There are endless trailer options for the caster that is open to change.
The effectiveness of the bucktail jig in the world of surf fishing cannot be disputed. It is one of the most versatile lures available to the surfcaster and it catches a multitude of species. They can be successfully used in a wide range of locations and conditions, which makes them a mainstay in the bag of anglers up and down the coast.
I can remember my introduction to the bucktail jig in my younger days. I was at an inlet jetty on Long Island’s south shore during a spring storm. The inlet was a raging white water torrent that shot waves up over the rocks and sprayed water on any unsuspecting caster such as myself. I was sharing the jetty with two older gentlemen. They were just standing around observing the water conditions. I noticed one of them had a jig on with really long trailer. While talking with him, he explained that he made his own pork rind trailers from pig skins that he acquired from a butcher. He shared his knowledge about bucktail fishing with me, and since that day I’ve had a renewed interest in fishing them. I later found out he was known in the fishing community as “Bucktail Sal”. I watched as he tossed that heavy jig up current and slowly reeled, and followed its drift. His buddy was telling me that Sal was a master at this, and that he scores huge bass with regularity. That day though, the storm intensified to a point that drove us off the rocks. But I left with knowledge that helped me in future fishing endeavors.
One of the main attractions of the bucktail to the angler, is that it can be employed in inlets, ocean surf and back bay areas for species such as striped bass, bluefish, weakfish and fluke. Also what I like is that one can make small changes with standard presentations that can be tailored to any situation.
For example, the use of a trailer, either of pork rind or synthetic material like Otter Tails, and Fat Cow Strips are widely accepted by anglers and for good reason. What I found that even with these addition, small modifications can reap big rewards. When small slender baitfish, such as sand eels and bay anchovies are present, the fish can sometimes get picky. By trimming the trailer into a thin ribbon, it now mimics the slender forage, which results in many more hits. I carry a one-sided razor blade in my truck or bag and a little piece of wood furring strip to custom-cut the rinds. Or you can have them pre-cut in the jar ready to use. Then there are those times when a plain unadorned bucktail is preferred. Always be open to change things up.
Other additions that change the profile of the jig are soft plastics, curly tails grubs, plastic worms and Bass Assassins are all great choices. The Fin-S Fish from Lunker City also makes an excellent trailer. It creates a fantastic profile when the hair of the jig lays over it. I was shown this many years ago by a fisherman who was out-fishing me 5 to 1. He came over and handed me an alewife-colored Fin-S, and it was the ticket that day. Whatever the reason, it clearly made a difference with the bass. Another thing that I’ve been doing is adding eyes on jigs that don’t already have them. I really believe it offers an edge. Peel and stick eyes work great, just add a coat of clear nail polish when you’re done.
Also, now with popularity of snap jigging taking off. The option of jigs with long feathers tied to the hooks eliminates the need to add a trailer. The feathers act as the tantalizing attractor. Capt. John Paduano is the pioneer of this type of jigging, and I would highly recommend attending one of his seminars.
Another factor to consider is the density of the hair on the jigs. Sparsely tied ones will look different to the fish than ones tied with a lot of hair. They will also sink and ride in the water column differently. As you can see, there are many options for modifying your bucktails for the conditions or fishy preferences that day, the best prepared anglers will reap the biggest rewards.
