Hair jig color modifications

[JS Patterson]

I have been on a hair jig kick lately and I am wondering if anyone has any good methods of modifying hair jig colors after they are already tied. I was thinking that a sharpie may work to add dark accent colors. Will it hold its color? Will it change the texture of the hair? Averse scent/taste to bass? I have both craft and natural hair and I haven’t tried acid dying yet but may start doing that before tying if I have a specific pattern in mind. 

[Jig Man]

It will work for a while then fade.

[dopey]

Sharpies will work but will fade!  You can dye hair to many colors - The craft fur just buy the color you're looking for it doesn't dye very well.  

 

For the natural furs you can dye them many colors.  I use Fly Dye from Anglers Workshop http://www.anglersworkshop.com/Water-Fowl-Feathers/Anglers-Fly-Dyes

 

If you're thinking of doing hides and then cutting into zonker strips it's VERY HARD.  It's taken me a few years to learn what little I know so if I can help let me know!

[WRB]

If the hair is a natural light color it's possible to add different colors by using a dye like the above. However it's been my exoerience you need to consider primary colors changing other colors to something you may not like or bleaching the hair before trying to change colors. I gave up trying unless dying lighter hair jigs to darker colors.

Tom

[JS Patterson]

I am only in need of a few colors. I always use a version of brown, purple, green and/or black when tying bottom contact jigs. I cut a fox tail into sections and the dye worked well. There was slight variation in the shades of purple depending on the starting color of the fur underneath but I like the way it turned out.  I will have to fish it a while to see how it holds up. 

[MickD]

Do it, it will hold up quite a while.  Fly tyers do it all the time.  What works best is to add barring with the sharpies.  There's something magic about barring, whether it be cranks or feathers or hair.