I'm feelin' like the Village Idiot over here, because I'm thinking that there is a very obvious answer to this problem! And I just can't seem to figure it out! :-[

Here's the skinny...I was trying to switch out the tail section on this Castaic "Real Bait" which has a hard head and soft tail.  It's a Gizzard Shad imitator, if that helps out any.

Literally, right there on the package (I went to Sportsman's Warehouse this afternoon and purchased a new one, just to be sure I didn't have an older model or something), it says that the tail has a "snap on" feature.  That you are supposed to be able to "pull back on the release snap that is exposed on the belly.  Lightly pry the head and tail apart and slide the tail up and off the head." Promises it will only take seconds, right ?!?

Well, as I mentioned, I am certainly not the sharpest hook in the package, but I cannot locate ANYTHING that even remotely resembles a "release snap" or the so-called "plastic insert that is attached to the surface of the tail".

A visit to Castaic's website yeilded no results, so I naturally turned to the guys that I trust the most anyways!

Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!  I really want to throw this lure, but I cannot even get it re-attached without glueing it, which will be my last resort.  Thanks!

THere is a clear piece of rigid plastic about 1/16" thick attached to the soft tail. I dont see this in your pic, however. To remove this, you would pull towards the tail on a small tab on the belly, then lift the whole tail up. It is a crappy system IMO. I remove the clear hard plastic and glue the soft part directly to the head with super glue.

I know that it says it is, but that doesnt look like a snap on bait to me, it looks like the old glue on hard head.

Jay - tks for the heads-up.  So, it sounds like you use this bait???  'Cause I KNOW that if YOU use it, it must be "off 'da hizzle" !  (that's East Coast, mid-30's something for "it's awesome, dude!")

Yeah - I got 2 of the heads, and I even bought an extra tail (packaged separately), and none of them has a thin, rigid plastic tab on the tail section  >

Another quick question - you mentioned super glue.  Do you mean the plain 'ole Super Glue that I can pick up at Wally World for like $2; or, do you have a fav Soft Bait glue?

Take care, and I hope that you're not still carpentering  :  You's gots to use 'dem mad skills for somethin' worthwhile!!

Bizz is right. That is an older version. Not a snap on. The bait was packaged incorectly. You nned to VERY carefully glue the 2 halfes together. Super glue is a apin and I always end up with it on my fingers. I would put a very thin coat ao each half and let dry. then put a little more superglue on them on push together.

Just so you know the snap on baits never caught on and the older versions are though of as the better bait.

I dont really use them. I have a bluegill and the 12" snap on. I mutilated the bluegill trying out a mod. The 12" gets fished some. Very poorly built bait though. Wish i could find an original hard head 12" of any color.

My favorite super glue is hobby store superglue. There are many different varieties, I use super thin cyanoacrylate for some things, and the thicker cyanoacrylate for stuff like this. It isnt high performance or anything, but 1oz costs 5.99 as opposed to the .13oz ones for $2. Pros Soft Bait Glue is an overpriced joke.

For repairing soft plastics (ie not gluing them to something) I use 3:16's "glue" which does nothing more than weld the plastic back together and leave it supple.

Matt, thanks for the tips.  I guess now I'm glad I ended up getting the "better" version !  Funny how things work out sometimes....

Now that I've caught my first real fish on your swimbaits (those smallies I posted last week), I am hooked on throwing big baits!  You've ruined me!

One last question....so, it seems like when you're talking about using essentially 2 coats of superglue, you're intending for the tail to stay on there permanantly.  Is that correct?  Or, is it ok to pull the tail back off again and try a different color?  What's your preference?

yes that is a permenant thing. The only time you would need to change bodies is if it got dammaged.

Honestly I have never heard much from any of the old Castaic hard heads except the trouts. The original hard head trouts were cutting edge and got bit. I just never heard of the other hard head baits doing good. I always thought they looked real good though.