Northwest Fishing Reports

With the flooding keeping me home, I had some time to update the blog and tie some jigs! Check out my blog here -

http://www.natetreatfishing.com/late-season-steelhead/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Those R so PREttY! LOL
Lookin good Nate!

Nice looking jigs. For Steelhead I have had the most success using white and orange combinations, but I see that you have a lot of pink and black there too. If you were to give a crash course, how do you typically pair your jig sizes and colors to water clarity/conditions?

AJFishdude wrote:Nice looking jigs. For Steelhead I have had the most success using white and orange combinations, but I see that you have a lot of pink and black there too. If you were to give a crash course, how do you typically pair your jig sizes and colors to water clarity/conditions?

I generally use an 1/8 oz jig for steelhead. In really heavy flows, 1/4 oz works has a bigger profile. I run orange and pink, with some white mixed in. As for color, I stick with the regulars. Mostly pink. On the Skook, nightmare jigs work really well. It always has a lot of color in it, and nightmare jigs have contrast and great visibility.

On the Skook, nightmare jigs work really well. It always has a lot of color in it, and nightmare jigs have contrast and great visibility.

Thanks for the tip Nate. I don't have any nightmare patterns so I'll have to pick up a few of those.

AJFishdude wrote:

On the Skook, nightmare jigs work really well. It always has a lot of color in it, and nightmare jigs have contrast and great visibility.

Thanks for the tip Nate. I don't have any nightmare patterns so I'll have to pick up a few of those.

It's a versatile pattern. It was one of the first jig patterns I fished. The first time I had ever heard of bobber and jig fishing, it was a fishing guide that I worked with at a plumbing shop. I couldn't believe that they'd bite 'em. I can't tell you how dumb I felt throwing a red and white clip on with a lead jig under it, but he said it worked, so I did it. I don't remember the pattern, not sure where I got it. At the time, there weren't a lot of options in my local stores either. Every time I fish floats it's hard for me to shake that skepticism, and I remember that first trip to the Skookumchuck. But then I also remember the big giant gnarly red firetruck coho I caught on my little trout rod. I can't remember how old I was, but I remember that day.

I dunno what happened! I blame Mike.

natetreat wrote:I dunno what happened! I blame Mike.

I took care of it...

pink with worth and worm mmmmmmm

Those are some good looking jigs. Been missing out on the Steelhead season due to illness, so looks like I'm gonna have to tie up a bunch of jigs since I can't fish. I'll have hundreds by the time the Summer Run's show up.

BlakeP wrote:Those are some good looking jigs. Been missing out on the Steelhead season due to illness, so looks like I'm gonna have to tie up a bunch of jigs since I can't fish. I'll have hundreds by the time the Summer Run's show up.

That sucks. Get better quick! Unless I'm bed ridden, I can't see myself able to not go fishing for more than a week.

Yeah it's been driving me crazy not being able to get out there. But at least it hasn't been one of the best steelhead seasons. Plus I do think it's a good time to get into tying jigs. I bought a bunch of fly-tying equipment and materials from a guy who had just quit fly-tying a while back, and I still haven't used any of it. So I have enough materials to probably tie up a good amount of jigs.

I have never tied my own jigs but would be interested in trying it. Anybody know of some good tutorials out there on how to do it, or have any tips to offer?

AJFishdude wrote:I have never tied my own jigs but would be interested in trying it. Anybody know of some good tutorials out there on how to do it, or have any tips to offer?

A good instructional video to start with can be found right here on WL:
http://www.washingtonlakes.com/WatchVideoHD.aspx?id=163

All you need is a vise and a thread holder thingy. You can get set up at a fly shop. Marabou and chenille are all you need. I pour my own lead, but you can buy jig heads pre-painted, or blank. I use powder coat and vinyl paints, powder coat is a lot easier. Make sure you get head cement, that keeps your jig together for a lot longer. Ted's in lynnwood has everything you need.

Great, I'll have to check out this info, and I know right where Ted's is too. I look forward to the day where I catch a fish on a jig I have made myself.

AJFishdude wrote:Great, I'll have to check out this info, and I know right where Ted's is too. I look forward to the day where I catch a fish on a jig I have made myself.

It's very rewarding to catch a fish on a fly or jig that you tied yourself. I started with simple marabou jigs and have progressed my patterns from there, but find that the simple marabou and rabbit fur jigs produce just as many fish as any fancy looking ones that I design. However, I find creating/tying them fun too, so don't mind spending the time at the vice. The jig I caught my first two steelhead on were UGLY, but effective. Coho twitching jigs are fun to design too.

The thread holder thingy is called a bobbin. I've found the vice is the most important tool in this process. I prefer mine to clamp to the table and make sure it will hold the hooks secure. It's a pain when you're trying to tighten down your wrap and the hook wants to slip in the vice. Additionally you'll want a pair of sharp scissors with pointed tips to get in and snip the thread/material where you want it. I use clear fingernail polish vs. head cement, but head cement is probably preferred. Nail polish is just something I've always used and my jigs rarely come apart before I lose them or damage them on snags.
There are a lot of youtube videos on fly tying basics and many on jig tying patterns as well. Start simple (i.e. marabou, rabbit fur strip, or yarn jig. You can always cut the material off a jig you don't like and start over. Some may tell you to get a whip finishing tool, but tying a few simple half hitches to finish the jig off does the trick just as well.
Although I plan on pouring/painting my own jigs some day I currently buy the AeroJig prepainted jig heads. They come in packs of three (1/8 or 1/4 oz) in various powder coated colors and use Gamakatsu hooks, which are plenty strong. OE has them for less than $3 a pack. I think you can buy pre-powder coated heads on Ebay for a better price, but haven't done it. I've also purchased unpainted AeroJig heads and spray painted them (two coats, primer and then color of choice). The paint doesn't hold up as well as powder coat, but they do work, just make sure the lead head is clean or wiped with alcohol or some sort of degreaser to get any oils/residue off of it prior to painting.
FWIW.

I have started using a dab of crazy glue and have not had a single thread come apart. With head cement the jigs would be falling apart after a couple of fish. Finish my wraps, a small dab of glue then whip finish then another small dab. I was concerned with scent but there has not been a drop off in bobber downs.

a good whip finish eliminates the need for cement. i never cement a jig and never do they come apart. you can google it. if possible learn to do it without a tool. faster, better, tighter.

skagit510 wrote:a good whip finish eliminates the need for cement. i never cement a jig and never do they come apart. you can google it. if possible learn to do it without a tool. faster, better, tighter.

Yup. I do sometimes use a dab of superglue if I have it. You can also lightly coat the thread for the last few wraps. I've tried a few different jig heads and these are the best IMO.

http://www.bradsjigs.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;