bucktail jigs vs. soft plastics

[shawno]

How many of you guys use bucktail jigs as opposed to soft plastics and if you do, how would you rate your success rate compared to using the plastics?

 

[ignoblis]

I actually use the two together ie a curly tail grub or paddle tail minnow with the buctail like a jighead. It creates more noise in the water.

 

[shawno]

I tie my own bucktails as a deceiver fly…bucktail and feathers. They cast a mile when the feathers and bucktail are wet. They also last when being hammered by toothy fish unlike plastics when one toothy fish equals one plastic. The guys in PE(Alcocks) introduced me to bucktail jigs years ago and was sold on them after fishing at Vidal

 

[Alton]

Had no luck on bucktail yet , but the plastic is working for me

 

[shawno]

I find in clear still water they often suck…maybe because they don’t look as real as the plastics. But in the surf where there is often more turbulence and so on, they work like a charm. Also sometimes the darker colours are the way to go instead of the usual white!

 

[couta-koppie]

I use to be a huge bucktail fan. Fished with them everywhere I went and yes, Vidal was the best spot for me too. Must admit that I do find that soft plastics is a lot more versatile. I mean, where will you find a bucktail that can catch Blacktail like a camoworm???

Any which way, I rate soft Plastics tops. They work where bucktail work and work where bucktail don't.

 

[shawno]

A question maybe not quite related to this topic, but has anyone tried fishing the true drop shot way? I use this method a lot for bass fishing. The action imparted to the soft plastic is really excellent as its basically static and weightless. The ‘bait’ is always hovering and is never simply at rest when no action is given by the rod. This is how I fish 3 inch flukes for bass with good success.

 

[shawno]

 

[couta-koppie]

That is called down shot

 

[Gerhard]

Bucktails last a very long time compared to plastics.

Drop me anywhere in the world and give me one lure to use and I would choose a 1oz white buck tail jig.

 

[camstaude]

imported post

 

[camstaude]

[color=#006600]shawno[/color] wrote:

 

 

Is the hook attached or is it free to run up and down?

 

I have seen this sort of thing before and would like to try it.

 

[camstaude]

[color=#006600]shawno[/color] wrote:

 

 

Is the hook attached or is it free to run up and down?

 

I have seen this sort of thing before and would like to try it.

 

[Jacquesdw]

"I mean, where will you find a bucktail that can catch Blacktail like a camoworm???"

I am not sure why everyone raves about the camo worm- I have tried it but with not much success but the 2" New Penny Sandworm...................

 

[Homie]

It is attached, else when you reel in, the sinker will run up to the lure.

 

[FLUKE]

The subject of dropshot / downshot rig has been discussed before and Jaccil posted some links with videos of the different rigs & action. I just can't seem to find the thread. Maybe Coutakoppie can remember?
Jauquesdw, that new penny colour is excellent, I think it is close in colour to a sandprawn.

 

[shawno]

The hook is tied onto a leader line using a Palomar Knot. This knot allows the hook to sit at a 90 degree angle to the leader line and the fluke does swivel around and twist and so on. The hook must ride upright. I prefer to body rig the fluke instead of nose rigging it. I've pasted an image on how to tie the knot.

 

The beauty of this rig is that when using a heavier sinker, the bait is still fairly ‘lively’. It’s not laden down by a heavy jig head. Try it in a swimming pool and I bet you’ll be quite impressed with the action. Also, you’re always in contact with the bait. Any tug is transmitted immediately to your rod especially with braid. Hope this helps



 

 

[couta-koppie]

That is some nice photo's Shawno. Good stuff.:first

 

[shawno]

a pic of my bucktail/feather jig. the long tail section has an excellent action.

 

[neilg]

Shawno

haven't tried the TRUE dropshot method yet, but there's so many things I see on this site that I have never tried, time is limited, but

I think that method would work great with a paddle tail in tidal water like a river mouth, cause as the tide pulls out (especially on a spring tide) you soft plastic would look like it's trying to swim against the current.
Nepps told me to try it out a while ago, but haven't yet.

And to those that are saying camo worm is over rated, no it's not, people tend to go to heavy on jigheads with them, go light, very light and let them wash around in the white water ... DEADLY. On the heavy ones they simply drop to the bottom where no fish can get to them anyway.

A bucktail with a curly tail is always good, and you should always have a few in your light tackle box ! It really is the most "inexpensive" yet most versatile lure ever made. They cast a mile, can be used anywhere, and don't let someone tell you that a bigger blacktail won't take a small bucktail (you get tiny ones), THEY WILL TAKE THEM.

You know what all of our anglers biggest problem is, when we find a lure that works we tend to only use that one lure, so have little to no results with our other lures.

Next time you get to a spot, DON'T take out your favourite lure, first try some of your other lures before using the old faithful. You might be surprised.

If you think the "artificial" worms work, then try the real thing, musselworms ARE DEADLY and so are PERIWINKLES when targetting blacktail! Break a few periwinkles and use them for chum in the white water when targetting blacktail.