Last years bucktail jigs.

[manlystanley]

What do you guys do with last years bucktails? The white feathers are getting a bit dull and the hook needs sharpening. Do you guys just sharpen the hook with a file, or do you chuck the jig and buy new ones?

I do replace the plastic each year.

Best Regards,
Stan

[Mark]

Stan,

The jigs most of us use for stripers (1/2 oz. to 1 oz.) are fairly sturdy. The hooks can be sharpened, the heads repainted and the bucktails replaced.

I actually do not use bucktails often myself for stripers, but my friends who troll do and I enjoy rehabbing them.

Here's a before and an after photo of the same jig:

P1000747.JPG P1000748.jpg

Here are a few other after photos of ones I have retied:

A.JPG D.jpg

I didn't repaint them -- just redressed them. Also notice that the tail does not have to be white. So if yours are no longer bright white, I don't think that matters. But if most of the hair is gone, it matters.

If the hooks are seriously bent I usually don't rehab them. But I'll keep the lead for re-melting.

[J. Rentch]

Mark has refurbished some of my bucktails from last year, and they have been productive.

[Mark]

Mark has refurbished some of my bucktails from last year, and they have been productive.

Except when he donates them to CNRs.

In that case, he gets a new one from the production line:

Bucktail for John R. .jpg

[manlystanley]

Everyone,
Great advice, thanks! This will save me some money.

Best Regards,
Stan