We all have our favorites and preconceived notions as we load the plug bag or reach into the tackle bin, as to what is going to be the sure fire lure for that outing. This off season's reading has lead me to the conclusion that I need to try, use, and get more confidence in the bucktail.... Guess I am just a slow learner.

So, what is your favorite bucktail, in what conditions, and which heads do you think are the right shape, weight, etc?

Thanks for your input

I use white JoeBaggs bucktails with a red pork rind at the Canal. Weight depends on the stage of the tide but if it's really humping on a new or full moon 4 and even 5oz.

White bucktails ben berry berry good to me over the ages.
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In the surf I usually throw ¾ to 1.5 oz bucktails depending on conditions. Jigging inlets/breachways 1.5 oz up to around 3oz. I usually go with a pork rind trailer, 70S I think is the size. For the most part I stick with white on both the bucktail and the pork, I’ve tried other colors (black, wine red, chartreuse etc…) but white seems to catch as well or better than others the majority of the time. I like the bullet style over the smiling bill. Joe Baggs bucktails are what I usually throw.

I use white JoeBaggs bucktails with a red pork rind at the Canal. Weight depends on the stage of the tide but if it's really humping on a new or full moon 4 and even 5oz.Where is the best place to buy them Paul?? Thanks.

You thinking from the surf or boat.......or both?

Need to explore both to find out what I am missing

I stick to white in 3/4-1.5 ounce. I only really fish them in rivers but I always seems to have a few in my bag all season. I use a white curly tail on mine instead of pork rind (laziness). I use JoeBaggs about 95% of the time.
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3/4-1.5oz for the surf, white or black

Instead of pork strip I use the otter tails, they never dry out and you don't even have to take em off when your done fishing
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I also use 3/4 to 1.5 mostly. Smillin Bill usually with long white curly tails but occasionally pork rind. White mostly but sometimes yellow and wine red.

I hit fish on cutty 2 years ago at a spot where people fished heavily for 2 nights previously and they didn't do that well. I had a decent time on bucktails until the tide turned.

I love bucktailing.

If you do not have John Skinners book on bucktailing......get it.

It really made a huge difference for me.

I like 1 -1.5oz white smiling bill bucktails with red pork rind for fishing the whitewater...

Andrus jetty casters or rip splitters in red black and white. Add pork green on white red on black and red. "Shallow" sweeping water. Just low enough to bump the occasional rock. Fished like a riggie. Weighted for location.
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I usually us 3/4, occasionally 1 oz. andrus jetty caster or blue frog. White. #50 pork in red/white or white. 10 ft light action rod (1201L) helps keep it up in shallow rocks.
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My favorite is the old south county secret weapon... A 1 ounce white with white pork under a casting egg.. Dropper leader length is about 2 feet. No egg? Use a popper and tie the leader to the tail.
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South side of cuttty screams for the egg at high tide.
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hey ross my father and I throw alot of bucktails all over our area and do quite well any were from 3/4 to maybe 1 1/2oz from the boat.

Highly recommend the bucktail books by skinner and doc muller
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I used Bucktails 99% of the time last year....the fish loved them. I used 1 oz white with a chartreuse curly tail grub (like 3 or 4"). Relatively cheap and cast a mile on light tackle. Heck, I didn't even have to jig them.....just cast and reel, the curly tail grub provided the action!!

We were fishing an area last year with a few other boats in the area....we were throwing bucktails and consistently catching. They were throwing plugs, spoons, and rubber......and we were the only ones catching. A few boats came up to us curious on what we were using. Bottom line, they work. And you don't need to be an expert.

Now if I could only make the ones I tie look as good as the ones I buy.....

Oh and the blues ravage them. After a couple bluefish, you can say bye-bye to the bucktail hair. But, save the lead head an hook, and try tying some up yourself. Unfortunately, I can't give you any tips there. I suck at tying bucktails.

I really like the Joe Baggs head design. Looks right to my eye. Just need to get a hold of him, as I am not a FB member. His soft plastic jig head is of interest to me as well.... Guess I better locate those bucktailing books too.
I might even try tying a few as well. Probably after locating said books

I really like the Joe Baggs head design. Looks right to my eye. Just need to get a hold of him, as I am not a FB member. His soft plastic jig head is of interest to me as well.... Guess I better locate those bucktailing books too.
I might even try tying a few as well. Probably after locating said books

he is a member here on sb.

joebaggs99

I will pm you his email.

As for bucktail types. I kind of like Skinner's philosophy on them.
They all work but each may have conditions where one outshines
another. If you read his book, you will get the details.

I pretty much stick with joebaggs, andrus, and bluefrog. Each type
has attributes that I like and use them all. Bullet or split.

What I like most about Joebaggs is that they are sort of like an
andrus jettycaster but with a much bigger and beefier
hook...especially in the smaller weights. It makes releasing the fish
much easier and it can cull out the micro nibblers. I also like that he is
a local to MA....and a great guy.

His naked jig heads are the best I know of.

Wow, lotta great info as always, I was surprised at the wgt. that most used for the surf and jetties, now I know. Bucktails are a go to for me, I mostly river fish the upper Hudson spawn run in spring. Try a bunch out. I tie a lot of my own in crazy colors,size and length, but white is a go color for me. check out my jigs in my pics!

