One Does get better

[redman]

In going thur some of my old things trying to find a 1950's jigs to post up. Sorry haven't found it yet but I did come up with some of the first jigs that I tied for Walleyes to fish the Des Moines River at Humboldt. Iowa. These were made some where around 1962 or 1963 when I didn't know what I was doing and to be truthful don't think few else did ether.

They did however catch a few Walleyes and I thought that they were great jigs. Just glad that I kept them to show and you can see that in a few decades I did improve. So remember even a rank amateur can turn in to a good tier given enough time and instruction. Enjoy



The jigs I tied less than two weeks ago are in the picture below.



Redman

 

[SaltyBuckster]

I see a little bit of improvement,lol.

 

[CrappieHappy]

Nice improvement...

LOL, Salty stirring the pot....

 

[Squeakyboatcaptain]

I'd say 50 years made a difference!!!

 

[Shoemoo]

Hey, if they caught fish that's all that matters.

I've never seen a head like the second jig in the first pic. Looks like it's only half there.

 

[redman]

Shoemoo your right I can remember getting a package of those heads from Herter's that were only half there. As I said before you took what you were sent and had to take them like it or not. This was one of those times that I didn't like it. It was a six month ordeal to get a exchange or refund from them. They were terrible that way every thing was your fault. Think that that was one of many reasons that Herter's went out of business. Believe that Herters family sold the name to someone in South Dakota and the company sold hunting supplies like Cabela's. Haven't heard of them in a few years now. BTW am still hunting for that jig to post up for you.

Redman

 

[Radtexan]

I aint showing any of my early jigs I bet they all will still catch Redman... Nice ties for shore on the later.

 

[Jig Man]

Thanks for the history Redman... There is a lot of things that I wish were as good as they used to be, but it's obvious tying material isn't one of them!!!!!

 

[jiggerjohn]

Hey Redman, Your newest ties are gorgeous,and I'll bet ,very functional! But if you'd throw your originals down into productive structure they'd sure turn a bunch of fish,too !! I like to tell buddies that I "purposely" tie jigs so sloppy looking that fish take em right away,figuring no human in his right mind would tie them that bad, so they must be real food!! Yet, I have a friend,originally from Austria, who'd never seen a jig until he started fishing over here (1980) for pike, He tried to copy what he THOUGHT he saw from others using jigs , and poured&tied a bunch even uglier than mine, using long dark hair from discarded women's wigs. Dipped em in rubber-like plasti-dip to seal threads and "color" the heads. If I'd mention his awkward ,unnatural looking monstosities have taken 50,000 pounds of pike(not counting big bass & muskies that he takes) in the years since (rarely working for northerns more than 2 weeks per year), I'd be understating!

 

[StumpHunter]

Thanks for posting the lice, enjoyed seeing them and the newer ones.

 

[BucktailJiger]

Like a good bottle of scotch , it get's better with age ! And yes the jigs are true works of art !!!

 

[LedHed]

Very cool

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

I really like the new ties, looks like a Rock-A-Roo jig that the staff on In Fisherman used years ago. I heard they are making a comeback. Walleye and smallie killer.

 

[Fatman]

Don't know how many of you remember the original Worth Jig Tying kit that had the little vise of two pointed bars with a thumb screw but that's how I started and going through some more box's I actually found some of the first jigs I ever tied Um.. I don't think I want to post pics of them LOL.

 

[redman]

Come on Fatman be brave I did. We all don't want to admit it some times that we started out on shake ground.There are a few on this board that I have followed for a few yeas and some for a few months. I have watched them turn from a rank amateur to a darn fine tier. Some are still progressing and will be come super tiers and some will take years to to get to the advance levels.

One of the reasons that I posted these pictures is to give some inspiration ,some encouragement, others joy. I was not a good tier when I started out but knew that some day I would be better. Study, practice, and encouragement and instruction is what I needed. I was luck to find great tiers to instruct me and give me the encouragement that I needed. Inside of myself I found the rest. Now is the time for some of us to do the same. This is the time to step up to the plate and work with those new tiers. For its time to pay that debt and give back what we were given. They are our future we are a part of a fine past that needs to be never lost and the way to do that is to teach what we have learned. I am going to mentor those young tiers to make the Jig Craft a long and outstanding tradition worthy of those that came before me and proud of those that keep it alive after me.

Redman

 

[toadfrog]

Fortunately I had personal mentors after I turned 12 . My uncle and Rev. Kenneth Smith later on . Rev. Smith started Kenny Tackle back in 1948 . He sold me his remaining inventory in the 90's . Long story short My early jigs are pretty much the same now as then .

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Redman, you've come a long way for sure from what they looked like in the beginning to the great looking ties now. I'm never totally satisfied with my ties and there's plenty of room left for improvement in my tying. Hopefully our craft will continue for thousands of years.

 

[Fatman]

Okay Redman!!! LOL Circa 1974 - trying to copy stuff my Uncle and his friends wanted

 

[BucktailJiger]

Come on Fatman be brave I did. We all don't want to admit it some times that we started out on shake ground.There are a few on this board that I have followed for a few yeas and some for a few months. I have watched them turn from a rank amateur to a darn fine tier. Some are still progressing and will be come super tiers and some will take years to to get to the advance levels.

One of the reasons that I posted these pictures is to give some inspiration ,some encouragement, others joy. I was not a good tier when I started out but knew that some day I would be better. Study, practice, and encouragement and instruction is what I needed. I was luck to find great tiers to instruct me and give me the encouragement that I needed. Inside of myself I found the rest. Now is the time for some of us to do the same. This is the time to step up to the plate and work with those new tiers. For its time to pay that debt and give back what we were given. They are our future we are a part of a fine past that needs to be never lost and the way to do that is to teach what we have learned. I am going to mentor those young tiers to make the Jig Craft a long and outstanding tradition worthy of those that came before me and proud of those that keep it alive after me.

Redman

Well spoken words Redman . I am honored to have been chosen by one to carry on the knowledge and teachings that was forth given to him by his mentors . Thank you my friend

 

[AtticaFish]

We all don't want to admit it some times that we started out on shake ground.

That is a very true statement! I made some horrific flies and jigs starting out. Got the basics out of a pretty crude book and just made up the rest as i went along. Many of them fell apart well before they caught a fish! I have some of my early ties around here too... see if i can find the pics i had taken of them.

Fatman - sounds like the same vise i started out on. Was a $5 garage sale purchase back then that has exploded into a huge pile of lead/fur/feather/paint.