[Slick56]

I have had success fishing with Topwaters plugs, bombers, poppers, pencils ,storm shads and bait however I am not to knowledgable about fishing from the surf using a spro bucktail. What is the method used to fish with Spros from the surf Cast, slow retrieve and lift your rod so it bounces And what would you put on the end? Red pork rind I like to use them because i can cast them pretty far but I think I am doing something wrong.

Thanks

Mike Slick

 

[snapperman]

i dont like spros. the hooks are crap and break really easily. i just use them for fluke. some good surf bucktails are blue frogs if you like the swing hook and andrus if you like the fixed.

 

[walleyeman]

Bucktails are the most used lures in my bag. Generally, you want to go with a bucktail that will get you just off the bottom. Different stages of the tide will require you to use a heavier or lighter bucktail. Sometimes it's good to use a slow to moderate retrieve with no twitching action. Other times you will use the same retrieve employing an occiassional twitch of the rod tip. Sometimes bouncing it off the bottom can be effective. I have always found that the fish will tell you what type of retrieve works best. I'll use a spro bucktail when smaller fish are around but I usually stay away from them when fishing areas that produce larger fish. I'm a big fan of blue frog bucktails (mostly white) with red/white, white, or yellow/white #70 Uncle Josh pork rind. Andrus bucktails are very effective as well. There are some who don't tip their bucktails with anything. Keep in mind that the addition of pork rind will shorten the length of your cast.

This post edited by walleyeman 03:44 PM 05/20/2008

 

[hawkscay]

I have to agree with both Snapperman and Walleyeman,I've had the hook on a Spro fail while fighting a large bluefish,but they work well on smaller fish(bass and blues) and the fluke seem to love them. The Bullfrogs have become my new favorite with Andrus a close second.

 

[CHEVY1]

spro

I watched a few saltwater shows over the past few weeks, and they said spro has changed hooks and the new ones are much stronger now. I din't know if it's true or not, but it was on T.V.

 

[caston]

spro bucktails

I saw the new hooks on the larger bucktails 2oz and over. I started to fish with bucktails about 2 years ago and I asked the same questions. As a result here is the most common answer I got. Buy Doc Mullers book fishing with bucktails. It is a very easy read and has alot of info in it. I rereadover the winter to as a quick refresher. If yu are hitting the bottom, take of 1/4. You usually want to be right off the bottom. Not to many fish swim banking their heads into the bottom.

 

[snapperman]

yea. i dont like to bounce bottom with a bucktails. Have you ever seen a fish that swims like that? i havent. most small fish like cunner, blowfish, baby sea robins, porgys and other bottom fish tend to slowly glid along the bottom, and dart in and out amougst the rocka dnseaweed around structure. although i you bucktails to find fish, i use them the most around jetties and rocky areas because there is always some sort of bottom or trash fish around. when i try to find bass, when there is no bait, or no fish on the bait target these areas cause there are almost always some fish trying to pick up a meal around the rocks. most fish i catch in these areas arent stuffed with common baitfish but with crabs, baby lobsters, juvinille gamefish and bottom fish. try these areas and you should get into fish if you cant locate bait or there no fish showing.

 

[walleyeman]

snapperman wrote:
yea. i dont like to bounce bottom with a bucktails. Have you ever seen a fish that swims like that? i havent. most small fish like cunner, blowfish, baby sea robins, porgys and other bottom fish tend to slowly glid along the bottom, and dart in and out amongst the rock and seaweed around structure.
What you said is true for the most part, but don't be so quick to dismiss the strategy of bouncing a bucktail off the bottom of a sandy open beach. I almost always keep my bucktails gliding along just off the bottom, however, on occassion I will bounce my bucktail off a primarily sandy bottom and this action has generated good strikes from striped bass. I used to do a lot of snorkling and when I came upon a flounder, fluke, or sea robin there first move from where they were positioned created quite a poof and cloud of sand. In certain locations this is a sight and movement that bass see often. Why not mimic that action with a bucktail? I can't begin to tell you how many northern pike, walleyes I've brought in while bouncing a jig and shiner off the bottom. They came after it very aggressively when I would do that. Those are just a few observations.

