bucktails for the canal

[puppet]

I have been bucktailing the surf for the last couple of years. I like it.

I am new to jigging the canal. I have been a couple of times with
mixed success.

Looking to pick up some good jigs.

From a search I have done on this forum it seems like going with a
round head is the way to go as it probably be the most familiar
method for me. In the surf I use a bullet head style jig....but I read
that these tend to hang up easier....I would assume the same goes for a smiling bill.

Can anyone recommend a manufacturer or a company I can buy
some round head bucktails from? Looking for jigs in the 3-5 oz range.

Also, if your preference is not with the round style....and know of a
company that makes canal appropriate bucktails, please feel free to
chime in as well.

Thanks!

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

I use smiling bills and that's it
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[BEETLE]

Same here-same as 40 years ago. Personal preference, although round heads make better sense

[puppet]

If you guys use smiling bills....I will follow your lead.

I know a lot of you guys pour/tie your own, but if you didn't where would you get bucktails \
over 3 oz? I am having trouble locating a source or even a manufacturer that make them.

Thanks!

[Rappin Mikey]

I bet it might be a great time to practice. Not that many people there yet. Also, never knoooww?? Watch somebody first. It is a bit of a different game.

[massbassman]

Steven, the Edge has Andrus BigEye bucktails from 3-5 oz.
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[Saltheart]

Lots of guys use plastic tails on their jigs instead of tied bucktail. Some guys put plastic tails on their tied bucktails.

I have bare jigs for sale in 2 , 3 , 4 , and 5 oz. The fives are all Smilin Bills. I have balls and Smilin Bills in the other sizes but I have no tied up bucktails right now.

[tinyboatbigfish]

Hi puppet if you look on craigslist I saw a guy there but don't know if anyone else has any ideas
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[Matt D]

puppet, most all the canal area shops have 2-6 oz bucktails. If you already have smiling bills no reason not to use em'. I prefer either bulletnose or spirepoint and don't find that they hang up any more than other styles. I feel they have less drag in the water and don't tire you out as much when retrieving back.

[zimmy]

Cape cod charlies has great prices on jig heads and canal special bucktails.

[Notaro]

Try whatever you got with you for now, any jighead would works and it depends on the condition and how it is being presented to the bass and I personally prefer bare jigheads with plastic rubbers and tins.

[Stewie]

Bullets and Sluggos from Cape Cod Charlie's, which is on the mainland, under the Bourne bridge.

[puppet]

Thanks guys for the advice.

I will wrangle them all. Leads and sluggos...smiling bills...bullets...

The Canal is super remote for me. My Folks live in Ma, but I live in
CT. I intend to fish the Canal in the dark hours so, getting to a
tackle shop will probably only happen when I am done, and wanted
to avoid driving from shop to shop to fill out my shopping list.

Any online distributors of the goods?

Originally Posted by massbassman

Steven, the Edge has Andrus BigEye bucktails from 3-5 oz.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Thanks man. I did look there.
they jump from 3.5 to 5 oz....and the 5 os iz on waitlist. Trying to
find a one stop shop to order from.

Thanks!

[puppet]

Originally Posted by Notaro

Try whatever you got with you for now, any jighead would works and it depends on the condition and how it is being presented to the bass and I personally prefer bare jigheads with plastic rubbers and tins.

Most of what I have tops out around 2.75 to 3 oz. Bare leads for soft plastics , top out around
1.5. More geared to the surf. The couple times I have been at the canal I have picked up fish
on the edges, and I can only fish the middles around the slacks, otherwise I had trouble finding
the bottom.

Do you throw the leads with 9" or 12" plastics?

[Ian]

I like the paddle tail shads for stained water instead of sluggos... vibrations really get them going

[Saltheart]

The best tails for the canal right now are 7 inch Fin-S-Fish if you can find them in Alewife color. In about 2 weeks almost anything will work but I prefer 8 inch curltails.

[JohnnySaxatilis]

Originally Posted by zimmy

Cape cod charlies has great prices on jig heads and canal special bucktails.

they have great prices on everything

[puppet]

Hmmm...paddle tails....

I have a ton of big hammer swimbaits left from kayak fishing in CA.

I will try some in the canal this year.

The fish out there loved the christmas tree.

[Notaro]

Originally Posted by puppet

Most of what I have tops out around 2.75 to 3 oz. Bare leads for soft plastics , top out around
1.5. More geared to the surf. The couple times I have been at the canal I have picked up fish
on the edges, and I can only fish the middles around the slacks, otherwise I had trouble finding
the bottom.

Do you throw the leads with 9" or 12" plastics?

Both.

[Stewie]

For mail order, try Cape Cod Tackle. a sponsor of this site

[joebaggs99]

I personally make bullet jigs in sizes 1/2,3/4,1,1.5,2,3,4,5 ounces that might be of intrest to you. If you want pics I can post some or you can go to my fb page joebaggs bucktails and take a look. I support some shops but only with the smaller sizes. The 3-4-5 ounce bucktails are what I preferr in the canal. Take a look and if you have any questions let me know.
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