Alternative for bucktail on jigs?
 

Looking to make up more smilin bill jigs because I'm running low and friends are asking for some. I've tied bucktails on my jigs in the past but was wondering if there's a more economical and less time consuming way of dressing the jigs up. I was looking through Jann's Netcraft and found rubber skirts which would probably fit the bill. The one I'm looking at claims to "breathe" when being retrieved. Has anyone ever tried this before? Does the jig really need the bucktail? Any opinions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Tobias

Like a Hairball Lures jig? You should check those out - might be an option....

..as far as "needing" the bucktail ??.... I don't think it "needs" it....I'm sure some type of rubber on the end will also bring success....Sluggo/FinS/GotStripes Jerky.......although the buck adds a different dimension to it as opposed to rubbers.

...I've also been in the market for a substitute, and FW is probably thinking that I'm forgettin about her....but I'm not!!....


...I was at a craft store this week lookin at feathers...:eek: :rolleyes: :laughs: :happy: .....but they didn't have any tar!!!.....

I always put a trailer on my jigs be it grubs or some other plastic but do the jigs necessarily need to have the bucktail tied on them. When you have a 3oz jig the bucktail seems to lay flat since the jig is sinking so fast so what's the point of adding bucktail? The rubber skirts that I've seen in Jann's look like they would be very easy to put on the jigs. You just slide it on and glue in place.

I guess my question is, is it necessary to have bucktail tied onto the jigs if you are going to add some sort of trailer? What's the purpose of the bucktail?

I received this idea from a fellow fisherman a couple of weeks ago. I havent put it to the test yet but will in the near future.

Take your banana style jigs minus the bucktail and thread a 4 1/2-4 3/4" hootchie squid up the hook. Depending on the diameter of the squid some will be able to go right over the entire head(depending on the size of the jig).
The fisherman noted that his best luck was using a glow squid.
These hootchie squids dont come cheap but it is an alternative to tying bucktail!
FYI> There is a guy(from Canada) that sells these on Ebay.
He goes by the user name : super_flea@telus.net.

I would imagine you could also take a large tube bait and do the same. I think you would want to lengthen the tentacles a bit prior to do this.

If anyone uses these or tries this please post your results!!

You could also run the Nylon Hair comes in lots of colors and is either Crimped or straight. It's easier to work with than deer tails because of it's uniform length (6", 8", 10") It is sold by 2oz. or by the Lb.You can run it longer up past the head for that breathing action (Parachute type jigs)
when your buy the shop next time check it out.

Hey I don't even paint my shad heads or bullit jigs! You can use grubs, sluggos, big jerks, shads and lots of other plastics. My big concern is getting the jig to match up with your trailer, thats why GS's big jerks go great with the bullit jigs I pour! SPAM!

Hehehehe....

It depends on where and how you are fishing them. If you are rolling it on the bottom in a current , the plastic tails are fine. If you are drifting it out and letting line out to bounce the bottom up and down , I like the bucktails cause the hollow hair puffs in and out creating good body. You can also put a plastic tail on the hook of a fully tied bucktail. Then you get the body from the bucktail and the wiggle from the tail. Last but not least , skinjigs are about as deadly as anything gets in the jig world and theres no bucktail on there.

So it all depends on where and how you are fishing your jigs.

I've sold a lot of fish hair to guys who say they use it for making jigs.