Flaptails and the Action!

[BigFish]

Built some proper traditional Flaptails (spook style) and have been fishing them and I am not sure if I am a huge fan of the action??? They cast good, and move good but not sure if I care for the flaptail??? Thinking of removing it and adding a simple bucktail flag or a bucktail siwash???? Any thoughts from any of you who fish these???

[numbskull]

If you love plugs you are cheating yourself by not fishing a flaptail. The hits are often spectacular and very definitely they add something to a spook, particularly when fish are reluctant. They cast poorly and are best used from a boat/kayak.

Good flaptails, however, are difficult to find. Many of the old designs come in straight. They work, but the ones like the Lido (that Paul builds) and the PT Jude Flap-a-long (the small plug with extreme sloped face) can be walked like a spook and look better to me.

[BigFish]

I knew I could count on you George! Mine do walk pretty well and yeah they are definitely better from the yak for sure! They are modeled in the Lido style! They do work great in the ditch and mine actually casts quite well much to my surprise! I guess its the Flaptail that gets me.......how exactly should the flaptail be acting? Spinning or just fluttering as it goes along?? Takes some getting used to?? I love the way it moves! Its going out in the kayak with me this weekend over some boulders!!!!

[iamskippy]

Pic?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[numbskull]

The flip and flap all over the place, then splutter if you rip them. I think they work best if the attachment is offset to the bottom of the plug rather than hung off the through wire (although I've used them both ways and both work).

The lido style rolls a lot so take that into account when painting them.

Also, I think a line tie under the chin rather than on center helps the plug.

[BigFish]

I will try to post some pics! The line tie is under the chin and the flaptail is offset as PaulM gave me a dozen of his flaptail hangers some time ago!! Someone should start making them!!!

[Sgt Striper]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I will try to post some pics! The line tie is under the chin and the flaptail is offset as PaulM gave me a dozen of his flaptail hangers some time ago!! Someone should start making them!!!

Yea, I only got one!

[BigFish]

Here is a pic of my Flaptails! The Blue one was the one I did for PlugFest when we had the Flaptail contest to honor Steve Shiraka. I wanted to make a couple to fish (the blue one I wanted to keep) so these two are for my bag! Close to the specs of the Lido style the action is quite good....still trying to figure out how best to trigger strikes, only had them out a couple of times so far! The Flaptail hangers were compliments of ProfessorM! Props to his fine craftsmanship!!