How to Tie Bucktail Jigs (with lots of pictures)
Ever wanted to tie your own bucktails? Well here you go. I decided to put this together for the folks here, if you see this posted somewhere else not by me or without my permission please let me know.
With that out of the way, here's what you'll need:
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail1.jpg
1 yellow chartreuse bucktail (any color)
head cement (applicator optional)
1 bobbin with heavy thread, red (color optional, but use as heavy thread as you can find, mines 3 stranded nylon)
scissors, regular tying scissors or heavy duty
whip finisher, large size if tying over 5/8th oz. jigs (optional if you can use your hands, I don't reccomend using half hitches to finish)
straight razor blade (not shown, optional but makes a pretty finished product)
X jigheads, collared (not barbed) (painted any color, 3/8th oz. white with red eyes and mouth (standard) is shown)
tying vise, capable of handling 2/0-5/0 saltwater hooks (larger or smaller if for other uses)
Step one:
Start your thread at the collar, stopping a few turns before the head.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail2.jpg
Step two:
Pinch a portion of the bucktail, for best results use the top 2/3 of the bucktail. If it flares when tied down go up the tail a little. This is a good amount for a 3/8th oz jig, you should use more as you tie larger heads.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail3.jpg
Step three:
Cut off when you have the amount needed, practice will show you how much to use. Sparse jigs have more action, but try for 1 solid layer of hair.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail4.jpg
Step four:
Get a good grip on the bundle of hair, then trim off the ends evenly. It doesn't have to be perfect.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail5.jpg
Step five:
Hold the hair in place over the hook as shown, with the hook between the two fingers.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail6.jpg
Step six:
Make 3 loose wraps around the hair but with enough tension to hold them in still, you can let go now.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail7.jpg
Step seven:
Push the hair all around the hook, going in one direction, usually away from you. If your vise rotates, feel free to spin it around to make sure you get it even.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail8.jpg
Step eight:
Back off one wrap, then pull as tight as you can without breaking your thread, wrap it back now as tightly as possible. Not wrapping very tight from now until the jig is finished will let the hair fall out, and the inital wraps over the hair are the ones that count! I usually hold the jig in the vise near the collar and wrap to prevent the hook from moving up and down (not slipping, just the hook giving). If your hook slips, tighten it down or you may need a new one...
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/uploads/bucktail9.jpg
Step nine:
Now make one wrap right over the top of the last one, keeping the thread tight, then wrap forward until you just touch the head with the thread. Unwrap once, then take your straight razor blade and trim the hair straight against the head. Notice how neat the wraps are, this makes a much better looking and more durable jig.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/up...bucktail10.jpg
Step ten:
Wrap forward to cover the hair, then back until 3 wraps will have you at the end of the jig again. Whip finish here pulling down tight, apply head cement and allow to dry for a second (blowing on it helps dry, if it turns white looking you used too much).
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/up...bucktail11.jpg
Step eleven:
Wrap forward to the head, stopping 3 wraps short again. Whip finish, pull tight, apply head cement.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/up...bucktail12.jpg
Step twelve:
Cut the thread close to the wraps, you can use the razor blade to get it very close if you wish, just be careful not to cut any other threads. Scissors work fine. Your bucktail will probably look something like this with the hair on one side.
Click below, I was over the allowed number of pictures in a post.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/up...bucktail13.jpg
Step thirteen:
Lift up on the hair and let drop evenly over the hook. Your finished jig should look something like this.
Click below, I was over the allowed number of pictures in a post.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/up...bucktail14.jpg
Notes and tips:
Make sure to keep your thread as tight as possible after you do the loose wraps (and tighten them down, too), if you don't the hair will fall out after a few fish, or even if you pull on it.
Avoid unnessicary wrapping. I used to do this, to "make it look good" but tie very tight and keep it neat and you will have a good looking jig that won't fall apart. Those first wraps are the ones that hold it, extra wraps on top don't hold it down, I promise, I know from experience.
So you're worried about bluefish biting through the thread? Well, that's why I did the two whip finishes. If one fails, the other should hold it. If you still have problems, a little 5 minute epoxy may solve them. Personally I haven't needed it.
To test if your jig will hold up, hook the hook around a stationary object/pole/whatever and pull on the hair hard. Your fingers should slip off without any hair coming out. If a few come out that were tied down (some may have been short and didn't get tied down) it will start a domino effect, giving them more and more space to let the others come out.
If you mess up, no worries, just take the razor blade to the thread (be careful please). Jigheads are worth a lot more to me than a little hair and thread.
Your head cement is only there to hold the threads in place so they don't unwrap, not to hold the hair. The tight wraps do that.
How do you paint the heads? Well the best thing to use is powder paint and then bake them so the paint won't chip off. For a quick fix, tape the hooks with masking tape and hit them with a coat or two of spray paint. To paint the eyes and mouth just dab it on. It doesn't have to be perfect.
What other colors can you do? Well I do a lot of white with colored feathers in them, but these are simple and effective. You can do any colorw you want. Here's a few I have in my box.
Click below, I was over the allowed number of pictures in a post.
http://www.smoothlures.com/images/up...bucktail15.jpg
I hope this helped some, if you need any help or have any comments please feel to post. If there's any interest I may show how to do feathers and multicolored jigs.
