How to Make a Crappie Jig
Crappie are the picky eaters of the fish world, so catching them often requires either buying or making specialized jigs that include bright colors and mimic the insects the fish love to feed on. In a few steps and with a few tools, you can quickly begin making your own jigs that will allow you to customize your arsenal in hopes of catching your limit.
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Things You'll Need
- Lead jig head Vise or fly holder Bobbin Sewing thread Bucktail Scissors Utility knife Head cement
Instructions
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Tying Your Own Crappie Jig
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1
Set the jig in the vise. Tighten the hook of the jig upside down in the vice so the eyehole for the fishing line to be tied to the jig is facing down. Tighten so the jig head will not wiggle while being tied.
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2
Start the thread. Using the bobbin with your choice of thread color -- usually one that is in contrast to the color jig head you chose, like pink and white or chartreuse and black -- wrap the thread around the jig's base, starting from where the jig meets the metal of the hook and working your way back toward the head along the "collar" of the jig. About four or five wraps of the thread should suffice, or more if you're using a large jig head or a lighter, thinner thread. Do not cut the thread.
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3
Cut your bucktail. Take a section of bucktail -- which is available at outdoor supply stores or via the Internet -- between your thumb and index finger. Crappie.com suggests using the top two-thirds of the buck tail and recommends you use a mount that will make a solid, single layer and effectively hide the hook. Cut the amount you've chosen free from the rest of the bucktail.
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4
Even the bucktail. Pinch the hair with your thumb and index finger and use your scissors to trim the hair evenly on the end that will be facing the jig head.
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5
Tie the hair. Still pinching the bucktail, slide it to the head of the jig. Use the bobbin to wrap the thread three times around the hair -- tight enough so you can let go but not so tight as to compress the hair. Carefully spread the loose end of the bucktail evenly around the hook. Unwrap one thread along the collar of the jig and then pull the remaining wraps tight, taking care not to snap the thread.
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6
Finish wrapping. Tightly pull the thread and wrap around the collar and hair until you are just one wrap away from the head of the jig. Trim any visible hair in front of the thread with your utility knife and then tightly wrap the thread forward until touching the jig's head. Still keeping the thread taut, wrap back until you are at the end of the thread near the bucktail again. Apply cement and allow to dry for a few moments -- feel free to speed up this process by blowing gently across the glued surface. Wrap forward again until you are at the head of the jig and, once again, apply cement. Allow to dry before snipping the thread as close to the wraps as you can manage. Apply a final coat of cement and, when the jig is completely dry, fluff hair with your fingers.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep the thread as tight as possible with wrapping. Cement is made to hold the thread, not the hair, which is the reason for the threading. Bucktail and jig heads come in a variety of color. Try experimenting and making different combinations. You never know what your crappie are going to be interested in when you go out angling next time.
Be mindful of the barbed end of your hook.
