Thread: Bucktail jigs

This is one I tied up. Using a feather, but you get the idea. It's about a hooks shaft length from the back of the tie in point to the tip, or a hook shaft length exposed, even though the quil is wrapped to the hook shaft all the way back to the head of the jig. Then wrap the chenille back to the end of the thead. Hope I explained well enough you understand it.

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Got it. Mind if I ask what kind of feather that was? Do you use specific sizes?

No I don't mind sharing at all. It's a Barred Maribou feather MFC brand. I picked it up at fin and feather fly shop in Springfield, Mo. But I'm sure you can find them from most fly shops. If not MFC brand I'm sure there are others. Size, we'll, I usually use what I need of the feather. Like if it's longer than I need, I'll measure what I need from the tip back, and try to only cut the center stem. That way, the barrels of the feather may be used on another fly/ jig by stripping them from the stem, and aligning them up before tying them on...

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For example, the tail of this jig came from a portion of a feather this size. It would be a big waste if I only used that little bit and discarded the rest. So measure what you need, pulling the remainder back toward the thicker part of the stem and cut the center stem. That leaves the barrels on both sides for future use and saves you money. To help tame the feather, you can dampen your fingers and stroke the barrels away from the cutting area. Makes them a bit more fully and easier to contend with...
Hope I explained this well enough.

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I've been using marabou Road Runners for a LONG time. I've been trimming the marabou tail back for decades, snipping it off halfway between the curve of the hook and the longest strands. I started doing that when I was getting a lot of "nippers" that were just grabbing the end of the tail, most of which were small Bluegill, but some were Crappie (and not all of them were "small").
I have a Tiger Muskie on my wall that was caught (Crappie fishing) on a chartreuse marabou Road Runner that has the trimmed tail ... and it's still hanging out of the fish's mouth. The Muskie was caught in 1985. I haven't had many strikes on my "trimmed" Road Runners that didn't end up with a hooked fish.
My trim job makes the length of the marabou, past the bend of the hook, about the same length as the bend of the hook to the point of the hook, more or less.

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I've been using marabou Road Runners for a LONG time. I've been trimming the marabou tail back for decades, snipping it off halfway between the curve of the hook and the longest strands. I started doing that when I was getting a lot of "nippers" that were just grabbing the end of the tail, most of which were small Bluegill, but some were Crappie (and not all of them were "small").
I have a Tiger Muskie on my wall that was caught (Crappie fishing) on a chartreuse marabou Road Runner that has the trimmed tail ... and it's still hanging out of the fish's mouth. The Muskie was caught in 1985. I haven't had many strikes on my "trimmed" Road Runners that didn't end up with a hooked fish.
My trim job makes the length of the marabou, past the bend of the hook, about the same length as the bend of the hook to the point of the hook, more or less.

So your sayin', if I'm following right, your trimmed tails are about as long as the Gap of the hook point. Distance from the point straight accross to the shank of the hook?

Originally Posted by Jamesdean

So your sayin', if I'm following right, your trimmed tails are about as long as the Gap of the hook point. Distance from the point straight accross to the shank of the hook?

No ... I said my trimmed tails are about as long PAST the bend of the hook as the point of the hook is from the bend of the hook. But, that was from fuzzy memory and me just eyeballin' it back then.
I took the Muskie's RR out of his mouth and measured the tail, and it's 1/2 inch long (past the hook bend). That makes the length of the whole 1/16oz Road Runner about 1.5 inches long.
(note: the gap between the hook point & hook shaft is only about 3/8 inches)
Again, I'm just eyeballin' the halfway point of the marabou tail past the hook bend when cutting the tail down, so actual lengths may vary a skosh.

OK thank you for the clarification C.P. Sometimes my mind gets a bit foggy, So I ask to get my mind wrapped around the right things, and get it all aligned and straightened out and going in the right direction, I hope...1/2 inch past the bend of the hook. Kool, and thank you.