How to Make Bucktail Jigs

Step-by-step instructions to make bucktail jigs from scratch. This focuses on jigs used for summer flounder fishing, but the jigs made will work on many species.

[@bcarrozza7144]

Who gives this a thumbs down? Skinner Slays fish. I don't get it? Thanks John I learn something every time I watch a video of yours. Keep them coming we all really appreciate your teachings!!!!

[@1973Saved]

Probably people posting other fishing videos who are jealous because they don't get as many views, subscribers, or fish as John does.

[@GeorgeShields]

It's funny how people react. I have a channel of my own, and every time I release a video, there will be one thumbs down. It happens almost right after I release the video. So I think it must be one of my subscribers. They just want to voice their displeasure or anger or some other problem they have. Some are just trolls. I have learned you just have to let it go. It doesn't make sense to me, but that is the way it is now. Keyboard Cowboys.

[@caseymorton2912]

Me too! Keep it up

[@number1jensenfamily]

Even though I'll probably never do this, your video made me feel like I could. Thanks for sharing!

[@josephtrettel8633]

Nice John. I very much respect your ability to tie a buck tail without a vise!

[@joedennehy386]

Brilliant just watched a video of you catching bass from the shore using bucktails. Never used them here in new Zealand. Came here to see how they're made. So good , thanks .

[@yellostallion]

Great looking bucktails!

[@dougiefresh730]

Awesome video John! Subscribed. This is exactly what I was looking for to make pure white bucktails for smallies on the Mississippi River. This is will likely start a healthy addiction.

[@InshoreAddicts]

Cool video! Learned something new today!

[@jayvanhouwe2132]

great show ! I bought your summer flounder book also great reading thanks!

[@fishermannyc5398]

Very well done! Thanks for shared.

[@gulp_man1026]

Very informative thank you.

[@tomcato6426]

thx John, Like you doing this free hand!

[@Fishingandkicking]

Very nice. Seeing all the steps it takes to create make me easily ready to spend the 6 to 8 bucks buying one..😀

[@SkidinDingo]

Mr. Skinner, i tie flies and think there is a fairly cheap tool that will help you with finishing your bucktails. its called a whip finisher, its a simple tool, easy to use, and it makes that same kind of finish you make with the loop, but much faster and easier. they are usually under $10, you will have to find a big one for bucktails, but i think having one on your work bench will be worth the money for how nice it is to use (i used to whip finnish with my fingers and thought it was good enough, but then i used the tool and was very impressed at the amount of control i had with it) just a suggestion, great video, even if im getting to it late.

[@user-sm2px6hr1j]

Hello John Skinner great work and informative show I love your videos. I have been making jigs for a while now and would like to share some things I have learnd! I started out using my kitchen oven which after a while started to smell of melted powder paint and can be toxic, I bout a small temperature control convection oven for this purpose that I now use. Instead of a torch i preheat the jigs to 350-400 then dip this makes sure the jigs don't pick up too little or too much powder from imprecise temperature of lead surface , a small DIY powder fluid bed is necessary for a thin even lay but temperature is #1. Dip and right back in the oven to prevent cooling has given me the best cure and durability results. I also soot my molds with a candle which helps tremendously during the pour process. Have a good day keep up the hard work, tight lines!

[@americanstriper8666]

Hey, i think i seen you on Stripers Online

[@elguapo9268]

they look great..

[@scottbrightman3662]

Very good video. Thank you very much.

[@taylormoore4991]

Great video. Thank you

[@wish2fish37]

I used this method of tying bucktails.Used leftover braid to wrap them.

[@1973Saved]

I'm thinking about using flat, thin dental floss, in hopes that it won't cause the bucktail to splay out so much when I tighten it.

[@1973Saved]

I've tried several whip finishing tools over the years, but now whip finish them the way that you do, I like that I can get a tighter wrap & no tools are needed. I've got a couple of expensive vises I've been using to tie my jigs but if your way works well for me I plan to sell the vises & spend the $$ on something else. I also like to tie bucktail on tubes, & use use the tube flies as teasers because they're weightless, & I can use any hook I want, think I'll try tying them the same way (without the vise). Thanks again John, look forward to seeing & maybe talking with you next weekend at the fishing show in Providence R.I.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I'll be at my table all 3 days of the show. Stop by and say hi.

[@robertbruce391]

you inspire me thank you

[@smokster0604]

Always exciting when you do it your self.....hurry up spring time....

[@l.i.archer5379]

That is exactly the same mold and lead melting pot that I have! Great minds think alike. Also, great to meet you last Friday night at J&H Tackle.

[@Arcturian1111]

Nice video. Thank you.

[@TheonlinefishermanUSA]

What outstanding videos and information. If you would like some major traffic and views I would LOVE to share some of your stuff with our extensive reader base.

