A Tale About Bucktail, 4/26/23

[Will Wetline]

Not optimistic about the bite on my ride in the countryside to Quabbin. There were patches of fog to drive through and it was cold. It had been dark with showers the past few days and the ten day forecast was not encouraging. It seems that spring has stalled.

 

When I got to my first spot, the sky was clearing and there was a nice ripple on the water. A suspending jerkbait to start? Nah, keep it small and subtle with a bucktail retrieved slowly, rod tip angle high to gently pop the jig off rocks. On the third cast I felt a sharp tap.

 

 

Let's call this a 4.01 lb. attitude adjustment fish. Ten minutes later the surface went flat.

 

 

This is a time for reflection. Sip coffee. Eat a bagel. Think deep thoughts. See, when the water is calm, the smallies get skittish and seek depth for security. I relaxed until the breeze came back.

 

 

By late morning I had worked this area thoroughly and took off in search of more wind in a soon-to-be spawning area.

 

Made a couple dozen casts with a favorite Lucky Craft suspending jerkbait. I got no response so went back to the jig. Remember - swim it low and slow, pop it gently off bottom obstructions and into the mouth of . . . 

 

 

 

Aargh! Here's the day's best bass - 4.18 lbs. - in the day's worst pic.

 

 

A smile for the last fish. It's 3:00 and this graybeard needs to rest and be at work early the next morning. Before leaving, let's dissect the bad boy bucktail:

 

 

The head is cast from an 88% bismuth/12% tin alloy. The cavity used is 1/8 oz. in Do-it's Round Head Jig Mold With Socket Eye. The thread collar is 140 denier. The hair that breathes and moves sinuously behind the jighead is, as you know, from the tail of a deer. If you like, a final touch would be two strands of black/red Flashabou-Grizzly Accent. Don't overdo it here because what you'll get with a "less is more" understanding regarding bait making (and presentation) is more fish interest.