Another Hard Water Jig

I may be one of the few that was not happy about the warm weather we had last week. The combination of the warm weather and the rain really put a hamper on the possibility of getting any ice fishing in. After the last fish dinner Laurie is wanting me to get out as soon as possible. Now that the weather has turn cold again she may get her wish soon. Hopefully this weekend the ice will be safe again. I'm not counting on it though. It's looking like next weekend will be a better bet. 

While I am waiting for the ice to harden I should tie up more jigs. Another pattern I saw while at the fishing show last weekend was another simple jig pattern consisting of a small jig head and hackle wings.  Simple but it looks like it will be very effective. Now I just need to find where I can purchase these jig heads in bulk. I know just the place to sell them... 

Hackle Wing Ice Jig

Hackle Wing Ice Jig

Hook - 1/64 or 1/80 oz Jig Head

Thread - 8/0 Uni 

Wing - 4 Chinese Neck Hackle 

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Two Hackle Feathers on Far Side of Hook

Step Three

Tie in Two Hackle Feather on Front Side of Hook and Whip Finish

Hard Water and Ice Jigs

I don't know about anybody else but I do other fishing besides just fly fishing. Especially when it comes to putting a little food on the table. While Pike, Walleye, Perch and Bluegill can all be caught on a fly rod, I tend to chase them with more "conventional" equipment. This time of year the lakes should be frozen over and the hard water fishing begins. Tip-up and jigging rods rule the day.

This past weekend I was fortunate to attend the Ultimate Fishing Show in Novi, Mi. While checking out some of the ice fishing equipment and lures for sale I noticed a small ice fishing jig for perch.  All they are is a small painted jig head with Krystal Flash tied to the hook. Very simple tie. Instead of purchasing the completed jigs I figured I would pick up a few of the jig heads and tie up a few of my own. Here is what I came up with.

Krystal Flash Ice Jig

Krystal Flash Ice Jig

Hook - 1/80 or 1/64 oz Jig Your Choice of Color

Thread - 8/0 Uni To Match Body

Body - Krystal Flash Your Choice of Color

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Krystal Flash and Whip Finish

Step Three

Trim Krystal Flash to Desired Length

BiVisible and the New Store

You may notice to the right that I have launched a new Amazon Store Front for fly tying materials and books. In addition to the normal fly tying materials and tools I will try to add other non-traditional products that I find handy along with some great books. For example the first book you will see is Robert Ruark's "The Old Man and the Boy". This book will always have a special place in my library. My dad introduced me to this book when I was in my early teens and it quickly became my favorite book. I could tell story after story that this is how my dad was trying to raise me also. For those that have not read this book you should pick up a copy.  It is a collection of stories about a boy growing up North Carolina and hunting and fishing with his grandfather. Through hunting and fishing his grandfather teaches him valuable life leasons and how to be a good person. If more parents raised their children this way the world we be a much better place.

Enough about books, I guess I should put up a new fly since I have been away for a while. Today I was tying up a few Brown Bivisibles to use this summer. This pattern is a great attractor fly. With all the hackle tips this fly is just plain buggy on the water.

Brown Bivisible

Brown Bivisible

Hook - Mustad 94840 10-14

Thread - Uni 8/0 Black

Tail - Brown Hackle Fibers

Body - Three Brown Hackles increasing in size tightly palmered from tail to head

Hackle - Cream - Three Turns

Step One

Start Thread

Step Two

Tie in Tail

Step Three

Tie In First Brown Hackle

Step Four

Palmer Hackle forward 3-4 Turns

Step Five

Tie in Second Brown Hackle

Step Six

Palmer Hackle Forward 3-4 Turns

Step Seven

Tie in Third Brown Hackle

Step Eight

Palmer Hackle Forward 3-4 Turns

Step Nine

Tie In Cream Hackle

Step Ten

Palmer Hackle Forward Three Turns, Create Head and Whip Finish