Match The Hatch: Bucktail Jigs

In my opinion the bucktail jig is the most underrated and under utilized bait in the fishing world.  It's an unfortunate fact that many of us see see a bucktail jig and categorize it as a bait that is strictly for cold water situations or a bait that's strictly for striped bass and fluke.

Well, we couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to bucktail jigs. They are probably the most versatile ever to be utilized by all fisherman.  The bucktail has been responsible for catching more fish in salt and freshwater than any other bait outside of live bait.  This is due to the fact that in the water this simple bait does an amazing job of imitating any bait fish you can think of. And as we all know all predatory fish eat just about any fish smaller than them.

With more and more people using bucktail jigs on youtube they're making a huge come back in the fishing world, going from a few fishermen secret weapon to being a weapon of choice for many anglers. 
In this blog post I wont go into tips and tactics for using bucktail jigs because I'll be doing 3 more post to cover the tips and tactics that'll catch you fish with a bucktail.  However this post is just a match the hatch post which will list some of the bait fish that bucktail jigs mimic.

Matching the Hatch: Below is a list of the forage species that Bucktail Jigs imitate.


Shiners: 

If you have freshwater then you have minnows and shiners.  In most cases, with the exception of Golden and rainbow shiners, shiners a silver sided snack for predators. So pretty much any color patter will work as long as its a light color.  So when tying up hair jigs to imitate shiners your main objective is to match the general size of he shiners you're seeing.  As well as have your colors tied up based on water clarity moreso than anything. 

My choice of colors for shiners are white, white and blue, white and chartreuse and white and pink.  But no matter what color I'm using with any silver sided bait fish i'm tying in flashabou to cause the jig to reflect and refract light like the scales of a bait fish.

Keep in mind that shiners a schooling fish so find the schools and work your bucktail jig in the same area of he water column just below the school.  Why just below? Because most predatory fish will work the schools of shiners from below. So if your jig is just at the bottom of the school then it's considered a straggler and an easy target for any predators lurking below. 

Shad:

Shad, like shiners, are silver sided meals on wheels for most predator fish.  Shad range in size from 1 inch all the way up to 20 inches depending on species and age. As a result you want to tie up bucktails ranging from 2 inches to 8 inches in length to match shad lengths.  In order to tie the larger sizes you'll have to use jig heads that have a longer profile like ultra minnow heads and banana head jigs.  As well you'll want to tie not just plain bucktail jigs to match larger shad but you'll want to tie preacher style bucktails and bunny bucktail jigs. 

As far as colors go you're pretty much using the same color patterns as you would for shiners.  As well the general schooling behaviors of shad are similar to shiners so you can fish your bucktails in the same way except for one notable exception.  When the water temperatures drop to 45 degrees some of the shad population have  a die off.  So you want to mimic the die off once the water temps get below 45 degrees. You do this with sharp hops off of the bottom to mimic struggling and dying shad. 



Sculpin, madtoms and gobies: 

When I'm fishing waters that have any of these three species of bait fish I go with bucktails that are either brown, olive, black, olive with a black top and yellow with a brown top. As all, sculpin, madtoms and gobies are all bottom dwelling bait fish I keep the hair jigs bouncing close to the bttom or swimming just above the bottom.  So no high hops as the these species will retreat to rock crevices when in danger so this is what you want to imitate.  

On average each of sculpins, gobies and madtoms range in length from 2 to 5 inches as a result you want to match that size. It's not hard to match these sizes with just bucktail jigs.  However for longer lengths and a change of action using bunny bucktails or preacher style bucktails will give you a better chance of matching. 

Often times areas that have sculpins, gobies and madtoms will also have rockbass.  In the case of imitating juvenile rock bass the same patterns will work. The only difference is you'll use a red eye instead of a dark colored eye. 


