplish. You mentioned trying to avoid that bounce at the end of the cast. Done well and under control, that results in a good tuck cast, and it's my standard delivery. But yes, I might alter that at times. You mentioned fishing these at 4 grams. I just don't fish them that heavy. So your needs and your casting may be different than mine.
Lots to be said about casting, but I don't feel like I can address it all here in this small space. Only thing I might change much is the width of the oval at the top of the cast. If you haven't seen this video, check it out. This might help:
ruclips.net/video/kSJQxHpNxkE/видео.html
Cheers.
That video really helped. I had seen it a couple of times before but your thoughts here in your reply really help me focus in on a few things. Thank you! I guess I was intuitively doing the circle cast, but watching you and hearing your explanations will certainly help me improve.
What fly tying light is that Dom?
Oh I wouldn't spend money on a dedicated "fly tying" light. The markup is unnecessary. It's an LED desk lamp. Works great. The long strip covers the fly from every angle you need to see.
It's here: amzn.to/40ElYvZ
Thanks Dom, another nice tie. I had to laugh at 8:00, I literally had a conversation with a buddy last week that I had watched some streamer tieing vids and said "beautiful fly but nope not putting all that time/material/effort into it lose it, probably on the first cast" 😁
Am I right in assuming the smaller heads would be more conducive to fishing skinnier water?
Right on. I keep these simple because I like to fish them low and kind of risky (the ball jig versions, anyway). But I also tie and fish streamers that I have over a hundred hours of water time with -- same fly that I haven't lost yet. It's all in how you fish it.
As I am a poor mans fly fisherman, I use giant craft fur jigs all the time. I prefer 1/8th up to 5/8th in the river
Good call.
@@Troutbitten Im trying to start a business making them. I think you'd like them. I use internal flash tail and a variation of the hollow body construction to make the head and top look clean and sculpted. As well as keep the top flash in, and make a lateral line.
Is that electric tape you wrapped around the tip applicator of your resin?
Yes. Good eye. Keeps the resin from hardening in the tube.
Deadly fly! Nice tie, Dom. As an aside, gosh I with First Lite would stop putting those bright orange logos on their gear. Best wool shirts I own but can't stand that gaudiness their branding.
Really? I kinda like the logo, color and all.
Nope, I don't use anything less than 6" triple articulated ;)
Of course. And why would you?
Have a look at the MARTINS Minnow from the UK. Similar tying but the MM has a more realistic look due to the eye. I wonder if the Craft Fur version would benefit from a similar addition?
It’s a very very effective pattern. ruclips.net/video/3-OcMClqwjM/видео.html
Right on. I've seen plenty of similar patterns that employ eyes. Fly Fish Food has a good one. Rich Strolis also has a good one. I've tied and fished the eyes, but I notice zero difference in the response from trout. I think it's more for the fisherman, than the fish. The eyes just take more time to apply, and they eventually fall off, especially if you fish these real low. I think the tendency on these super simple patterns is to add things -- it's hard for us to believe in something so simple, but most of my patterns are this way.
Cheers.
@@Troutbitten one the MM the eyes are encased in UV resin so are robust, but I know what you mean.
Many of our rivers are very clear and I think when they are high by clear, the eyes act as trigger points, but if there is any colour in the water, I think you are right, they become redundant.
A little UV along the lateral line seems to work well in these conditions though.
@@Backs4more Right on. Lots of ways to look at it. I believe the eyes turn trout off as much as trigger them. Do eyes make it look more like a minnow? Maybe. But I don't think trout eat many minnows down there anyway, compared to sculpins and crayfish, for example.
Lastly, I've coated the eyes with resin and done all that. They still fall off, given much actual time on the bottom. The ice dub in this fly takes care of your UV along the lateral line if you want that. Gotta think too what all these flies really look like when they're in the water. These materials puff out on a stall or drift. They only slim down and have that minnow shape, I think, when they're stripped and moved through the water. Neat stuff to think about.
would like to see tying videos with less cuts and editing 'fluff'. Super simple fly but it gets lost in the production. Still a great tie, keep it up.
Plenty of that for you elsewhere. We'll keep doing things our own way here. Thank you.
Steelers pint glass? No likes from me until I see an Eagles glass. Go birds!
I'm an Eagles fan this week.
Lead is pretty darn poisonous to anything alive. I have never had any issues with a tungsten beaded jig.
Glad that works for you. Tungsten is a great option too, up to a certain size. As I showed in this video, I also use tungsten beads on this pattern. Cheers.
A craft fur jig is evile. Stay away from it at all costs, lol.
Doesn't catch much either -- just looks neat.
@@Troutbitten I only fish if the bug looks neat