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Cheap flies/jigs to tie #7778930
01/21/23 10:32 PM
01/21/23 10:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline OP
trapper
Donnersurvivor  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
Long story short a neighbor is having trouble with her 13 year old boy. I've been taking him to help me around the house/farm when he's being a pain to give her a break as she has numerous other kids.

One hobby I've introduced this kid to that he really likes is jig tying. I'm not much good at it but he will sit at my kitchen table for hours and tie jigs. Is there any patterns out there that wont break me on materials? I've had him using squirrel tails, thinking we could shoot some Starlings or English Sparrows for more feathers.

Hoping to encourage him to get good enough to maybe sell a couple here and there. So basically to sum it up, any ties or jigs to tie that rely on cheap materials that he could possibly sell?

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7778957
01/21/23 10:48 PM
01/21/23 10:48 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 154
CONNEAUT LAKE, PENNSYLVANIA
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BRONZEBACK Offline
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BRONZEBACK  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 154
CONNEAUT LAKE, PENNSYLVANIA
I’m no expert, but I have caught many steelhead with a lead head jig tied with marabou and a few pieces of Christmas tree tinsel. For stocked trout, I often just use straight silver tinsel and no marabou. There are also some good step-by-step videos online. I use a lot of Wooly Buggers too for trout…Mainly Olive. Pretty easy to tie but require a few more ingredients.


"Life's Too Short To Put A Price On Fun"
Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7778965
01/21/23 10:54 PM
01/21/23 10:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline OP
trapper
Donnersurvivor  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
I should also add I'm hoping to have him do some that look good, not only to fish but also to human eyes. Trying to force him to slow down and do something hard properly.

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7778978
01/21/23 11:04 PM
01/21/23 11:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,752
Eastern W by God V
Crowfoot Offline
trapper
Crowfoot  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,752
Eastern W by God V
I just started tying buck tail jigs for fresh and salt water.
Most basic, very useful and look pretty good for a novice.
Easy tutorials all over the net.
Some real beauties over on the "Stripers Online Forum", great ideas/examples there as well as links to instructions/tools.
Lotta fun .... and rewarding !
Cheers

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779007
01/21/23 11:27 PM
01/21/23 11:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,582
The Panhandle of Alaska
M
mad_mike Offline
trapper
mad_mike  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,582
The Panhandle of Alaska
Kind of funny, cheap and fly fishing. About as cheap as I can get is fishing beads.

[Linked Image]


*Disclamer* I do not fish the bead at that distance from the hook, it’s against Alaska regs.


Advice? Wise men don't need it. Fools won't heed it.
Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779043
01/21/23 11:58 PM
01/21/23 11:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,958
St. Louis Co, Mo
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BigBob Offline
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BigBob  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
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St. Louis Co, Mo
Try Hobbie Lobby for a amazing array of tying materials at a super cheap price. They have everthing but hooks!


Every kid needs a Dog and a Curmudgeon.

Remember Bowe Bergdahl, the traitor.

Beware! Jill Pudlewski, Ron Oates and Keven Begesse are liars and thiefs!
Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779047
01/22/23 12:03 AM
01/22/23 12:03 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Montana
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D.T. Offline
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D.T.  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 582
Montana
I tie flies extensively. Seems like in MN you would be after walleye, pike, sallies, etc. Any kind of lead head with ducktail seems like it would get it done. I use something called crystal flash which is pretty cheap to sparkle things up. Saving whitetail tails is pretty easy. I just skin, split, and dry with borax and I have enough hair for a seasons worth of closures for the sallies here.

Cheap materials are bucktail, marabou, craft fur, crystal flash. Get some in a multitude of colors and you'll be tying for a while.

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779071
01/22/23 12:46 AM
01/22/23 12:46 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,895
Oakland, MS
Drifter Offline
trapper
Drifter  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,895
Oakland, MS
There are a ton of patterns on youtube. Some with how to as well as sources for material.


Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination.

Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Scottish poet, novelist and literary critic









Life member NTA , and GA Trappers assoc .
Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: BigBob] #7779237
01/22/23 09:26 AM
01/22/23 09:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline OP
trapper
Donnersurvivor  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
Originally Posted by BigBob
Try Hobbie Lobby for a amazing array of tying materials at a super cheap price. They have everthing but hooks!


Perfect. I was going to make a trip to cabelas with him but this sounds alot cheaper.

