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Posts: 827
Location: Minneapolis,Minnesota | With so many bucktail makers out there and with them all being just about the same, what qualities do you look for when buying a bucktail?
Would you spend a few bucks more for a tail that is made of quality components or would you opt for the cheaper tail that may only last for a few fish?
The reason I ask is that I was to rep for a new bucktail company and after I recieved the product I didn't think the quality was up to par and they had a few design flaws like the treble hook tied straight to the wire shaft (I felt a clevis with a split ring was a better option). The owner wasn't willing to change his design and kind of had the attitude that if the tail only worked for one or two fish that just means the guy who bought it would have to buy another one. I didn't want anything to do with that kind of business ethic, but he insisted that musky guys would rather have a cheap bait that'll catch fish a wouldn't care if it was worthless after one or two fish. I thought that most would want a quality product that would last, I guess I would rather spend $15 once than $8 five times in a season. I thought with all the great bucktails made these days that quality would be most important?
What do you guys/gals look for in a tail? |
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Posts: 391
| Hi,
When I buy bucktails I look for exactly what you describe in a quality product. Quality hooks that can be cut and replaced without ruining the bait, lots of hair to pulsate well, quality components in beads, clevis, and blades. I also will look closely at the thread wrap. If it is loose, not glued, or seems of poor quality I would not buy the lure, due to the fact of the hair falling out prematurely. This is why I started to make my own, pick your own colors and components and viola everything you want. There are some really good bucktails out there, but I think you pay a bit more for them, which is well worth the extra cost.
Kly |
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Posts: 5874
| 1. I thas to make noise. If I can't feel it in the water, I won't throw it(or Buy it)
2. Hair, Boo, or Rubber. It doesn't matter, as long as it will pulsate on the retreive.
3. At least the trailer hook needs to be replaceable.
I use the following, and don't buy too many others. Boo Tails, Ghostails, Buchertails. Throw in a few TMTails, and I'm set. |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | The things I look for in a bucktail are very simple,
1. A blade that will start right away on the retrieve and continue to spin all the way in.
2. A tail that will pulse and flare. There is no better trigger in a bucktail than a quick turn of the reel handle to flare the tail to tease a following fish.
3. Quality components that will stand up to the toothy critters we chase.
I have become rather one dimensional with my bucktail choices over the last several years. I throw Mepps bucktails almost all the time because they fit the above qualifiers to a T. They also offer me the versatility to mix and match tails and blades because of their split ring design giving a fourth bonus quality---versatility. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I second what they've said. One thing I do like is a little thicker wire in big tails. It just seems to hold up better. I look at the blade thickness as well, the thicker the better. I pretty much only throw Eagle, Voodoo, and Shady tails myself. I haven't had much luck with others where I fish. |
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Posts: 440
| I agree with all of the above.
1. blade must spin immedidately, no jump starts
2. Cast in the wind
3. must be tough enough to take the beating.
4. .051 wire is a minimum
I started making my own as a way to load my box for less money. What I didn't plan on was that making lures is almost as addicting as the fishing. A person can dream up whatever and just make it, if it don't work you trash it and take the parts on to the next experiment. My favorite is my version of the Mepps Maribou, I use siwash hooks on mine.
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | I agree with the above with one acception. The wire that it is construted on must be of good quality, or you'll be replacing them with one or two fish, unless you can rerig your own wire through it. The mepps have a smaller diameter wire, but are built in 2 pieces, which adds to the overall durability, and also gives off a different vibration. That, I believe is why they work so well. I also make my own, but would have to agree that mfgs shouldn't skimp on components for cost. Musky guys are looking for good products, and as you see with most guys on this board, we aren't afraid to put out the $ for a good product. |
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | Lot's of good points made already.
I always look for quality components, durable designs, etc. However, none of that really helps you catch fish with them.... other than by extending the life of the product. Thus, I put most emphasis on the VIBE they produce and the resistance they provide during the retrieve for control and sensitivity.
Obviously you want a lure that catches fish and lasts a long time. However, if you can only have one of those... I'd go with the producer. |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I look for a bucktail that is well built, and produces! Mepps have never let me down, and never will. They are cheap to buy, but not cheaply made. I want a bucktail I can get deeper than 2 feet without having to fall asleep while retrieving. Something easy to retreive without a ton of pull, and can be burned effectively. Spins from the start of the cast, and all the way to the boat! Versitility! I want to be able to mix and match blade styles, single or tandem hook set-up, and color. Mepps bucktails has everyone of these qualities. I need to look no farther than Mepps for what I need.
