Bucktail jigs for smallies input

[basser89]

Hey All,

Just finished a few bucktails I'm going to use for smallies. Let me know what you think!

If the pic isn't real visible, here are the colors. Starting top left going clockwise: green/chart, dark brown/orange, white, firetiger, black w/chart core.

Note: the blade I was going to use to trim the collar decided to break on me so they're still a little shaggy. :-[

[Keepin_It_Reel]

89, they look great to me nice job ;D If you trim them up just a tad the will be perfect

[BASSMAN1301599783]

They look good ;D What size are the heads?

[basser89]

Thanks guys!

These are all 1/4oz. Once I get what I want made and tested, I'll probably add more sizes (probably 1/8oz next) since that's normally what I do with other types of lures. After that, I'll start tinkering with painting the heads and whatever else I can think up!  

[Chris]

They look great You can take a razor and trim up around the head to make it look clean if you wanted to. There is a jig that I made for many years that I use for crappie and the larger size for smallmouth that you might want to try. You use a tube jighead and tie some Flashabou on the shank on the tube jighead and use some head cement to tack it. Make sure the that it extends out enough so that if you jig it the Flashabou will move like a bucktail. Now you take a piece of Mylar tubing and take out the insert. Now you fit it over the tube head trying not to get it caught on the line tie and feed it until it overlaps the Flashabou and still gives the Flashabou enough length to still swim if it was jigged. Now head cement the tubing to the jighead and flare out the tail end. Now stick on some eyes and fish. The jig looks just like a minnow with a scale pattern. Use the holographic style mylar tubing and you can airbrush or marker the back color and make use you trim up the nose and tack it to the jig to make it look clean. The jig kinda looks like a cross between a tube and a real minnow if you get to looking at it when its done.

[basspro48]

Thay all look really good, but you might also want to try flaring out a few of the strands of bucktail. Example, trim most of the skirt down but a leave a good amout of strands sticking way out behind it and try to make some of the strands on the side stick out. It sounds stupid but it has made all the difference on some of the jigs I have made.

[basser89]

Thanks for the input Chris and basspro48! After making some bucktails for my Dad, step-brother and my one fishing partner, I'm running low on a few tails now. Looks like I'll be making a trip BPS or Gander Mountain soon to stock back up. If my memory serves me right, they both carry the flashabou so I'll have to play around with you're suggestion a try Chris! Basspro48, my fishing partner suggested that too so I do have a that in my game plan for the next run I make.

Thanks again guys!

[Peter E.]

Those jigs look killer!!! I was just wondering was it possible to add a wire brush gaurd? I am trying to get into tackle making and I fish alot of cover where that wort of thing is essentail. Just wondering.

Peter

[basser89]

Hey Peter,

Thanks for the compliment!

I picked up these jigheads at Wally World. They had other jigheads with the weedguard. If you're looking at making your own jigheads, I'm pretty sure there are manufacturers that make molds that will allow you to add the weedguard. Hope this helps!

[Peter E.]

Thanks bud, When you decide to sell those things let me know! I'll put them to good use. I bet they would catch a limit of specks and reds, as easily as they would smallies. Thanks for the info on the molds.

Peter

[BronzeBack]

Good looking jigs.  As for painting the heads, try using a black magic marker. The best thing about that as the color wears off or gets knocked off from hitting rocks, you can repaint the heads right there in the field.  As for smell of the marker, all the jigs I have made are painted like that and I still catch fish