Bucktails of any variety will catch you a fish. They happen to catch more muskie than all other lures combined. What are the reasons? First, they are the most used lure. The key factor, however, is that they can be worked faster when you have agressive muskies that are hitting. Additionally, they allow for the ability to cover much more water more quickly. The problem comes down to which one to use. As most serious anglers know there are literally hundreds of different ones, in all sizes, colors, blade types, weights, hook arrangements and hook dressings. Brand names such as Mepps, Eagle Tail, Wishin Lures, Llungen Tales are those bucktails that have consistently caught the muskies. Spinner baits have also been popular, which adds Fudally Tackle to the list. The key reason that bucktails have been such a success story is their versatility. When you consider the different blade shapes, weights and colors (materials), it give undefined flexibility in selecting the combination that can adapt to any muskie angling situation. In short, blades are the single factor in the selection of which bucktail to use. The Colorado blade creates "lift" and is the blade of choice when the angler wishes to keep his bucktail close to the surface. It is especially effective for use of the technique called "bulging," which means keeping it just under the surface without breaking, and creating a rise or "bulge" in the water behind the lure. Willow leaf blades are used more for obtaining depth during the retrieve. The blade thickness will add to or subtract from depth. The fluted "Indiana" blades run a medium depth, as do French blades, made popular by Mepps. The most productive bucktail blade in history has been the "fluted" Indiana blade. It has produced more muskies over 50 pounds than all of the rest combined! Tests have shown this style blade to create the most "noise" under water of all the blade types. It's the blade that seems to call in and fool the muskie. Bucktail dressings are a matter of angler choice, and that includes the color.
Bucktail hooks are a different matter. As with the blades, the hooks are "tools." The majority of bucktails are offered with one or two treble hooks of different sizes and styles (manufacturer). Some are offered with only single hooks, such as Wishin Lures Weedless Bucktail (
www.wishin-lures.com) and the Eagle Tail. This lure has apparently has accounted for more muskies over 50 inches in the 33 year history of the Muskie's, Inc. members only fishing contest than any other bucktail or lure of any type for that matter.
The success of the Eagle Tail (single hook) seems to speak for itself.
Another keen lure is the Wisher Weedless Bucktail from Wishin Lures, which is my dad's favorite. He never leaves the dock without a good assortment. The Wisher Weedless Bucktail was specifically designed to be used in weedy situations but they do work equally well in open water. It has a light build to help it stay "up" in the water. The most important aspect of it is its weighted shank-forged single hook. The weight causes the hook to ride thru the water tilted down and back with the hook point protected by the shank and tilted away from trouble. It will glide through all but the thickest milfoil and remains weed free most of the time. Not only does it do a good job of bringing the fish in, it is a tremendous hooker. Very seldom is a strike missed, and when they get hooked, they don't get free (until you want them to, that is). The fish just can't throw it. My pops says it's because the weight is working against them and keeping the hook buried. The biggest, and perhaps only, drawback of these bucktails is that their light weight makes them more difficult to cast against the wind. Their new model, the “Ramsell Spin” has a weighted shaft, and works well in the wind.
In fishing environments where there are no weeds or obstructions, single hooks aren't totally necessary. However, some anglers feel that treble hooks often work against them in the hooking process. Either way, there are thousands of muskies caught annually
However, in situations where the water is free from weeds or other obstructions, I don't feel that single hooks are a total necessity, but there are many anglers who feel that treble hooks often work against themselves in the hooking process. Either way, there are thousands caught annually on treble-hook bucktails!!!
