Building A Better Bucktail Jig

(continued from page 19)

“For river smallmouth bass, I’ll toss a Black or White Deep-Vee Bucktail behind rocks, in current seams and anywhere current flows converge. The Black has a little streak of red in it, a touch I really like. I also suspect the Purple will be great for crappies when throwing the 1/16-ounce size, but that’s on my list of things to try later this spring.”

Like Nelson, Northland Tackle’s own diehard multi-species angler and content creator, Nick Lindner, considers the Deep-Vee Bucktail a truly solid, all-around tool for walleye. “Combining that new style head with those 3D eyes really sets it apart,” he says, “But I also love the hook because it’s perfect for a lot of walleye-fishing situations.”

Lindner believes that bucktail jigs are ideal for targeting walleyes because the hair, in combination with a minnow or soft-plastic trailer, really slow the lure’s drop speed when rip-jigging. “Early in the season, that slower drop speed can be vital to success,” he points out. “You don’t want your jig to drop too quickly.

“I’ve done some tank tests with the Deep-Vee Bucktail and I can tell you that it descends noticeably softer than other bucktails I’ve tried when tipped with a minnow,” continues Lindner. “Tip it with a soft-plastic, either straight or paddle tail, and it drops even slower. That combination can be super productive during the crispness of early spring and even when the water begins to warm. That slow drop speed is an awesome draw for walleyes both during the pre-and post-spawn periods.” Early in the season he prefers a simple lift-and-drop presentation.

As waters warm in late May and early June, Lindner will often graduate to a rip-and-drop presentation. At that point, he might even try ripping a Deep-Vee Bucktail with no plastic or minnow at all. “That’s one of the great things about this bait,” he says, “Because you don’t actually need to tip it, you can keep fishing for a few seconds after missing a strike even if you suspect you’ve lost your bait. Oftentimes, that fish will return to finish the job, resulting in a solid hook-up.”

Of course, it’s always important to match the size of your lure with the water depth, current and your intended targets, adds Lindner. As a general rule, the 1/16 ounce is great for targeting big crappies and panfish, the 1/8 ounce works great in shallow water, ¼ at mid-depths and 3/8 ounce if you go deep or fish in heavy current, he advises. “You’ve got to get out there an experiment until you find the right size for the present conditions. You’ll know you’ve got things dialed in when your rods all start to double over.”

All 12 Northland Fishing Deep-Vee Bucktail fish-catching color patterns are available in four sizes. Lures come packaged 1/card with an MSRP of $3.99 - $4.59.

DEEP-VEE BUCKTAIL FEATURES:

• Life-like bucktail moves and acts like an injured baitfish

• Features 3D eyes to “match the hatch”

• Barb-Wire® Keeper keeps plastics or live bait in place

• Keeled “DEEP-VEE” design tracks straight and true

• Available in 12 color patterns and four sizes: 1/16 oz. (#2 hook), 1/8 oz. (#1/0 hook), 1/4 oz. (#2/0 hook), 3/8 oz. (#3/0 hook)

For more go to www.northlandtackle.com

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