Palmering Marabou Jigs

[Will Wetline]

OkobojiEagle's post, "Stacking Marabou vs. Palmering," rekindled my interest in working with this fine feather.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/245309-stacking-marabou-vs-palmering/#comment-2815248

 

In the past, I had gotten frustrated working with this fluffy stuff so, before making another mess, I did some research and turned up one excellent video and a second well worth watching:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WjQkfU_cSQ

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPUotb8qN4w

 

 

Let's start by looking at a few items on the bench. Clockwise from 12:00, you see a jar of head cement which penetrates well and is more controllable than thin super glue. Next is a cut down strap with a tab of velcro on the end used to smooth out ruffled feathers. You definitely want a waste container. Above the bobbin with a spool of 210 thread is J. Stockard's Deluxe Hackle Plier which opens much easier than English hackle pliers.

 

https://www.jsflyfishing.com/products/hackle-plier-deluxe?variant=43244906447077&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2cWgBhDYARIsALggUhrokqLaKRzhhSRTdpZgi1aejOYIT0CTWrpJy-1-OVe6HbPhHfX-8jAaAiaOEALw_wcB

 

 

Here's a 3/32 oz. Midwest Finesse head with an Owner 5313 size 1 hook. Continue the thread base down the shank if you want to add a wire bait keeper (Do-it WB-800) for a piece of soft plastic.

 

 

This is the marabou you want. $4.15/pk. from J. Stockard.

 

 

Full, fluffy, thin-stemmed. Note the curves in the stems.

 

 

Wetting the tops will keep individual feathers (barbs) out of the way when tying in. Stroke and hold back the rest best you can. Leave enough stem to grasp with hackle pliers.

 

 

Around and around she goes. Smooth the feathers back as you wrap. Don't set the hook in your flesh. Patience thin? Take a break and remind yourself that tools can be bought but patience must be developed.

 

 

First feather tied off and second progressing. Be careful not to wet feathers yet to be wrapped but you can dampen a couple of fingers and stroke down those already secured. 

 

 

Saturate the finished wraps with head cement.

 

 

Have your wondered how these delicate offerings hold up? The jig on the left is fresh out of the vise. The one on the right looks battle weary and it is. Many retrieves have dragged it slowly over sand, rock, rubble, and along the way it had been taken by five smallies. It will be back in action when my season starts in a few weeks.

[Jeff Zurawski]

Thanks a lot for you post WW.  I am new to tying hair jigs and have only dabbled in 4-leggers' tails so far, but been curious about doing feathers.  This will be a great reference point for me!

[CGarber]

Beautiful work! I have often struggled with this myself and will definitely try your method. Many thanks.

[PaulVE64]

 .To add to the knowledge base, marabou can be bought many ways.

As part of a full patch or in small bags.

They come and are labeled as strung, blood quill or select and wooly bugger.

Blood quills arevthe best for palmering.

Most often you stack the tails and palmer the body.

If you want classic minnow colours tones then you have to stack them as a rule.

Always have the densest area be at the head, use tapering for a better swim.

 

Edit - smalljaw is the forum master of marabou  he has a youtube channel worth watching.

 

[Munkin]

For the life of me I cannot tie anything! Jigs, guides, whatever. Your stuff always looks great so I try again only to realize why I quit in the first place.

 

 

Allen