I wish joebaggs would make a smiling bill bucktail
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I use canal specials from M&D's in the 3&4oz. sizes. Use sloggos, savage bodies, or eel bodies with them.

Would someone care to post some pics of JB bucktails please.

Would someone care to post some pics of JB bucktails please.

google is your friend for these sorts of queries....

looking at the images of them....it reminds me of another thing I like
about them. They have a huge hookeye that makes it easier to use
with TA clips. Some smaller weight bucks (under 1 oz) on the other
brands have a tiny hookeye and often will be even smaller because
of the powdercoat/paint clog. Having a bigger hookeye translates
for a free-er motion....which equals good.




if you facebook...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joebaggs-Bucktails/257208321020661

http://www.saltwateredge.com/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/650x/smushed_040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/j/o/joebaggs-bullet-bucktails-white.jpg
saltwateredge has them....
http://www.saltwateredge.com/joebaggs-bucktails.html

a thread with all sorts of pics...
http://www.thehulltruth.com/fishing-miscellaneous-items-commercial-sellers-only/501327-naked-painted-jigs-coming-soon-finished-bucktails-8in-curly-tails.html

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the great reviews. If anyone has any questions please feel free to PM any time. Many pictures can be found by googling joebaggs bucktails or finding my page on FB called joebaggs bucktails. I mostly make bullet jigs but can make smiling bills if asked.
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I have zero faith in Bucktails!! its sad I know .. I have a few in the bag in case

But the spots I fish have lures already assigned based on past success

Bucktails catch no doubt but I don't see them any better than other tool in my fishing tool bag ..

With that being said if i didn't care what fish I caught.
a buck tail would be my 1st choice hands down

You dont always want them to sink, try stuffing the body of a grub tail right up to the collar, cut off the grub tail and add a pork trailer. Trying for that neutral bouyancy 😉
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I'll take a storm shad over a buck tail any time the current is under 3 knots
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I'll take a storm shad over a buck tail any time the current is under 3 knots
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That would be about 5ft/sec
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Finally got around to ordering some JoeBaggs bucktails and soft plastic jigs. Just hope I did it in time for Cuttyhunk......\\


Joe says I will have them for the trip, but he is busy.... either filling new shop orders or restocking others' shelves. He must be doing something right!

Bucktailing was going to be more of a focus for me this year too.

I made about 30 trips this year and i think i used a plug once. The rest of the time is all bucktails.Since i screwed up my elbow few years ago I fish them easiest to fish without the pain. Depending on location anywhere from 1/2 to 2 in most situations. If i got to go with 3+plus I am a bystander with my elbow
Mostly andrus or magictail and always with uncle josh either 204s or 70 strip. heard about otter tails but never used them
Simple, keep it as close to bottom as possible without hitting it with a twitch of a wrist every few cranks. Yes, they are even better in rocks than sand although you need to pay a bit more attention to speed or retreive and size. Sand is a lot more forgiving. Ross, did you read John's book ?
If not I will bring you a copy

My favorite is the old south county secret weapon... A 1 ounce white with white pork under a casting egg.. Dropper leader length is about 2 feet. No egg? Use a popper and tie the leader to the tail.
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I remember old man #^&#^&#^&#^& and his son at that exact spot few years ago tossing a float with a half ounce bucktail and catching fish
I don't like the approach but I tell you what, McKenna can tell you he was the only guy catching fish that day

Zeno, that would be great. Great place to read, great topic to read about.

you got it pal

I'm a huge fan of the Spro minnow head bucktail in sand eel and white. I use them at night, river and have had quite a bit of success, stand alone without any rinds. I like 1-3oz for where I fish has a ton of current. You know where I fish Ross, so yeah.

upperman style with pork rind.. I bought molds for 4 sizes... 1 1/2 - 1/2 over 30 years ago....I've caught more fish under 20lbs. on them than any other single bait or lure..

I've got a lot of poured no paint of buck tail.. your welcome to some and can finish them yourself Ross... I might even have some powder paint you can have..

Depending on location anywhere from 1/2 to 2 in most situations. Mostly andrus or magictail and always with uncle josh either 204s or 70 strip. heard about otter tails but never used them. Simple, keep it as close to bottom as possible without hitting it with a twitch of a wrist every few cranks. Yes, they are even better in rocks than sand although you need to pay a bit more attention to speed or retreive and size. Sand is a lot more forgiving.

This. Though I will give a shout out to Blue Frog 1 oz. bucktails.

For the inlets I use from 3/4 oz to 2.5 oz White you need just enough weight that you are just gliding over the bottom and will still sink into the holes). 3+ oz. I save for storm or heavy sweep conditions. If back bay, beach, or back of an inlet, 3/4 oz. white or chartreuse.

I do like the Red color rind with my white bucktails but I doubt it matters. Usually I'm lazy and will just use white grub tails on everything.

Retrieval like, Zeno said. Though there are times where you can use a 6" weighted Tsunami shad just like the bucktail and it will outproduce...

Got a to a spot on saturday, had a quick 4 fish on topwater. After that i couldnt raise a fish. They just werent going to come up. I switched to a 1oz Blue frog with a red rind and that was the ticket. Had another couple good sized fish then the bite died.