I cannot take credit for the idea, just the pictures and post The white rubber pieces are from a cheap bungy strap.
Step one: Clamp the rubber material in your vise securely.
Step two: pull the rubber tight, and spin the rubber leg material, or your vise (if you have rotary) until releasing pressure slightly causes a similar twist as shown.
Step three: Once again pull the rubber material until it is tight and no twists are visible. Then Apply the color of your choice with a permanent marker. Going over it repeatedly can lessen the barred effect and pattern. A single stroke along the length of the rubber will create the most uniform barring.
Amount of twist, tension, and number of times you go over the rubber with the marker will all vary the effects. Experiment a bit to find what works best for you.
Well Norm, if I had actually seen the video and not had the process described to me I would have just posted the link, I’ve removed my pictures so your happy…
Just so we’re clear guys - I learned the techinique from the guys at WAPSI at the Southern Council Conclave. It’s such a great and innovative idea, I had to share it - I wish I could take credit for thinking it up, but I can’t.
A written description for those without highspeed…
Take a single strand of rubber leg material about 6" long and clamp one end in your vise.
Clamp the other end in some english style hackle pliers.
Give the hackle pliers a good spin, twisting the rubber strand. The amount of twist will determine the spacing of the barring pattern. More twist equals tighter spacing.
Slip a finger into the hackle pliers and apply some tension to the twisted strand. With permanent marker in your free hand draw a single continious line along the full length of the strand. Take care to make the line as straight as possible and to not allow the strand to twist while drawing. Do not go over the line a second time, you only get one chance!
Hold the strand under tension a few moments to allow the market to dry, then release the tension.
The result is a spiral line draw ‘candy cane’ style along the length of the rubber strand. While this is not really a barred stripe the spiral has a very similar look. Adjust the amount of twist and tension as needed for the results you like!
I know a fellow that made bass and panfish bugs in Alabama in the late 60s early 70s that used this technique to get ‘barring’ on the legs of his bugs…His name was John Hickman…he also owned a printshop in Huntsville that did a lot of the publicity printing for NASA. He told me his uncle showed it to him. His uncle made a living tying crappie jigs with barred rubber legs…I doubt he was the first.
Little of the stuff we see here is truly ‘new’, but it’s always nice to see this kind of stuff. Not everyone who reads this board knows all the tricks, and regardless of who originated it, it’s nice to see it passed along…
Frankly, I’d rather see it posted so folks can learn about it. Who cares who’s idea it is?
Exactly - lets share the info, and I am really pleased I saw this.
I hate it when the argument begins because somebody somewhere sometime did it different or “I thought of it first.” Jeez, so many people have been doing so much stuff for so long to tie mostly the same flies, how could you know if some little technique or hint you want to share for nothing just to help people out was done before? Chances are it would have been anyway.
Different thing if your’e trying to sell it to us, but mate, for just trying to share info and help out, who cares. Thanks for sharing this anyway, you went to a lot of trouble and I appreciate that.
Good evening,
As Mr Gringo stated “but mate, for just trying to share info and help out, who cares. Thanks for sharing this anyway, you went to a lot of trouble and I appreciate that”
I don’t care where anything came from either, as long as people share in a common direction… hey would the World be a better place if everybody shared a common idea.
This is flyanglersonline.com and WE share with all who view this site. I think that is why JC and LF created this site. Everyone needs to understand that we are not like other sites. We are good people here and we strongly believe in sharing.
Thanks so much for the great idea that you shared and I really do not care who came up with it first. I just appreciate it that someone took the time to share it. If the truth was know, the person who really came up with the idea in the beginning shared it and was not looking for credit for it. In this world today, there are just too many people running around “blowing their own trumpets”.
The above are just my opinions and nothing more and they are not meant to offend anyone…
my problem is that even permanent markers don’t hold onto the rubber materials. Have tried sharpies, magic markers, pantones, etc. and the color rubs off easy when I am working with it.
Not sure if it will help you guys, but I seem to remember seeing a lure marking pen and fluid in a cabela’s catalog years ago. Not sure if it is still there as I haven’t looked, but if you check out their lure making sections you might find it and that may work.