[@castncatchem3808]

Very cool!

[@jamesbrown3965]

Great video John just don't have the area to do this, trying to come up with a great alternative, less expensive 8-10 bucks everytime you lose 2 of these guys with the teaser rig, BEEN USING KILLI'S FOR THE LAST 50+ YEARS AND HAVE CAUGHT THOUSANDS OF FLUKE AND MANAGE TO OUTFISH ANY AND EVERYONE WITH THE KILLI HOOKED IN THE LIP ON A BOTTOM RIG WITH A CIRCLE HOOK NOT ONE FISH SWALLOWED THE HOOK EVER, MY BIGGEST 29 INCH 6.5 LBS OFF CAPTREE PEIR, NO NET RITE AT HIGH TIDE SLACK @ SUNSET.THIS YEAR 2022 I WILL USE ONLY ARTIFICALS AND SEE HOW I DO. I AM LOADED FOR BEAR THIS YEAR, THANKS AGAIN YOU ARE THE KIING OF FLUKING OF LONG ISLAND !!

[@traumahawk517]

thanks for the info!!!

[@jonathanchin6259]

John, you've done it again. Your videos make catching and making look so easy! I have used this video with retying my old bucktails that have gotten ragged and beaten by fluke fishing. I love being able to use specific colors and amounts of feathers/fur/mylar based upon the bait in the area. I don't know if it really makes that much of a difference, but they look really cool. My question for you is regarding the hook size and alteration you make with pouring your own jigs. I noticed that you used a smaller hook than what is recommended. I understand why you do this, but I have honestly found that the larger hook is great for putting on the six-inch GULP! grubs, and I don't think that I have ever had a problem with hooking the larger hook for most of the keeper fluke I'm targeting (over 4 pounds). Any thoughts on this?

[@stillinyaisstillinur3300]

Big big ty for sharing

[@wagnersantana_]

good job bro...

[@gwestmota]

Hi John: I am new to kayak fishing and looking for more input on do's and don't, gear, species rods and reels, fishfiders, etc. Could you please do a video about your kayak setup and what type of fishable areas that you use the kayak for? Thanks.

[@nazirghumra4630]

Great video John! A few questions where can I get the hot pot 2 and buck tail??

[@jacksonaeo2795]

Hey John! What size gami jig hook would you suggest for 5, 6, and 8oz bucktails? Love your videos, sir!

[@Jadenstrang0]

I did the same thing but with my bogs shed he’s german shepherd and yellow lab so his shed is whiteish yellow and it turned out really good

[@el1502]

Great Video. Hello Mr. Skinner, where did you get your lead melting pot? Thanks alot

[@jaychino1621]

Hi Mr. Skinner, thanks for posting this video. Many friends have gotten into making bucktails after watching your video. Can you please tell me after powder paint and bake them, do you coat them with hard as nails or epoxy? How do you attach the eyes? Thanks Jay

[@KyleMatt11]

Hey John, when about do u usually start your spring striper fishing?

[@PatFin401]

The bucktails hanging at 1:45 those for stripers? Should so a video on creating those, look nice. Awesome videos and books, has helped my saltwater fishing tremendously

[@MBFishing22]

No se aprecia bien tu vídeo , pero igual me gustan tus vídeos son muy buenos, gracias por compartirlos...

[@danstephens1388]

Are the bucktail mold kits a good option if you are just getting into making your own?

[@Drundel]

That stand for the hot pot 2 is awesome, who makes it?

[@northbrookhavensportfisher5349]

What bucktails and hooks to you like to use when you are making them for stripers?

[@Nickfish-op2bh]

I’ve always wanted to make these and after watching this video I got everything that you used and I’m about to start makin them do you have any tips on any hard parts with making them or just any tips in general

[@chrisandrianas4236]

Hey John, do you think a Penn Battle II 4000 is too small for a 9 foot St. Croix Triumph?

[@raymonddefrizzoutdoors8369]

@johnskinner Do you slide the element sideways to get the port from the front instead of the sides

[@neimanlm]

John, do you know what type and size mustad hooks are used in your blackfish jig?

[@jamesfrederick5035]

nice video keep it up

[@raymonddefrizzoutdoors8369]

John do you slide the element around two pour from their spout from up front

[@smcewen7]

Nice,i make my own rattle jig heads, my buddy gave me some bucktail just might have to make some of these.,Enjoy your videos

[@roland1684]

The fact is

[@tofu860ify]

John what sized eyes you use by chance?

[@2theM00n]

NICE VIDEOS ON FLUKES!!!! I was wondering if they work on California Halibuts? I will definitely give your rigs a try the next time I am out on my kayak!!! Thank John!!! Where do i get those buck tails?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Yes they do! I have spoken to Californians who have been very successful with the technique. Lots of places sell bucktails. You can find exactly the ones in this video at J and H tackle Oakdale Long Island. They're called "John Skinner Fluke Bucktails".

