How To Tie Your Own Bucktail Jig for Snook, Redfish, & Trout [VIDEO]
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Lure Reviews, Product Reviews
Ever caught a nice fish on a lure you made by yourself?
There’s nothing more rewarding than landing a slob of a fish on a homemade lure.
Do you want to learn the simple steps to be able to tell your friends you caught a monster snook, redfish, or trout on a jig that you made yourself!
And this post will help you tie one of the most universal lures of all…
The Bucktail Jig.
Bucktails have been successfully used for years to catch an enormous variety of fish species. The style you’ll learn in this post is focused specifically for snook, redfish, trout, and flounder.
Best of all, you’ll be shocked by how easy it is to tie your own bucktail jig!
And hopefully, you will be shocked at easy it is for you to catch a nice fish on your own custom bucktail like I was when I finally gave it a try years ago.
Want to catch more inshore fish and be part of a tight-knit fishing club that guarantees your success?
Then apply to join the Salt Strong Insider Fishing Club here.
Bucktail Jig Materials
First, we need to talk about the materials you’ll need to tie your own bucktail jigs. Some are required while others are optional to put some added flair to your bucktail.
The video below will cover the entire list so you can see exactly how it all comes together.
Required bucktail jig materials
- Jig head (pretty much any jig head can work, but I usually use a 1/4 to 3/8 oz DOA C.A.L red jig head… strong hooks with nice paint job and good eyes)
- Bucktail hair (I get this at any fly shop or online)
- Thread (in this video I use spare 10lb PowerPro braided line)
- White fingernail polish (to paint the thread so it matches the white ducktail)
Optional bucktail jig materials
- Fly tying Vice to hold the bucktail jig in place
- Bobbin (for fly tying – helps you spin the thread around the jig)
- Feathers – White Hen Neck Hackle
- Silver Flashabou to give that bucktail some flair
How to Tie A Bucktail Jig [Video]
Tying a bucktail jig is not nearly as hard as most people think… and it sure is fun to try out different styles/sizes over time to see what works best for your particular area.
Check out this step-by-step video on how to tie a bucktail jig like a pro.
Conclusion
Learning how to tie a bucktail jig is just like learning how to tie your shoelaces… except you can catch fish with your bucktail…
At first, it might seem tough, but once you know the sequence and tried it a couple times, you’ll be able to do it in your sleep.
And I can assure you that once you catch your first snook, redfish, or trout on your own bucktail, you will be hooked (pun intended) like I was.
Any questions on tying this bucktail lure or any other lures?
Let me know in the comments.
Related Post: 7 Essential Saltwater Fishing Lures That Will Catch Fish Pretty Much Anywhere (see it here now)
Want to catch more inshore fish and be part of a tight-knit fishing club that guarantees your success?
Then apply to join the Salt Strong Insider Fishing Club here.
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I love DOA jig heads and have used them for plastics for years. I’ll start tying again using them.
Love Salt Strong,l have learned so much. I’m a big hunter. I can walk in the woods and know were to hunt. But on the water fishing I was lost. But last time I went out l new to look for the 3 b.and man did I find some great spots.but I still didn’t catch a fish.but every boat out there had the same luck. A cool front had just come in.so I’ll be out there again with even more think I learned .thanks you guys .I will not stop trying till I can fish like I hunt .I’m the guy you talk to that make game calls learned tree game calls. But soon I think I’ll be making some fish plugs. Got something you like me to make let me know. Thanks Alan Page
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Thanks for the great video on tying the bucktails. You’re right on about the feeling you get from making your own. We use to make snook lures from an old cut off broomstick, some wire and a treble hook. Painted white. It was called puddling in heavy current under the bridges at night.
Just began tying my own Bucktail jigs, have most of the tools you recommend. Did not catch the name of the feathers or where to get them. Really like the way that made them look! I have made about 10 and cut most of them off kind of shapely and even at the back at this point. Also was using black or red thread to tie them onto a powder coated white Jig, Was wondering if that was a mistake? Thank you, video was excellent!
The feathers are sold as saddle hackle at most fly tackle supply stores. Neck hackle would be too slender for the effect you want.
Because of the taper of the hair you would be better off measuring the length when you tie in the hair so that you do not have to trim the ends. But they will catch fish either way. Red thread is often used on white bucktail jigs. He paints his since he is using a dark green thread. Can us a color that blends into the hair or stands out from the hair, depends on your preference or the preference of those you are making the jigs for.
Any thought on best action/type of rod for fishing a bucktail? Assuming slow dragging and hop across the bottom.
GREAT video on tying jigs, especially for those new to tying jigs! Very good visual ‘tying 101’ for ‘visual learners’ like me, and excellent explanation narrative, very understandable! Another suggestion if you don’t have scrap/used power pro lying around, is using rod-wrapping thread. It is a lot stronger than most fly tying thread, comes on bigger, cheaper spools ( bobbins), and is available in a rainbow of colors. I also get nail polish in red, and clear, and ( COOL TIP -> ) clear with glitter polish ????
I think I have more than enough lures, hooks, ect. The reason I don’t catch anything on them is because I cant find the fish. Do you know any good spots for Snook, tarpon, and red fish that I can fish without a boat? I’m really desperate to get my hand on a decent fish for a change.
Having some issues finding bucktail sand the feathers you show. Can you point me in the right direction.?
There are a number of mail order companies that sell fly-tying materials online, as well as ‘big box’ places like Bass Pro Shops that sell materials in person or online. A lot of local tackle shops sell fly tying materials also, that you could check out.
In the northeast, we will typically add an extra scent and action enticement to the bucktail jigs. They work for a multitude of game fish including fluke so I would imagine they would work equally well for southern inshore gamefish.
Squid strip, pork rind strips, Gulp curly tail grub, etc can be used for casting bucktail jigs. Last year I tried Otter lure tails and have found them to be the most resilient in terms of duration and multiple toothy attacks. They are actually difficult to get off the hook after use. Like the gulps, they can be re-scented and reused.
Great demo. I’ve made my own jigs before and you’re right – there’s nothing quite like catching a good red or snook on a jig you’ve made (I did mine at the kitchen table; my most important accessory was the vise. I really like the tip of using white nail polish; I used white airplane dope, but it’s too brittle and probably dries a lot slower. Also, many times it requires a touch-up between fishing trips.On Sarasota Bay near where I live in Florida, a yellow-dyed bucktail also can be really effective, particularly for spotted weakfish (trout), and particularly in the southern part of the bay in Sarasota County where I normally fish.
Thanks for leaving the helpful comment Allan! Glad to see that you enjoy tying bucktails too for inshore fishing. Fish On!