How to Tie Crappie Flies & Jigs
Crappies are classified as panfish, along with a variety of sunfishes. Unlike sunfishes that prefer to take motionless bait, crappies chase minnows and moving prey. This feeding habit makes the use of streamer flies and jigs more effective for taking crappies than bait fishing. Flies and jigs are tied with the same materials; the only difference is that flies have heads made of the fly tying thread and jigs are tied on hooks with lead heads. Bright colors in red, yellow, orange, and green, accented with white, are effective combinations for crappie flies and jigs.
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Things You'll Need
- Fly tying streamer hooks, size 8
- Lead head jig hooks, size 8
- Fly tying vise
- Fly tying bobbin
- Fly tying scissors
- Fly tying bodkin
- Fly tying thread, 6/0 size
- Fly tying chenille, medium weight
- Marabou feathers
- Fingernail enamel, clear
Instructions
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1
Clamp the bend of a streamer hook in the vise so the shank of the hook is parallel with the tabletop. Begin wrapping the thread at the eye end of the shank, wrap over the end of the thread to lock it down and wrap around the hook shank to where the bend of the hook begins.
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2
Keep the thread at this position, lay the end of the chenille on the hook shank and wrap the thread three times around the chenille to lock it down. Wrap the thread back to the hook eye and let the bobbin hang to keep pressure on the thread.
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3
Wrap the chenille around the hook shank moving toward the hook's eye keeping the wraps tight against each other to make the body. Stop wrapping the chenille the distance back from the hook's eye equal to double the diameter of the eye.
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4
Hold the chenille tight and wrap three wraps of thread around the chenille locking it to the shank. Cut off the chenille against the hook shank.
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5
Select a marabou feather with strands longer than the hook shank. Pinch 12 to 15 strands between your thumb and forefinger along one side of the feather's main stem. Gather the tips together and cut the strands off flush with the stem.
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6
Hold the strand tips tightly and gather the butt ends together. Lay the butt ends on the hook shank between the forward end of the chenille body and the hook's eye. Position the marabou so the feather tips extend past the hook bend equal to the length of the bend to the hook's point.
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7
Wrap six wraps of thread over the butt ends of the marabou. Let the bobbin hang and trim off all the excess butt ends flush with the hook shank. Wrap the thread over the butt ends going back and forth between the end of the chenille body and the hook's eye forming a symmetrical cone shaped head.
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8
Tie three half hitches around the head pulling each snug. Dip the bodkin in the enamel and paint it on the head being careful not to get the enamel into the marabou. Let it dry for 30 seconds, then cut the thread off flush with the head.
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9
Tie jigs using the same materials and techniques, except reversing the marabou and chenille. Tie the marabou on the hook shank where the hook begins to bend, adjust the strand tips so they extend past the hook shank equal to the distance from the hook's bend to the point.
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10
Tie down the chenille on top of the marabou butt ends with three wraps of thread. Wrap the thread forward to the back of the jig head and then wrap the chenille to the head.
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11
Wrap the thread around the end of the chenille and cut the chenille off flush with the shank. Wrap the thread over the chenille end creating a level thread surface 1/16 inch wide up against the back of the jig head. Tie the thread off with three half hitches and apply the enamel.
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Tips & Warnings
Chenille and marabou are the best materials for tying crappie flies and jigs. Purchase materials and thread in a variety of colors and tie heads, bodies and wings in mixed combinations.
Purchase a clamp style thread bobbin that allows you to quickly change thread spools.
The feathery marabou is attractive to pets and small children. Keep finished flies and jigs out of the reach of pets and children to prevent injuries by the hooks.