Bunker: 

Bunker also known as menhaden are striper and bluefish candy.  Where ever you find a school of bunker there is a very high likelihood you'll find striped bass and bluefish nearby. This is especially true with peanut bunker, juvenile bunker, because of the large schools they roam in.  It's not uncommon on the Long Island sound to come across a school of striper and bluefish blowing up on peanut bunker. For this reason when you're fishing for striper or bluefish you want to have bucktails somewhere in your tackle box. 

On average bunker grow to between 12 and 15 inches in length.  However when you're matching this forage species you're matching the juvenile bunkers size.  So 3 to 6 inches is the size you wnna go with


Sand Eels: 

Sand eels are another major forage source for striper, bluefish and fluke.  Pretty much the same patterns you'd use for matching bunker will work for matching sand eels.  However with sand eels you can add chartreuse, pink and black and purple to your bucktail stash as these colors work great when mimicking a sand eel hatch. 

These small fish are bottom dwellers that like sandy and small smooth gravel sea beds so keep this in mind when fishing with your bucktails. So swim them along the bottom or jig it with small hops rather than high jigging motions to imitate these bait fish. 



Squids

Cephalopods like squid are very common feed for large saltwater predators.  The sky is the limit when it comes to the colors of bucktails you wanna use to imitate squid. This is due to the fact that most cephalopods like squid are capable of changing colors in order to camouflage themselves or given their moods. 


In most cases squid will school just like bait fish which attracts the attention of predators. However this is with one major difference, their major habits and schooling takes place at night.  So be looking out for  a night time bite. As well due to the size of squid most squid patterned bucktails are heavy thus are used in vertical jigging techniques. 

When tying squid patterned bucktails you wanna use a hair stacker so the buck tail can be uniform and add a couple strands of long grizzly hackle to imitate the two longer grasping tentacles of squid. 


Octopus

Like squids, octopus are cephalopods that have the ability to change their color to adapt to their surroundings or show moods.  So when matching octopus patterns if you'll want ot match to the given species you have in your area.  However due to the ability to alter their pigments you can pretty much go with whatever colors that will give you the best suit your water quality.


One major thing you want to think about though when matching octopus is their behavior.  Octopus don't school and hunt like squid do. They are bottom dwellers so keep that jig skimming the bottom when imitating an octopus. Don't get me wrong octopus are great swimmers but their normal behavior is to sit near the bottom where they are safest and can find an easy meal. 


My hope is that you got a bit more understanding about fishing with bucktail jigs by understanding the forage that the jigs imitate.  Stay tuned for multiple follow ups to this post, going into more depth about the different species you can target with bucktail jigs. 

Thanks for reading and tight lines

Understanding Hunting Treestands

At some point as a hunter you have to make the decision whether or not you'll be hunting on the ground or from a tree.  Early on you'll notice the pros and cons of hunting each way.  Pros like the flexibility of being able to move on the fly when you're hunting on the ground or the greater field of view from a treestand. Whatever your considerations, at some point you'll need to know whether you'll be hunting on the ground or from a tree.  For those times when you feel it's best to hunt from an elevated position, here is a brief overview of the different kinds of treestands with their pros and cons.


Ladder Stands

Description:
Ladder stands are treestands where the ladder, platform and seat are all connected. They're a perfect option for hunters who have no intention of moving the stand throughout the season.  Ladder stands are also a great option for hunters with a moderate to lower fitness level becuase the larger ladder makes it easier to climb. As well they offer very stable platforms for standing or sitting because the stand is always seated on the ground.

Ladder stands have the largest platforms and seats of the four kinds of treestands.  In fact some ladder stands are large enough to seat two hunters at once which is great if you're hunting with a kid, someone inexperienced or filming a hunt.

Pros:

• Ladder stands are comfortable with large seats and platforms.
• Some ladder stands can seat multiple hunters.
• Ladder stands are very stable
• Ladder stands are quiet due to the lack of moving parts.
• Ladder stands are relatively easy to climb
• Ladder stands have the highest weight capacities 

Cons:

• Ladder stands are heavy 
• Ladder stands require to people to erect
• Ladder stands are not portable

Tips:

First, ladder stands have heights between 15 feet and 18 feet.  This limited height leaves your feet standing at about 12 feet from the ground leaving you within the edges of a deers peripheral vision. So consider setting up ladder stands on hill above whatever travel route you're hunting. This will get your farther out of a deers field of vision view while increasing your own field of vision.

