I recently tried a maribou jig for the first time on a local river. I noticed that when in the water the feathers all stuck together. I thought I'd read a post by one of you jig experts that the maribou pulsated and danced around in the water, not clumped up. This wasn't a brand new jig, it was one that had been laying around for a while. Maybe that was the reason. Could somebody tell me if this is the way they're supposed to act or?? Thanks.

When you pull it out of the water it will be clumped, but when it's in the water it should be moving around. It won't be as puffed out as when it's dry, but it should still be moving around some. If your jig doesn't seem like that then buy a new one and try it.

~ Dr Pepper

If the marabou has come in contact with any oil or scent in liquid or jelly form it will stay clumped together. Bunny fur will act in the same manner.

Marabou reacts poorly to oils, rabbit fur does better; but it's still best to just dab a very small amount of scent on the front part of the jig head - or don't use any and just keep your hands washed when fishing. I have also read that washing used jigs in a bowl of warm water with a little Lemon Joy soap will remove the oils. Just rinse and let dry, and they fish like new if they are in good shape.

RT

One word.....Schlappen!!! Looks better than Marabou or rabbit in water and doesn't get all matted when you do get a little oil on it. Here comes the Pepsi commercial

[ 10-13-2001: Message edited by: STEWED ]

Can't help you on that one, I have not experienced such a problem with the Silent Approach Marabou Jigs I use, but you might want to try washing it with some lemon joy and then letting it air dry before going out again. if this does not work them try another jig. Maybe Stew is onto something with the Schlappen, I have not fished a Schlappen jig yet so I cannot comment, but will try some this winter.

Stew,
Do you palmer the schlappen up the shank of the hook or just take a turn or two around the collar...I've got tons of schlapen but haven't ever used it for jigs...works on big buggers great...why not jigs.

Marabou tends to collapse when waterlogged.If you tie your own jigs try bulking up the first layers and clip them short .this will give a bulky center and the outer layers of marabou will stay loose and have good action.On some flies I tie in the outer layer spey hackle method .This gives very good action.

Krome,
Marabou that is clumped on when the jig is tied, will stay clumped together in the water, palmered marabou jigs behave much better and retain their action in the water, even after many fish have been caught on them. Rabbit fur is much the same, if it is layed on in strips and tied onto the shank will not have the desired action, palmering the rabbit strips again is the key with this type of material and as for Schlappen (pronounced "Schlopin") is a good material for steelhead jigs, but is only used for ultra clear water/low flows, or for summer steelhead, this material lacks the bulk, or profile to be successful in the winter, when the visibility is more limited, the palmered Schlappen feathers have short barbs,(feather width) and unless you use... bait or plastic worms with your all Schlappen jigs, they dont produce very well in the higher water we fish most of the time in the winter steelhead fishery. as someone else stated the Schlappen feather works well for a collar for either marabou or rabbit fur jigs. another method to keep the action and profile of your marabou jigs is to palmer saddle hackle on first, and then palmer on the marabou, this keeps the marabou from laying down, and the jig holds its shape better in the water.

Fuzzy

Silent Approach Jigs

I'd like to tie some of my own marabou jigs for steelheading this winer. Anyone know of on-line resources that provide "patterns" and instructions ? Jigs are completely new to me. Thanks.

I use strung schlappen feathers on my jigs and they work great year round in all water conditions for steelhead and salmon. The strung schlappen feathers that I use are 6-8" long and produce a profile that is completely different from any marabou feather tied jig.

With my schlappen feather jigs you can use scent oils and they will not bother the feathers at all. I have taken jigs that have been soaked in scent and once they are in the water, they fluff right out and work great.

Mark

[ 10-14-2001: Message edited by: First Cast ]

Hi Mark: I suspect that the strung marabou that you refer to is also known as blood marabou.It is in fact a form of pinfeather and indeed has very different properties from other marabou feathers. It was this type of marabou I referred to earlier. When clipped short at the hook bend there is sufficient stem in the clump to keep it from stringing.
In general I prefer fishing marabou either as jigs or flies in deeper slack water for coho. Current wisdom on northern steelhead is that the marabou should not be clipped but should resemble a pink worm and that a collar of black shlappen tied wolly worm fashion creates the fly called steelhead nightmare which is very effective.
coot

Hi Coot
Actually the feathers I'm referring to are strung schlappen feathers. They are completely different from marabou in every way especially under water. Below is a link that shows a picture of a strung schlappen feather.
http://www.flyfishusa.com/fly-tying/strung-hackle-sch.htm

Mark

I have hooked numerous winter steelhead in higher colored water WITHOUT the use of bait or plastic worms. You can use Schlappen in ALL kinds of water condition with or with out bait! Don't be mislead here guys. Yes marabou is an excellent feather for jigs BUT so is Schlappen.

I think someone must have pulled Stewies panty elastic too tight!
Chill Stew, it's just fishing talk

Bent Hook, that IS what Stew is doing - fishing talk. And why didn't you use your regular moniker; rather than take the time to register a new additional moniker just to do a lame put down post? Oh ya, because it would look bad for your product public relations. Hmmm.

Pepsi: take two; coming right up.

Hi Stew: Sorry I missread your post I have been using the strung shlappen for hackles on spey flies I find them softer than herron and like them better in moderate current flows.They tend to collapse in faster water.
coot

I've found that each material has it's own benefits.

Schapplen has a soft action,That's why I started using it when I designed my Worm collar,it gives a pink worm a little extra contrast and movement,that produces violent strikes.
It also makes a great low -clear ,small profile jig if fished correctly

Palmered Maribou is a real killer,it reacts totally different than "clumped on Maribou"
the breathing motion it gives jigs ,brings them to life IMHO better than schapplen,but it's tuff to compare the two because the kind of react differently....kinda

Palmered Rabbitt is another quality jig material,If tied correctly.
It has qualities simular to maribou,and takes scent better than the other 2,and cleans up great.Plus it is soo tuff,
Since I fish my jigs very aggressively
,most of my good jigs end up stuck in a snag.
But I got a jig (rabbit) at home on the "wall of fame" it's where all my jigs end up after they've produced,
that has been through ,steelies,chums ,cohos,and a few pinks,probably over a dozen fish easily,it still looks great ,chums are brutal on jigs

To say one material is better than another is tuff,but for all situations,I'd take Palmered Maribou,than Palmered Rabbit,followed by Schlappen,just depends......My .02....Os
Check these out Nobody produces more styles of quality jigs than.... Silent Approach Jigs

BTW BentHook,Stew's panties are always snugg....that way they don't fill up with water as fast.....

nice try RT,wrong direction



[ 10-15-2001: Message edited by: Osprey ]

Marabou jigs "breathe" in the water, meaning they expand and contract depending on how the water current is pushing on them. The marabou pulsates in even the stillest of waters. Sounds like the jig you had probably had something on the marabou i.e. some kind of oily residue. Jigs are like any other kind of lures, they need to be kept clean and in good working order to perform their best. I have a little 1/8th oz marabou that had about 15 Steelies on it going into the trip this morning and got 3 more today and is still ready to catch a number more....cleaned in river water at the end of the day and air dried.

If you will take a small bottle of liquid soap with you and wash your jig feathers before you use it the maribou will fluff right up for you.Try it at home in a glass so you can see,before washing it will look like a stick in the water after washing it will fluff right up.TRY IT.
Bob