Edited by CiscoKid 12/16/2003 12:14 PM
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| I look for quality and I want my bucktails to last forever. I have Mepps Musky Killers from my early days that still work great, and I have a collection of Buchertails that also work great. These bucktails stand up to multiple fish, and the construction enables you to straighten them out and replace the hooks/tails/trailers if necessary. I just started using the Mepps Musky Marabous and those are the best looking bucktails I have ever seen in terms of action, they really appear to breath as they move. Sometimes colors don't matter at all when fish are hot, but most times color really matters.
The only baits I accept as throw away after a couple of fish are plastics, but even those you can sometimes repair to fish again. |
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Posts: 827
Location: Minneapolis,Minnesota | Treats, Good point on blade thickness. That was another issue, the blades that were used could be bent with little effort and I felt such a thin blade wouldn't give off much thump while being retrieved.
Though I do use the Lily Tail alot and it has a thin blade, but I use it almost exclusively for bulging over super shallow structure or walking it over lily pads and around timber. |
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Posts: 303
Location: Valentine, NE USA | I'm a Mfg'r. so I might be biased, but I'll try to answer it from my past "consumer experience".
At the top of the list is quality. I'm one of the few who will pay a premium for a quality product...(no Wal Mart purchases here, Buy Cheap=Get Cheap). I look for tight, compact heads on the tail, lots of hair or feathers, and every layer of hair or feathers needs to be firmly cemented. If the hair prematurely falls out, it's of no use. The head will be a good determining factor in the quality of tying. If the heads are tight, symetrical, and compact, it's probably a professionaly tied tail.
I think hair on coils vs. hair on the hook is purely a matter of personal preference. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Wire...needs to be strong enough to withstand a big fish but, not so heavy that I can't bend it back after a tussle.
Hooks...need a round bend, and be able to hold an edge. I prefer the VMC Xstrong.
Components...Solid bodies and solid beads. Painted, or not. No plastic, hate to run one into the rocks and have an important part fall off! The brand/style of rings is also very important to me.
Blades...Quality finish is important, be it polished metal or the paint job. I also like the heavier blades since they give off a deeper tone and the sound travels farther and they thump harder.
I also belong to the "Buy American Made" crowd...as should everyone! The 7 yr old girl in Taiwan doesn't give a rat's a** the quality of my lure, only that she can get supper on the table.
My best advice to Joe Angler...educate yourself on what's out there. Pull it off the shelf and REALLY look at it. Also look at what's available to us, as manufacturers, as far as components are concerned. Then, determine what YOUR NEEDS are. Compare similar products. You'll be surprised by what you might find.
My 2 cents....
Brian Sanger
SLM
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I bought a couple from Brian at Snowcrest but have yet to fish them. I would like to put in an unsolicited plug for his lures. The quality and heavy-duty components are awesome. I can't wait until spring. I bought them off eBay (of course) and then he even upgraded from 3/4 oz to 1 oz and changed blade color for me. Awesome service and product.
psst brian, you still got my address for the free spinnerbait? haha |
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Posts: 303
Location: Valentine, NE USA | lobi-
Glad I could be of help.
I have your address on file. I have about 10 irons in the fire right now but, shoot me an e-mail about the spinnerbait...we'll see what we can do.
Brian |
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Posts: 169
Location: Pewaukee, WI | Alot of great points, I will add: •I prefer the brands where the blade spins right away, I've used a few where your jump start has to be as hard as a hook set. •I do like the way the Mepps Musky Maraboo tail section rotates on the retreive. The spinning firetiger colors look great •Hooks on splitrings •Unique color combinations The brands I use: VooDoo Tails (hair), Mepps Marabou (boo), Slowie and Llungen (rubber) and Rabid Squirrel (squirrel) |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | Adding in all the other things posted above one thing that is most important to me in a buctail is weight placement or balance.The buctail needs to land on the water tail first,straight and ready to crank the second it is in the water and the blade must start instantly.Most fish that I catch using buctails are in those very first few turns of the blade or first couple of feet of the retrieve.I have found that most heavy blade buctails do not fit this catagory,they have to be cranked fast to get started and on some you loose a couple cranks on the reel before they do.
Capt. Larry |
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