Second, set ladder stands up in trees that have large low hanging branches whenever possible.  The large branches will break up your sihlouette and camoflage your movements.

Third, make sure the trunk of the tree you're setting up in is at least the same width of the ladder portion of the stand. This will help you and the stand go unnoticed by any wary deer.

Lastly, add brush and fallen branches around the base of ladder stands to give them more cover.

Hang On Stands

Description:
Hang on stands are one piece treestands that connect to the tree with either a chain or straps.  Hang on stands have small seats without seat backs, with a few exceptions.

Due to their small size and low weights hang on stands are pretty easy to move and erect without the help of another person.  Hang stands require climbing sticks or screw in steps in order to get into whatever tree you choose.  These climbing aids can be cumbersome, noisy and time consuming to attach your tree of choice, which will slow you down if you want to change trees on the fly.

On the other hand the versatility of hang on stands is where they shine.  Hang on stands can be placed in any tree you choose. If the tree is too large or shaped in an odd way, you can simply change out the chain or straps that support the stand with ones that will fit your favorite tree.

Pros:

• Hang on stands are portable.
• Hang on stands work on any tree.
• Hang on stands are light weight.
• Hang on stands are easy to set up with one person.
• Hang on stands are not easily detected in the tree. 

Cons:

• Hang on stands have small platforms and seats
• Hang on stands require climbing sticks
• Hang on stands are not comfortable
• Hang on stands can be easier to fall from

Tips:

First, attach shoulder and waist straps to the platform to make hang on stands easier to transport to and from the field.

Second, make sure you purchase the lightest weight stand you possibly can. The less the stand weighs the less fatigue you have from moving it around and setting it up.

Third, use the best and lightest ladder system you can afford. By doing this you'll make your in field set up faster and make trasporting stand far more enjoyable.

Fourth, walk around with your stand and listen for any places that make noise from metal on metal contact. Once the noisy places are found, wrap them in parachord or heat shrink to eliminate the noise made by metal on metal contact.

Lastly, always do a safety check on your hang on stands before and after the season.  When doing this check for rusted bolts, chains, frayed straps or anything else that can potentially be a hazard.

Climbing Stands

Description:
Climbing stands are treestands that have two individual parts that aid hunters in climbing trees.

Climbers tend to be a bit heavier than hang on stands.  However they make up for that weight with comfort and mobility.

Mobility is what makes climbers a great choice for public land hunters.  Climbers allow public land hunters to move quickly and easily if necessary.  Pretty much for a climbing treestand to work all you need is a straight tree between 8 inches and 22 inches in circumference and you're good to go.

Pros:

• Climbing treestands are highly portable
• Climbing treestands are light weight
• Climbing treestands are easy to set up
• Climbing treestands are comfortable

Cons:

• Climbing treestands can be noisy when climbing
• Climbing treestands are limited to straight trees
• Climbing treestands are limited to trees 8" to 22" in circumference
• Climbing treestands have small platforms like hang on treestands
• Climbing treestands require a moderate fitness level to use

Tips:
First, purchase the lightest climbing stand you can afford because you'll be carrying it on your back quite a bit.
Second, attach a set of backpack and waist straps to your stand to make transporting it easier and more comfortable.
Third, make sure you walk around wearing the stand prior to hunting and listen for any metal on metal contact.  The places that have the sound of metal on metal contact, wrap them in parachord, heat shrink or bike tire rubber to silence the noise.
Fourth, scout your area heavily before hunting so you can pick out possible trees before getting in the field.  There is nothing worse than trying to find a suitable tree in the dark.
Lastly, practice setting up your stand and climbing trees prior to hunting.  This practice will help you when you have to set the stand up and climb a tree in the dark.

