Help - Tail dress but no hook, how?
 

I've noticed some plugs that seem to have two belly hooks and a tail hook. But upon a closer look, it seems that the tail is simply some feathers/nylon wrapped on a split ring?

Does anyone have a close up picture of this? I have tied some nylon & flash on a siwash hook but don't quite understand how ones ties this to a split ring? Or perhaps I missing something here. Can anyone help please?

Thanks.

Here's a picture of some Hab's & Tatto plugs, notice the tail on the egg and Junior Swimmer. How is this done?

Its not tied on the split ring, it's tied on what looks like a hook shank w/ the hook cut off (probably not) or maybe just a piece of stainless thru wire ( more economical). :huh: Tattoo's Jr. Swimmers have these instead of a tail hook.

I editted my prior post to include a pic of the jr swimmer also. Perhaps it is wire but I sure would like to see a close picture.

Here's one

I just use a piece of wire :-}

sorry not close enough try saving it and blowing it up on photo shop or something

More than once I've seen the tail wrapped to a small screw eye :smokin:

-spence

I just tie on an open end hook and cut off above the shank.

Spence is right on that one now that I think of it. Only problem w/ that is if you want it on an existing plug you would have to re-wire it and that's not possible on some plugs.

Why can't use just use a small split ring on the screw eye :eyes:

-spence

My bad I guess you could. :hidin:

they use a hook and tie the bucktail on, then cut the hook.
You can also use a screw eye but a cheap hook is more economical

Why cut a perfectly good hook???? I prefer the siwash tail all dressed out, actually I swap out the tail treble for that hook most of the time.

Take a piece of stainless wire, make a bend in it like you would normally do for a line tye on a thru-wire plug. Instead of straightening out the wire to insert in a plug, cut it. You now have a loop with an open end. Tie the bucktail or whatever on the length of wire like you would for a siwash hook. Slip the loop over the tail loop of the plug and close with pliers. Simple, cheap :D Give me a minute and I'll snap a photo or two.

Jigman

Here is an example all tied up and one attached to a plug. The advantage of the wire over using a hook is that it is lighter, so your plug will have more tail swing. That may or may not be a good thing depending on your plug.

Jigman

why would you have to re-wire a plug if you use a screw eye??? Salty sells perfect stainless screw eyes for this and I do it on some of my swimmers. Its nice because the threads on the screw eye really hold the thread nice. The screw eyes come with an open eye, so all you do is crimp the loop of the eye around your tail loop. :huh: \

No tail hook = no saber toothed golden eyed bastaages :yak6: :bl:

I use stainless screw eyes I get from moores lures.. You can buy them open ,, closed .. in different lengths.. I think the thread on the screw hold the rap better .. there cheap ..

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have plenty of screw eyes from my "non thru drilled" days so I am going to try some out. I'll post my results once done.

No tail hook = no saber toothed golden eyed bastaages :yak6: :bl:[/QUOTE]


Eben, so I take it that you believe because blues will slash the prey in the aft end, as opposed to a striper that wants to inhale it and therefore is targeting the head, not having a tail hook will reduce the number of blue hook ups????

Hows dat for a run on sentence :smash:



If this is true, someone ought to dehook all of Clammer's gear ;)

Absolutely Nightfighter. Its especially true when your fishing a metal lip nice and slow. Not once have I had a bass hit the tail... not once. Bloos on the otherhand will always whack the tail. Bass swallow bait whole so they have learned that swallowing a baitfish head first is less dangerous for them, while the bloo chomps their fish. chomping the tail first imobilizes the fish so they can chomp away at the rest of it..........

I used to do the same thing but bluefish would pull em off.so now I make a little rap out of the wire or use screw eyes.i also got a box of old small open eyes I cut the hook off of.I have also used brass sinker eyelets.

ever have a blue take the end of your eel off .. like when ever there around .. like the brass screw eye thing

I use scrap thru wire like sandman, but I put some knicks in the part where I tie on with a pair of wire cutters.

Tied some tail hooks today and also tried with a screw eye. Top three are obvious, bottom one is a screw eye. Thanks everyone.

Nice pics Moses, i got alot of work to do on my photography.:smash:

No bluefish down this way, but probably not a bad idea to do that anyway. Thanks :)

Jigman

How about the old Mustad squid eyes, I have a bunch in size #4/0, boxed per 100. A #3 split ring fits nicely thru the hole,the wire is even flattened on the end so the wrap would not come off.
I can have Norb Post a pic tomorow.

Tinman - Get that pic posted, txs

All those bits of leftover SS wire are perfect for tails. Just twist a loop and tie it up. I use small inexpensive split rings to attach them to the plug.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...ntWithTail.jpg

Here are the pictures of the squid eyes. Tell me what you think Moses.
Overall Length: 0.945"
Inside Ring Diameter: 0.077"
Outside Ring Diameter: 0.190"
Wire Diameter: 0.060"

http://www.njtackle.com/shop/images/...E-7723A-P1.jpg

http://www.njtackle.com/shop/images/...E-7723A-P2.jpg

Those squid things are a cool idea. Could they also be done open eye so you would not need a split ring, or do the rings help them swing better?

Jigman

I'll take the whole box of squid eyes.Not for tail raps for squids.
PLEASE

with a face like that how could i possibly refuse.
ill drop em off at marks store today if u want. got lots of em


jiggy, sorry they only come in closed eye like that, they are no longer made by mustad far as i know.They are new but Old stock,with the good plating. i was going to make some small Tins with them but never got around to it.Hate to see them go to waste sitting here if someone could use them.

While we are on this topic, what is best way to attach a flaptail blade to the rear of a plug? Looking at the old plugs like Striper X-Pert and Masterlure, they look like they are attached by some sort of wire. Not that I have to attach them traditionally of course, so long as it has an even keel and movement. Thanks.

Tinman - those seem to be better than stainless screw eyes. How ya selling them? In batches of what #?

Hey Johnny I saw U at the canal last night.

Who is Johnny?

Packs of 100 (click here)

yeagh, I was the bluefish king til 430am,shredded lots of rubber and 2 plugs but i got no bass. joe s got 2 bass, taxi Bob was there with no rod ,glad to see hes doing better. Hes very happy he doesnt have a heart problem which is what was suspected, the guys only 47. This weekend should be real good,water temp is just right.

moses,
they come in the original nice little boxes of 100, wrapped in wax paper. Got plenty of them.the eye diameter is a little tight but #3 split ring fits nicely so it should swing just fine.