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This is how I build my bucktails.
The first picture is the tools that I use. I got a pair of round nose pliers, needle nose, vice grips, flashabou beads and blades.
I first put on the 7/0 treble with four wraps and heat shrink it on. I then use a 1/4 ounce egg sinker for extra weight.
These are two coils that the flashabou will be tied to. I use a throttle cable assembly that I buy at lowe's, pull out the cable and use the housing. I usually cut between 3/4 to an inch long.
If you plan on making these, I highly recommend using this type of flashabou. It is thicker and holds its shape much better. The one I'm building here is regular flashabou and I make this a little different. I'll explain in a bit.
In this step, I'm tying the flashabou to the coil. I use an allen wrench to hold the coil on my vice. On the first coil, I usually try to tie it even. I usually use around 1/2 to 2/3 of the flashabou. On the fly fiber, I'll use the whole thing. When tying the second coil, I try to tie 1/3 of regular flashabou on top, fly fiber is in middle. The regular flashabou is too flimsy to tie in middle and seems to get hung up too much in the middle treble. Tying 1/3 on top helps too keep from tangling. I use hard as nails on the thread and then zip tie the coils for extra strength.
Here I slid the first coil onto the wire. I then use a piece of surgical tubing, 1 inch to seperate the second coil from the first.
Both coils on the wire.
I then put one 1/4 inch bead on, then my two split rings for the second treble, then two more 1/4 inch beads. Don't place second treble on until last step! Unless you want to hook yourself!! I then place lure body on, then 1 1/4inch bead, then 4 7/32 beads.
I then put on the clevis's with the blades attached. I interwine them as shown in the photos.
One more 7/32 bead and then I make my loop. Then, I cut the end of the flashabou to the back end of the hook.
The last step is placing the treble on. I usually use a 5/0 or another 7/0 hook. I use .051 diameter wire. Some use .062 but I think it's too hard to bend and really not needed. If you have never made a round loop with wire before, it helps to buy some thinner wire( jerkbait leaders) and practice!! It's much easier to learn with thinner wire and you don't mess up your good bucktail wires. Also, if a fish does bend it, cut it and add the parts to another wire. I keep extras in the boat with me and can put it back together in less than ten minutes. Good luck and I hoped this helps! If you make some, post them up!!