Tower Stand

Description:
Tower stands are not treestands.  Unlike treestands they are free standing and dont require a tree for set up. Some of them are just a tripod with a seat on top.  Some tower stands even have small blinds that sit on top for the users.

The main benefit of tower stands is that they can be set up anywhere. In fact they are ideal for areas that have no suitable trees for treestands, like scrublands.



Pros:

• Tower stands are free standing 
• Tower stands can be set up anywhere
• Tower stands are comfortable
• Tower stands are easy to climb

Cons:

• Tower stands are heavy
• Tower stands require 2 or more people for setup
• Tower stands provide no cover
• Tower stands are noisy to set up
• Tower stands are not portable 

Understanding the Different Types of Fishing Reels

SpinCast Reel:  The spincasting reel is also known as a closed face reel because the spool and line are beneath the spool cover.  A simple press of the line release button and a flick of the wrist is pretty much all it takes to cast with this type of reel.  This is why spincast reel is probably the reel you started with as a kid.  I personally remember having a zebco rod and reel combo that I inevitably caught my first  of many different species of fish on.  I caught everything from sunfish to catfish on that little rod and reel combo eventually burning it out after a few white bass runs.

Which brings me to the pros and cons of the spincasting reel.
Pros: This reel is a great teaching tool for anyone learning how to fish as it is by far the easiest reel to use.  As well the fact that it's inexpensive gives you the flexibility of starting a kid out in fishing without breaking the bank on a hobby they may eventually cast aside.

Cons: Unfortunately because spincasting reels tend to be considered entry level reels they're often not made for high intensity usage.  As a result many, not all, spincasting reels are not very durable as they are made of inferior materials.  As well this type of fishing reel is often not the best at long distance casting and suffers from a low hauling power which is needed for hauling big fish out of heavy cover like lilly pads and submerged vegetation.

Spinning Reel:  Spinning reels are probably the more widely used reels due to the relative ease of use as well as there moderate expense.  Spinning reels are also known as open faced reels because the spool and majority of the moving parts are located externally rather than behind a spool cover.  This makes the spinning reel ideal for surf fishing where there is a high likelihood of the reel getting wet with either fresh or saltwater.  The "open face" makes most parts of cleaning much easier than with other reel types.

Most of my reels are spinning reels just because I'm a bit more comfortable using them and the fact that I can get a decent quality reel for a reasonable price.  In addition I like the fact that reel maintenance is relatively simple for those times when I'm being my usual clumsy self and I drop a rod into the water while wading or on my float tube.

Quick Tip: When picking spinning reels I tend to opt for reels with front drag systems rather than rear drags.  As the front drag has large washers that exert force on a flat surface which makes the front drag system smoother than the rear.  Where as the rear drag pushes against the drive shaft of the reel which has a smaller surface area.

Pros:  Overall the pros of using spinning reels are as follows.
1. You can get a decent spinning reel for a moderate price.
2.  Due to their open spool design spinning reels tend to hold more line that the other reel types.
3.  Spinning reels are relatively easy to use and are easy to learn to use.
4.  They are great for casting long distances and are very accurate with practice.
5.  Spinning reels are great reels when using light baits.
6.  Not prone to birds nest.

Cons:  The cons of spinning reels are as follows.
1.  Spinning reels are prone to line twist unlike baitcasters which are prone to birds nest.
2.  Spinning reels come in very limited gear ratios which limits your options for reel speeds.
3.  Unfortunately spinning reels are not powerhouses like their baitcasting cousins.  Because spinning reels actually wrap line on the stationary spool upon retrieval rather than the spool spinning hauling the line on like a wench, spinning reels are limited when it comes to hauling power.

Baitcasting Reel
Baitcasting reels are quickly becoming just as widely used as spinning reels.  Where in the past you mostly saw more experienced and pro anglers using baitcasting reels now there isn't a day that I'm out on my local pond harrassing the bass and there isn't at least one other person out there using a baitcaster.

This is because more and more people are recognizing the benefits of using a baitcaster.