[@1973Saved]

John, after the paint on your jigs gets beat up, do you melt them down or remove old paint and repaint? I'm seriously considering not painting mine anymore, just leave the lead bare, then I can tie or retie any color bucktail on them that I choose, instead of making a bunch of jigs for each color, because after all that work they just get most of the paint chipped off after a few times using them & look worse than the plain lead heads. Thanks for the great info. Love your books also. Are you going to be at the New England Salt Water fishing show again this year in R.I.?

[@dougblack7411]

buy the poison tail mold...double collar allows you to tie your bucktail on . the first and the second collar holds your gulp...wont slide down your hook as much...do it sells it...

[@codyrugemer6529]

Is that a hot pot melter? did you make something so it pours like that?

[@sociopathsrus910]

Nice gloves...yes indeed

[@josephhorstmann4585]

John, Great video! Your advice and expertise are very much appreciated. I fish for fluke on party boats out of north Jersey and at times need to use 4-6 oz Bucktails because of the deep water, current, etc. I recently retired and am thinking of making my own Bucktails. I would like to use both fixed hook and swing hook Bucktails. I'm having difficulty in finding the shaft or stem that you place in the mold to which the swing hook is attached. Do you where I can find them. I was going to use the Do-It ultra minnow mold. Thank you, Joe Horstmann

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I don't know of any commercial molds of that head style that are swing hooks. The swing hook bucktails in the shops are coming out of custom molds I think.

[@josephhorstmann4585]

Thank you.@@JohnSkinnerFishing

[@carlosasosa4293]

Hi, do you sell them? Here in Mexico they go for 5 usd each and not as good as yours

[@1kollonh]

Do you have links to all the equipments you used?

[@bigone231]

do you use a top coat?

[@Koby-Burbine]

Where do you usually fish?

[@uncleheffe309]

If you take an air bubbler for a fish tank, shorten the tube, cut hole in lower plastic spice jar, hot glue to a cardboard base, cut small hole in tube so air only flows when you carb it. SUPER SIMPLE, and floats powder as you dip only. Powder floaters are $90, this was a buck.

[@ismaelcarranzaortiz9541]

What type of line of floss are you using?

[@castncatchem3808]

I’m always seeing dead deer 🦌 on the side of the road. Wonder if I could shave some hair off one for lures 😂

[@yeoldepirate783]

John Thanks for the info I do have some questions on your hot pot, I see its a Hot pot 2,, did you alter it ? all the ones I see for sale the pour spouts are port and starboard yours appear to pour from the bow,, I have two lee pots one with a ladle and one with a lever I like yours way the best

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

It's probably 25+ years old. I doubt they make that one any more.

[@yeoldepirate783]

I called C. Palmer MFG. this morning and they not make it any longer they called it a Super pot and said it held 6 lbs,, I will rig something up to use the Hot pot 2 ,, Thanks you for your prompt answer and the gift of your knowledge., All the best Capt. Bo Toepfer

[@anthony0803]

Hello John, great video. I was wondering if you were to add hackle feathers, would you put them on after the bucktail or before? Also how many feathers do you generally use and are they evenly spaced around the jig or just on the sides? Thanks so much.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I tie them ti the hook shank, 5 or 6 each side, before wrapping the deer hair

[@thomastuorto9929]

Anthony0803 ,tie them on first just in front of the bend . Look at some recorder style fly videos on the tube.

[@gellfex9287]

Do you think the deer hair makes a difference at all for fluke jigging? You catch plenty when you use a bare teaser hook with Gulp. I've been messing with rubber squid skirts on my homemade fluke jigs on the theory that there's no tying, they're easy to change, come in a variety of colors, and give less resistance to the water, a good thing when rip casting from shore but a bad thing when drift jigging.

[@davidwu9909]

Thanks John, great Vedic!

[@cornishplanthunters4768]

trying to source the jig mold here in uk ...cant afford to import

[@juans3728]

John when is it appropriate to use from 1/2 oz. to 1 1/2 oz. on the beach? When should the retrieve vary from slow to quick?

[@1973Saved]

John has a great book out on fishing for fluke, you should check it out.

[@thegoods2240]

Just a tip, if I want a lighter head, but I want it with a bigger hook, and a bigger profile, I'll pour my heads with tin, which is like 30% lighter than lead. Don't know if this will help anyone except for guys who can be very particular about their bucktails, like me!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Excellent tip.

[@gothivore277]

hey John I was wondering I've been pouring my own hot lips Jigheads for bucktail tying but for some reason I'm getting constant imperfections on the tying collar and even the head, I flux the lead with candle wax and I let mold sit on top of the melter so it gets hot and prevents the lead from cooling too fast, what could I be doing wrong?