 

[bass28]

snapperman wrote:
yea. i dont like to bounce bottom with a bucktails. Have you ever seen a fish that swims like that? i havent. most small fish like cunner, blowfish, baby sea robins, porgys and other bottom fish tend to slowly glid along the bottom, and dart in and out amougst the rocka dnseaweed around structure. although i you bucktails to find fish, i use them the most around jetties and rocky areas because there is always some sort of bottom or trash fish around. when i try to find bass, when there is no bait, or no fish on the bait target these areas cause there are almost always some fish trying to pick up a meal around the rocks. most fish i catch in these areas arent stuffed with common baitfish but with crabs, baby lobsters, juvinille gamefish and bottom fish. try these areas and you should get into fish if you cant locate bait or there no fish showing.

if you have ever seen sandeels at night or anytime on the beach they will dig into the sand. thats why that technique will sometimes worked with a hard twitch.

 

[RichTrox]

It may work on the open beach, but other than that I do not twitch or jerk a buck. I stay in constant contact, steady and smooth, just off the bottom, with a periodic bump of the bottom, for most of the reasons already stated. As for Spro's, with those hooks I can't imagine even tying one to my line. Pretty to look at though. As for more details on bucktailing, use the search feature. There are plenty of good threads on this already.

-Rich

 

[bass28]

RichTrox wrote:
It may work on the open beach, but other than that I do not twitch or jerk a buck. I stay in constant contact, steady and smooth, just off the bottom, with a periodic bump of the bottom, for most of the reasons already stated. As for Spro's, with those hooks I can't imagine even tying one to my line. Pretty to look at though. As for more details on bucktailing, use the search feature. There are plenty of good threads on this already.

-Rich


i found the twitch on moving waters and open beaches is mostly what gets the fish to strike it on the downfall.so far this year the twitch has outfshed the regular retrive.

 

[likeitreallyis]

twitch and drop is the only way I ever caught a weakfish with a buck..

Spro hooks are too flimsy for me to consider for anything but fluke...

 

[CHEVY1]

Did anyone read this

CHEVY1 wrote:
I watched a few saltwater shows over the past few weeks, and they said spro has changed hooks and the new ones are much stronger now. I din't know if it's true or not, but it was on T.V.

 

[bass28]

i just dont like using spros in general for bass

 

[frankiesurf]

bass28 wrote:
i just dont like using spros in general for bass
Why don't you elaborate on why?


I have heard the same thing Chevy1 is saying. I still don't buy them. I just don't trust them. I had a hook snap off when fighting a nice blue so when I went home I was able to very easily break the hook off another one with my hands.

I also prefer the Blue Frogs due to the swing hook and the fact that they are a local company.

That is until the Snapperman Bucks hit the market

This post edited by frankiesurf 07:49 PM 05/21/2008

 

[fish4me]

frankiesurf wrote:
bass28 wrote:
i just dont like using spros in general for bass
Why don't you elaborate on why?


I have heard the same thing Chevy1 is saying. I still don't buy them. I just don't trust them. I had a hook snap off when fighting a nice blue so when I went home I was able to very easily break the hook off another one with my hands.

I also prefer the Blue Frogs due to the swing hook and the fact that they are a local company.

That is until the Snapperman Bucks hit the market

I have used Spros primarily for fluke, while using Blue Frog and Uncle Josh swing hook BT's for bass.

 

[Slick56]

Thanks guys. Now another question....for bucktails I use a 8.6ft St Croix Premeire casting rod 8-17lb up to 2oz of lure. I mainly use this on 2oz or less on the BT. My problem is my Abu6500 is spooled with 40lb suffix, IMO way to thick in diameter to get a good cast on windy days. I had a belly in my line. I want to respool the reel but with what? How low can i go? 14lb fireline or 15lb test mono? The tackle shop in SI told me to use 15lb mono, stay away from the braid.

Any feedback would be appreciated.



This post edited by Slick56 09:52 AM 05/22/2008

 

[likeitreallyis]

I like to bucktail with braid (spiderwire) no heavier than 30 lb, 20 lb on some trips if the conditions allow.. most places 1 ounce max in these situations

Working heavy bucks in ripping inlets is another story, that is where the 40 and 50 lb braid comes in with bucks as high as 5 oz

 

[snapperman]

stick with braid, i would only go as low as 15-20lb test. if there is still to much of a cross wind try to position yourself so you are casting into the wind, or with it at your back.

 

[Slick56]

Andrus Bucktails- which ones in your opinions are better for bass, Jetty caster BTs, splitter BTs or Big Eye BTs.

Andrus BTs

And who locally sells these BTs?

I see causeway sells the blue frogs.