I am just starting to use these baits. As I've read many post here singing there praises. However, I am wondering what you guys find more effective; using the baits with the appendages together, as they are in the package, or seperating them? Thanks for the help.

When I use to use RI beavers, I split the tails 100% of the time. Perhaps one of my posts was one you read singing the praises of these baits...no doubt , they catch fish BUT, I switched to another bait (Havoc Pit Boss) and they work as well if not better.....Plus I don't have to be embarrassed to tell my wife and/or kids the names of the baits/colors I use and want them to pick up for me if they are near the tackle store....IDK, maybe it's just me, but I find it far easier to explain to my 9 year old daughter what a Black/Blue Pit boss is , than a Sweet beaver 4.20 in Penetration, or Skinny Dipper in Money shot....I am not "upstanding morals for all" guy, but for some reason, this bothered me this winter, so I rid myself of R.I. products, it was easier having tons of success last season with the Havoc stuff, but still, I probably would have done it anyways......rant over...............wow, way to get off topic. LOL

I always split the tails also. It has been and still is one of my favorite baits.

Haha sweet beavers and kinky beavers are a must.. And yes you have to split the tails .. Like he said I added another beaver style bait this year.. The missile baits d-bombs and baby d bombs..I haven't touch the sweet beavers since I started using these.. Don't get me wrong a sweet beaver is still one of my go to baits.

There are times when not splitting the tail is the best choice IMO. Many times, especially when using a smallie and the bite is slow, I do not split the tails. I recommend trying them both ways and let the fish decide.

I'm with WW2Farmer, I always split the tails because when I use them I want it to fall with a little more movement, that seems to work better here in the northeast.

Check out the Missile Baits D-Bomb, it is imho, the best of the beaver style baits.

I've gotten good results with the Smallie Beaver with the tails intact while fishing for clear water smallmouth. 

 

They are good baits but, like others, I find the description of the colors to be distasteful rather than clever.

I always split the tails for more movement in grass. I also add a skirt and cut it short for a whole lot more movement.

Frank

I've gotten good results with the Smallie Beaver with the tails intact while fishing for clear water smallmouth.

They are good baits but, like others, I find the description of the colors to be distasteful rather than clever.

Oddly enough i leave the regular size beaver tails connected but i split the smallie beaver tails lol

I love the RI beavers, but i alsi employ he missle d-Bomb and the pit boss with good success

split the tail 90% of the time. the other 10% is when bite is slow , as in after a front

I like them but I like the havoc pit boss and missle dbombs

Split 'em

Mike

I dropped them in my pool years ago and it didnt look any different split or intact.  I split them cause it seems to release some salt or something in the plastic.  These baits just glide, thats the draw.  Well my opinion anyway.  Good luck and try it both ways!

Interesting. I almost never split the tails on the Sweet Beaver. I think the bait glides better with the tails connected.

Half and half, half of the times I split the tails, half I don´t; it depends of what I want the bait to do and how I rig it so, there´s no rule of thumb. Btw, split the tails rig it backwards weightless ( by inserting your hook between the spli tail ) and the bait will sink away from you if allowed to sink on a slightly slack line.

I split them all the time.  Not sure if it matters or not though.  I do think they have more action split when the bait comes in contact with something hard.  Seem to dance a little more?  Tom

What is all this talk about beaver, tail, money shot, etc.

HAVE YOU NO COOTH!! Rant over pervs.;-)