[@paulphillips2983]

Try heating the hooks too. I noticed the same thing, but when I remelt the jig and try again it comes out ok. Started heating the hooks on larger jigs and that helps.

[@1973Saved]

Do you find that putting eyes on your bucktails makes a noticeable difference in your catch rate? Thanks in advance.

[@android9410]

I have been making jigs for over 40 years I can say I have found no difference..

[@OMgxXxPapERCuTxXx]

Krishna : Do you sell them ( spro bucktail )

[@1973Saved]

@@android9410 I haven't been fishing bucktails anywhere near that long. I appreciate your response, it'll save me time, money & hassle.

[@elmachetede809]

second lol just got your book today

[@1adl790]

what size eyes for jigs

[@paulphillips2983]

John, I've been pouring ultra minnows in the 2, 3, and 4 ounce sizes. The recommended hooks are enormous. Do you know if there is a Gamakatsu jig hook that fits this size mold?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Gamakatsu 604, 8/0. That's an excellent fluke hook. I dedicated a chapter in the Fishing for Summer Flounder book to making jigs, including heavy ones with appropriate fluke hooks.

[@paulphillips2983]

Thanks for the quick reply! Just got finished reading Striper Pursuit, I expect to be ordering your fluke book shortly.

[@quangduyho]

white deer hair ? where can i find that to buy? now i need to go find deers :P

[@gdfishing3603]

What size eye does he use link?

[@jeffborkowski]

Do you have any favorite sources for buying pre-powder coated jig heads?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I always paint my own.

[@dharlow5810]

How do you remove the paint from the hook eye? Thanks for all your content and information.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I use a fish hook usually.

[@dharlow5810]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing Thank you for your quick reply.

[@t_man785]

Would you use the same model hook in a smiling bill bucktail

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

No. Mustad 34184 for smiling bill.

[@t_man785]

Thank you John

[@johnnydelgado5459]

Hi John, I've been trying to find the video on how you water inject plugs to weigh them down is it still on youtube?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIXTfKOLd81-j7c

[@johnnydelgado5459]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing Thanks John

[@zwicker3697]

There are many different shapes of bucktails/lead heads. There are even multiple shapes sold for the same species. There are round, flat, elongated fish head and so on. Does it matter which shape bucktail/leadhead you use to target specific fish?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

These are good all-around, as are round and "smiling bill style".

[@getfastfish5020]

Hi John, hope you still look over comments 7 years later. I've been wanting to machine a mold similar to a center balanced minnow lure such as the " ultra minnow" I'm curious what you would change about the one you have if you could.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I'd want it in a swing hook style for weights 2 ounces and heavier.

[@getfastfish5020]

which hook in particular would you use?@@JohnSkinnerFishing

[@triniildefonso6776]

👍👍👍👍😲Wow

[@madmullet1990]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jdoug8327]

Do you ever fish for Tautog

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYuwYneudq10ic0

[@ivangomez4366]

out of curiosity what style hook do you use for stripers?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Offseason - plus I moved. Will post when the fish come back.

[@chriswardenoftheforest1458]

+ John Skinner after a guided fishing trip in Kennebunkport 5+ years ago for strippers and macks I decided on any future vacations to Maine I would surf fish, keeping ca$h in my pocket and enjoying the fruits of labor. Thanks to advice and tips from you, Mr. Skinner I am a better fisherman. Caught three 20-26" strippers the first year (missing several) and landing two around 27" last year. Attracted a seal and learned much more myself than I ever would have continuing to pay the guide service. About to go again with more lure options in hand than I've ever had. Thank you Sir!

[@livenhfree]

I thought lead was prohibited now?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Not anyplace I'm aware of.

[@zacharywedding1]

Can u make me some

[@SAVAGE308SNIPER]

Hey can you make me some? Name a price. Also, I can give you a shoutout o my channel when I catch fish. I really love homemade stuff, especially fishing and shooting supplies. I like the black/chartreuse color combination. But, hey.

[@johnnats794]

First

[@kevcounlimitedllc.4269]

second?

[@zacharywedding1]

I will pay u

[@AlejandroTorres-db7bi]

Poco profesional la forma de armar

[@emmam6107]

whats your email address?

[@android9410]

Not really made from scratch, you used a store bought mold. From scratch would include making your own mold, I carve my jig heads from wood and make my own molds from plaster of paris..

[@davidsearle8940]

Whoopie DooDah!! Wrgaf

[@lukefeeney9596]

Where did you get the wood from? The store? From scratch would include planting the tree letting it grow then cutting it down getting the wood from it and carving your jigs then making your own plaster of Paris. So technically your way is not from scratch either so don’t be so quick to criticize

[@android9410]

Actually I did use the wood from a guava tree I planted.