|
After the jigs are poured they require some finishing. A metal mold usually pours more perfect jigs than a plaster type, but even these still require some work. Most of the excess metal can be clipped off with cutting pliers or with a knife, and a file can be used to remove the rest. Then give the jig a smooth finish by rubbing it with fine steel wool. If it is made from tin you can also buff it or polish it. The final step is to tie on a body or skirt of bucktail hair, feathers, or nylon. Bucktail hair and feathers can usually be bought in small packages in almost any fishing tackle store, or you can send away for these materials to one of the fly-tying supply houses. Save money by buying a whole bucktail. The natural bucktail is white and brown. You can use the white hair both for fresh-and salt-water jigs, and some of the brown for fresh-water jigs. Yellow bucktail is also popular for all kinds of fishing, and many other colors are available. You can also buy the white bucktail and dye it yourself. All-white and all-yellow jigs are the most popular both for fresh- and especially for salt-water fishing, but when tying the jigs you can blend several colors to imitate fresh-water minnows.
|
