Bucktails...For
Some A Primary Lure
Many Muskie fishermen and women who are just beginning to experience the thrill of
Muskie angling often wonder what they need in their tackle box in the way of lures, tools
and other accessories. It is sure easy to be overwhelmed by the hype associated with the
Muskie industry.
Craig Sandell ©
2010
 You should have a very focused selection of
bucktails. Many prefer a bucktail with two treble hooks. Colors are a matter of choice,
however, solid black with a green blade, solid black with an orange blade, red/white with
a red/white blade and perch with a copper blade are good choices.
When selecting a bucktail, you should also have in mind what kind of fishing tactics
you are going to use. A bucktail with very little weight will not cast very far, however,
if you are going to bulge the bucktail over a submerged weed bed you don't want the
bucktail to ride low nor do you necessarily want a long cast.
If your plan is to fish the weed edge of a 8 to 12 foot drop off, then you will be
looking for a bucktail that has moderate weight. This will allow for a long cast and
deeper running during the retrieve.
The other consideration is for fishing deep water, 15 to 20 feet, adjacent to a weed
bar or stump shelf. Obviously, you are going to want to use a bucktail with good weight.
You may even want to cast and let the bucktail drop in free fall for a 5 to 10 seconds
before starting a slow to moderate retrieve.
How Much Does A Good Bucktail Cost?
I'm not sure that there is a good answer to that question. I have had good success
with bucktails in the $5 to $8 dollar range. I also have bucktails in my tackle box that
carried a $10 to $15 dollar price tag and do not have the action or look in the water that
makes me confident enough to use it consistently.
The best advice I can give you is the advice I give my self. Buy a bucktail with
strategy and tactics in mind. Talk to other Muskie anglers and see what types of bucktails
they have used to actually catch Muskie. Don't pay more than $15.00 for a bucktail and
never buy a bucktail just because some "famous" Muskie personage caught a 30 or
40 pound fish using a bucktail "just like it".
Spinner Baits...Variation
on a Theme
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Spinner
baits are a close cousin to the in-line bucktail. The seven inch spinner
bucktails shown here provide a nice overview of the variations in color and
blade configuration.
Spinners will come in many different
sizes with single hook and double hook arrangements.
They will also come in tandem blade arrangements
(shown here) as well as single blade arrangements in a wide selection of
colors and blade types.
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