Can the "Okie Mantis" Ruffle Fins on the Albemarle in 2014......A Diary of Allen Morgan's Creations

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Allen has taken advantage of my personal love for jigs and has turned out some awesome baits for 2014.....I'm all stocked up and you can follow along here for the story of the "Mantis Jigs".........

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Best is yet to come for these Allen......the rivers that I wanted them for have yet to warm up.......I'll be hitting all my favorite rivers in the weeks ahead so it's getting exciting......

[Allen Morgan]

Good, looks like it's going to be a solid producer!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Here's a solid Spotted Bass stuck with the "Mantis"

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I have been waiting for our water clarity to improve which begins to occur in earnest when water temps begin to rise above 50 degrees and millions of micro organisms awaken and begin Mother Nature's natural filtering process......Although not completely there on many local rivers, I decided that I would fish the Pink Mantis today and it turned out to be the best day for the mantis jig to date but obviously it's early season and fishing will improve.......I caught a mixed bag of 48 fish including bass to 17"......several female Black Crappie over 13"......some medium gills and 3 nice warmouth which is always a good sign that the sun's rays are warming deeper these days.......

Thanks again for the quality baits Allen and I like the way things are starting for these Mantis Jigs......fished tipped with live minnows or crickets today for the best results......

[carl hendrix]

great  tutorial jeff!!  allen makes some really great flies and jigs!!

[Allen Morgan]

Excellent!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

This bait looks good in the water....my thought was since a black dominant River Critter worked maybe a darker bait such as the olive mantis might,,,,

Hard to argue with results like these.........

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I got to fish the olive version today for the first time.......caught a lot of small bass and some solid Crappie...tipped with a live minnow for best results....

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Super fly. I like that Allen used materials that are not traditionally thought of as "durable". - leave it to Allen.

[Allen Morgan]

Nice write-up, Jeff!  This season is going to be a nail-biter, for sure!  As Tooty says, "so many baits, so little time...."

I am completely flabbergasted that the Mantis jig is proving as durable as it has been.  Little, if any, damage, even when getting attacked by toothy fish!  I guess the twisting/furling of the marabou fibers really does add to the strength of the jig.