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779261
01/22/23 09:58 AM
01/22/23 09:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715
Eastern Shore of Maryland
HobbieTrapper Offline
"Chippendale Trapper"
HobbieTrapper  Offline
"Chippendale Trapper"

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Do you have a PayPal account? Sounds like something worth investing in.


-Goofy-
Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779266
01/22/23 10:02 AM
01/22/23 10:02 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,457
ny
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gcs Offline
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gcs  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,457
ny
You have buck /deer tails?
Have your friends save them for you, can't beat free, and they're the classic material for.....bucktails!, lol

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: HobbieTrapper] #7779273
01/22/23 10:09 AM
01/22/23 10:09 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline OP
trapper
Donnersurvivor  Offline OP
trapper
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
Originally Posted by HobbieTrapper
Do you have a PayPal account? Sounds like something worth investing in.


I appreciate that. I've been very blessed this past couple years so i can fund his learning, another member also graciously offered to send some material.

I'm hoping in the medium term to make him self sufficient doing it which is why I was hoping he could gather some of the materials himself from starlings or something.

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779295
01/22/23 10:32 AM
01/22/23 10:32 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 165
Central Wisconsin
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Craig S. Offline
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Craig S.  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 165
Central Wisconsin
[Linked Image]

Chicken feathers and bucktails will probably be the best bang for your buck- do you know someone who raises chickens? The price of hackle feathers is ridiculous at fly tying stores but can usually be bad for nothing if you know somone butchering any roosters or meat birds. Also pipe cleaner are good for adding body to panfish jigs and are very cheap.

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779308
01/22/23 10:42 AM
01/22/23 10:42 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
K
K52 Offline
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K52  Offline
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Posts: 2,042
SE Kansas
I’ll second the chicken suggestion. I use a lot of wooly worms and my favorite hackle is grizzly. Fly tying stores are ridiculous prices but found a good way to get what I want cheap. Go to a poultry meet and buy a barred rock rooster. Skin it and borax the skin and let it dry. You’ll have feathers for a long time at rock bottom price.

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779312
01/22/23 10:45 AM
01/22/23 10:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
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danny clifton Offline
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danny clifton  Offline
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williamsburg ks
Good on you Donnersurvivor. I can't help you with fly tying, had an uncle tied them for me when I didnt use store bought, but if everyone of us would spend time with a kid at the crossroads the future would be a lot brighter


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: K52] #7779331
01/22/23 11:06 AM
01/22/23 11:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,525
MN
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Donnersurvivor Offline OP
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Donnersurvivor  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2018
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MN
Originally Posted by K52
I’ll second the chicken suggestion. I use a lot of wooly worms and my favorite hackle is grizzly. Fly tying stores are ridiculous prices but found a good way to get what I want cheap. Go to a poultry meet and buy a barred rock rooster. Skin it and borax the skin and let it dry. You’ll have feathers for a long time at rock bottom price.


Thank you, ill ask around for some old chickens, I'm sure he would like doing the whole process.

Appreciate all the suggestions from everyone, now I just need him to stick with it, this has been a great carrot so far to get him to cooperate and not be such a Debbie downer.

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779339
01/22/23 11:18 AM
01/22/23 11:18 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 995
alberta
S
spjones Online content
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spjones  Online Content
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 995
alberta
Get him out fishing with fly’s that he ties himself

Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779359
01/22/23 11:44 AM
01/22/23 11:44 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,832
MT (Big Sky Country)
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Allan Minear Offline
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Allan Minear  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,832
MT (Big Sky Country)
While at hobby lobby buy some thin brass wire also to wrap the bodies with for Pheasant tail nymphs and similar patterns .
Next spring / summer start going to garage sales looking for supplies also .
Tanned and dyed rabbit pelts are handy cut them into strips for zonkers and wooly buggers along with maribou get some black , white , yellow and red for streamers .

Rooster pheasant tail feathers are a great material to have also .

Used book stores are another great resource for fly tying books .


Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779665
01/22/23 05:57 PM
01/22/23 05:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,849
Ohio, Old fart to some.
ack Offline
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ack  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,849
Ohio, Old fart to some.


_________

I used to have superpowers… but a therapist took them away.

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
Re: Cheap flies/jigs to tie [Re: Donnersurvivor] #7779715
01/22/23 06:51 PM
01/22/23 06:51 PM
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 119
West Virginia
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Roofbolter Offline
trapper
Roofbolter  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 119
West Virginia
I do not know anything about tying flies but I think up in the Mountains a lot of people have Tied a Marshmellow and they look real!! They seem to catch those stocked trout too!!


Coal Mining makes Liberals Cry!!!
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