Pros: The pros and cons of using baitcasting reels are as follows.
1.  Baitcasting reels are wenches, of the different types of reels baitcasters have the most hauling power.
2.  Baitcasters work very well with heavier baits.
3.  Baitcasting reels offer many more gear ratios (retrieval speeds) so choosing the gear ratio that's more fitting for specific baits is far easier.
4.  Baitcasting reels also have very smooth drag systems.
5.  Baitcasting reels work great with heavier lines and super lines like braid.

Cons:  The cons of using baitcasting reels are as follows.
1.   Baitcasters are the most difficult reels to use easily getting birds nest on bad cast.
2.  Because of the steep learning curve with baitcasters it takes a bit more practice to be able to make longer cast.
3.  Baitcasters are not the best choice for lighter baits.
4.  As said before baitcasters are prone to getting birds nests in the line upon casting if not thumbed correctly
5.  Prices of bait casters can easily surpass a budget friendly place for the average person who doesn't fish that often.

Overall the different types of fishing reels are then to aid in different ways.  No one reel type is better than the other however they all just have different purposes.  As well with the technological progressions being made fishing reels are all being made with lighter and stronger materials as technology improves.  So choose wisely when choosing your next fishing reel and enjoy it for all it's worth. Thanks for reading.

Understanding Topwater Baits

Ask any angler what their favorite way to fish is and odds are your answer will be topwater fishing. Why? Because there is nothing like seeing a fish explode out of seemingly no where to engulf your bait.   The adrenaline rush it gives anglers is unparalleled and will have you eager to throw your bait back in the water after landing that fish.                

Not only that but depending on what bait you're using topwater baits give you a great way to fish areas blanketed with fish harboring weeds and lilly pads.  So just to simplify things a bit for you here is a list of the different types of topwater baits available.

Hollow Frogs & Rats:  Hollow bodied frogs and rats are probably the ultimate lilly pad fishing bait. This is due to the fact that they are weedless and easily crawl across weed mats and pads producing a big silhouette for fish to see from the underside of pads.  Don't be afraid to tie a frog or rat on and give it a whirl, fish love them and trust me you will too.



Poppers:  Poppers also known as chuggers and spitters have concave faces that cause them to pop, gurgle or spit water when you twitch them.  Unlike frogs and rats poppers are not weedless and need to be fished in relatively open water or in water where the tops of weeds haven't reached the top of the water yet (I've had great success in this case).  Poppers are retrieved with a series of rapid twitches but don't be afraid to vary it up.

Stick Baits (Walkers):  I believe the Zara Spook might be the most widely used stick bait there is on the  market.  It's cigar shape and weighted rear end allows it to have a walk the dog (side to side) action as your twitch the bait.  Stick baits are also baits for open water or waters where the weeds have not reached the surface as they, like poppers, have treble hooks at the front and rear end.

Crawlers: The Jitterbug is the standard for crawling topwater baits.  The wide concave lip causes the bait have a side to side action accompanied by a "plop plop" sound that fish can't resist.  Simply cast it into open water or waters that have weeds below the surface and hold on.  Crawlers are great baits for night time, heavily overcast and rainy day fishing.

Propbaits:  Propbaits look similar to stickbaits with a more narrow profile and small propellors at each end. They're fished with twitches and frequent pauses that make props spin simulating feeding baitfish.  Like many others on the topwater list they are good for open water and water with below surface weeds.

Buzzbaits:  Buzzbaits are great baits for covering large amounts of water within a short time.  They have a large propellor like blade that throw a lot of water making the buzz sound across the surface. Retrieve them slowly and steadily as they sink when you stop reeling.  As well you want to retrieve the slowly in order to keep the bait in the strike zone longer avoiding missed strikes.




Topwater baits are a great choice for fishing as any fisherman will tell you.  However don't get drawn in to the belief that they are only a bass fishing bait because almost all fish will take bait off of the top you just have to chose what they want.  In fact my preferred method of fishing for panfish is with a small flyfishing popper or a foam spider.

Thanks for reading
Kwan