tying skirts, what am I doing wrong?

[Millerman]

So, I am trying to tie my skirts with stainless wire but my skirts aren't sexy like other's.  What I mean by this is that I have a color pattern I want and when I twist the wire around the jig, my skirt gets clumpy, not evenly spaced and my colors aren't lined up the way I want.  I am just doing this by hand...do I need a tool to hold the silicone on the jig while I twist?  what is the secret of getting the skirt evenly spaced?

[Triton21]

Pictures?

[dink]

Put a normal rubber skirt collar on it first.  Now put the skirt on the bait and flare it or space it however you want.  Finally, wrap the wire just above the rubber collar and secure it (the wire).  Now you can slide the rubber collar off and use it the same way with the next one.

[Triton21]

Nice tip Dink, Wish I had thought of that.

Kelley

[Millerman]

Thanks guys, I have tried the collar trick without much success.  better than without, but still not 100%. The problem with the collar is when I try to cinch the wire tight, that is when it is twists, and clumps up. Any other thoughts?

[dink]

Make 3 to 4 wraps with the wire around the collar area before twisting it tight.  That should keep all the strands neatly in place.

[senko_77]

Thanks guys, I have tried the collar trick without much success.  better than without, but still not 100%. The problem with the collar is when I try to cinch the wire tight, that is when it is twists, and clumps up. Any other thoughts?

Dinks tip about 3 or 4 wraps is perfect.  That is exactly how you tie on bucktail to jigs.  It secures it and helps it to flare, but if you wrap it once, it twists.

[River jigin]

I use a fly tying vise and I think that makes it easier to tie the skirts on the jig heads. It helps keep the jig head in place. If your trying to put one layer on the other it is best to tie the bottom layer first. Wrap thread around a couple times and it holds it on but it is loose enough to move the skirt into place and once you have it how you want it, tie the top layer on and do the same thing. Then wrap around the whole jig to keep the skirt in place.