Bucktails

[Digs]

Sat behind the vise for a minute today. I've got 15 heads to tie. Anybody have any color combo recommendations? I've got a little bit of everything color wise. This is lavender orange and some pink polar flash......

[PoolGuy]

Nice work Digs....

[800stealth]

That's looking great Digs.

[skifisher]

Good job Digs!
May I suggest pink and white with a silver flash tied on a pink or white jig head? Chartreuse or chartreuse and black on a black jig head? Black or black with white on a black jig head with added silver flash?
(I’ll take a couple, lol!)

[Digs]

Thanks!!

[Digs]

Good job Digs!
May I suggest pink and white with a silver flash tied on a pink or white jig head? Chartreuse or chartreuse and black on a black jig head? Black or black with white on a black jig head with added silver flash?
(I’ll take a couple, lol!)

I only have those black heads right now..... I'll probably order some more. I'm looking into some actual good glow paint too for the heads. I'll give some of those combos a try

[esox_xtm]

Nice work Digs! Quick question: Do you buy your tails colored or collect and preserve during hunting seasons and dye your own.

Here's why I'm curious: I am a collector/dyer and have had great success in dying every color but black. Just doesn't take. Deep crappy purplish/blackish is about as close as I get. Your black looks perfect so I'm guessing you purchase. If not would you (or anyone else for that matter) be willing to share a secret?

Again, great looking jig! Hair brings stuff to the party that no synthetic can duplicate.

[meandcuznalfy]

Orange and yellow, yellow and chartreuse are great colors

[Digs]

Nice work Digs! Quick question: Do you buy your tails colored or collect and preserve during hunting seasons and dye your own.

Here's why I'm curious: I am a collector/dyer and have had great success in dying every color but black. Just doesn't take. Deep crappy purplish/blackish is about as close as I get. Your black looks perfect so I'm guessing you purchase. If not would you (or anyone else for that matter) be willing to share a secret?

Again, great looking jig! Hair brings stuff to the party that no synthetic can duplicate.

I'm not a hunter but my buddies that do, do save me the tails. I haven't gotten into dying my own yet. I tried some synthetic fur last year on a jig and haven't touched it since

[DrummerManDrew]

Super nice Digs! That clean work right there.

[esox_xtm]

I'm not a hunter but my buddies that do, do save me the tails. I haven't gotten into dying my own yet. I tried some synthetic for last year on a jig and haven't touched it since

Good on you! FYI just about any color you want can be achieved at home using good old RIT dye for clothing, even bright orange and chartreuse. Black is tough and I've always just bought (or traded for) that. I always bone my tails "backwards", cutting thru the brown and preserving the white. Takes a little longer but I think is worth the effort. Wash 'em in salty water, rub off all of the meat/fat and put 'em in a single layer to dry with a pile of solar salt on top of the skin part. They preserve perfectly and last forever.

[stripernut]

esox_xtm, you dying your tails one color (like a blue) then the black, that is my understanding to get them black...

[Arctic Addict]

Nice work Digs!  That bucktail looks real fishy.

[johnnh]

Digs

Excelent work. Takes talent to get results like that
John

[Digs]

Thanks so much for the feedback and the recommendations! Much appreciated.  I had a buddy request one that's black and white. So I made two one has "wings" and one just a streak...... What do the masses say? I think either will catch fish but confidence in a lure goes a long way.......

[esox_xtm]

esox_xtm, you dying your tails one color (like a blue) then the black, that is my understanding to get them black...

Thanks for the suggestion stripernut. Next time I got the dye tub hot I'll give it a try!

Thanks so much for the feedback and the recommendations! Much appreciated.  I had a buddy request one that's black and white. So I made two one has "wings" and one just a streak...... What do the masses say? I think either will catch fish but confidence in a lure goes a long way.......

I've always been partial to a dark or colored top with a lighter bottom, similar to most fish color schemes. Sometimes I'll add just a wisp of flash or contrast.

[Arctic Addict]

Digs, that black and white will definitely catch fish.  I like a lot of contrast in my bucktails.  Matching the hatch is critical and your bucktail reminds me of smelt.  I am sure it would be great dipped in smelt oil or tipped.

[Roccus]

I like white with a pink or blue lateral line of flashaboo.

What are those jig heads made of..

[Digs]

I like white with a pink or blue lateral line of flashaboo.

What are those jig heads made of..

Not sure honestly..... I get them from a site called lead free bass jigs he's out of Mass. I would assume bismuth but not sure. I have 1/2 oz heads

[Roccus]

Not sure honestly..... I get them from a site called lead free bass jigs he's out of Mass. I would assume bismuth but not sure. I have 1/2 oz heads

The lead ban put me out of business as far S jigs for fresh water, I have a 5 gallon bucket  full of jigs between .25 a d 1 ounce I need to someday melt down to pour for striper jugs, I have molds from small shad darts to 5 ounce striper jogs I haven't used in yeras...  if I had only 1lure in a survival situation it would be a jig.

[jethro]

Thanks so much for the feedback and the recommendations! Much appreciated.  I had a buddy request one that's black and white. So I made two one has "wings" and one just a streak...... What do the masses say? I think either will catch fish but confidence in a lure goes a long way.......

Ooooh, I'd fish with that for sure

[Roccus]

Nice  sparce tie  wings are nice. I used to tie some with a few strands facial g forward, just like a parachute jig..ypu are tieing very sexy jigs, I like em!

[Digs]

Nice  sparce tie  wings are nice. I used to tie some with a few strands facial g forward, just like a parachute jig..ypu are tieing very sexy jigs, I like em!

Thanks! I tied one up the other day and added some rabbit fur for a trailer it turned out pretty good I think.

[Coffin Dodger]

Thanks! I tied one up the other day and added some rabbit fur for a trailer it turned out pretty good I think.

Sweet, Digs! 

[Steamtrain]

Thanks! I tied one up the other day and added some rabbit fur for a trailer it turned out pretty good I think.

That looks fantastic!
I like the rabbit addition.

[Hottuna5150]

Thanks! I tied one up the other day and added some rabbit fur for a trailer it turned out pretty good I think.

Oh man digs, that's pretty. Going have to play on the fly table later, i'm inspired.

[Hottuna5150]

Not a buck tail as it’s all marabou but I figured I’d start close to one of my open water favorites.

[filetandrelease]

 Digs that would be a nice jig  for eyes here in a 1/2, and 5/8oz

[Digs]

That looks great...... Marabou has such great action under water.

Not a buck tail as it’s all marabou but I figured I’d start close to one of my open water favorites.

[Hottuna5150]

Thanks digs. I think next time I’ll forgo trying to dub before the jig head and just tie in some red marabou.
I’ve been getting my tungsten sat widow maker lures (because they have my favorite crappie baits cheap) but I like the jigs you have more for the 1/0 plus sizes. Where’d you find those?