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]

It takes time but luckily I don't fish at night anymore so I'll have at least an hour a day to keep everyone up to speed......LOL.....I look at it as pay back for the guys that have spent time making baits in many cases that were not their normal tie for Bluegill......so many folks are fascinated that 1/32 ounce is so productive around the Albemarle.....but I'll tell you.......you got to have it to hold the bites around here.......

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

Great tutorial Jeffrey and this is a big job you are taking on !!! So many bugs to try and so little time , as my buddy Phil Used to say......

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Allen has created these tube jigs to my liking in 1/32 ounce and things are going to pick up fast in the weeks ahead as we head towards the first day of Spring........

Last weekend the mantis hooked gills, crappie and a lot of small chain pickerel....simply known as "jack fish" in this region.....fun to catch but most folks are unhapopy when the chain breaks the surface.......Big days ahead on the Albemarle for the Pink Mantis and I was also fortunate enough to receive some in olive......

This is one of the better fish to date on the Pink Mantis.....no complaints here.....Stay tuned as business picks up in coastal North Carolina.......

[carl hendrix]

allen;s ties are terrific!!  a fantastic  fly;; jig maker!!    SPRING IS COMING SOON JEFF!!  I SAW PINK BUDS ON MY TREES TODAY!!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I traditionally don't target gills with 1/32 ounce jigs until our water temps reach at least 60 but I had to try a mantis today regardless and it represented well on the few Crappie I caught......seven total and were all caught on the Pink Mantis tipped with a live minnow.....The Crappie were all 10-11 inch class fish and this is very encouraging for the first time out.....

The gills were active today on a steep slope but the 1/32 ounce in any variety proved to be a little larger than the gills wanted on this cold day...... but I still managed four gills despite the challenges..

Pink Mantis tipped with a live cricket...

The ones that hit this bait today hammered it but the best days are ahead for these larger baits......Come on Spring.......