Tails

[ThrowingTimber]

You’ll want to tie in your flash if you’ll be adding any. (it varies really on if you’re just tying in sparklies or going for a lateral line ie. Like on a baitfish., not so say you cant tie in your flash to run on the sides then your bucktail over it, its all a matter of preference) Again you’ll want to measure. You want your flash to extend about 1.5 times the length of your hook shank, sometimes 2.0 times the length of your hook. You can tie in your flash, at the mid point or forward portion of that first initial wrap you tied that should be all set with hard as nails. I was taught to tie my flash in at its mid point then flip it back and give it a few wraps to hold it in place (this helps, if you notice some tails you can pull the flash right out) The extra step of tying it in at its mid point (tying it forward) then flipping it back and securing it will take an extra 15 – 20seconds but in the long run, they’re custom plugs right. Ok so at this point you, got the measurements, you’ve laid down your first wrap, you’ve secured that, and you’ve secured your flash. Bring that thread back up to the right-hand-side and don’t crowd your eye. (remember you want the distance of your first wrap to the hooks eye to be the same distance as the diameter of the hook) Basically grab your flash, find the middle, give it 3-4 wraps fold the second half back give that 3-4 wraps.

[ThrowingTimber]

Here is the flash tied in you can begin to see the head slightly forming. Its off to the side for the picture but you'd place it ontop or on the sides your call.

[ThrowingTimber]

Ok now you’re ready for the tail (I wont profess to know everything about hair selection at this point because that would be another couple pages itself) Grab yourself a chunk (every tyer in the world just puked) you’re happy with and trim it as close to the hide as possible (get good scissors and don’t skimp here, it will save you headaches) pinch the messy clump of hair near the base where you cut it. Now figure out how long you need the hair to extend. With your free hand pinch the hair at the length you want it, now flick the base of the hair the (the portion you cut close to the hide) this will get rid of any under hair (its kinda floaty you don’t want it it’ll change your action **floaty is a technical term** ) First pic is the messy hair, second pic I'm holding the tail at the desired length and you'll see the under hair flaring out the sides.

[ThrowingTimber]

After flicking out the under hair. Notice it in the back there, its hollow and very **floaty** you dont want it.

[ThrowingTimber]

Notice that once I've got the hair I want to use all, nice and neat, no stray hairs or underhairs laying around I cut the portion I'm tying down. what you REALLY want to notice is: A. Its cut at a SLIGHT angle, dont make it a wicked sharp angle you'll f it up. B. The angle of the cut, is the same length as that initial wrap I laid down.

[ThrowingTimber]

Now when I secure the hair, it secures a bit at a time with each wrap. (thats key, if you think you're going to secure it all at once you got another thing coming to ya) in the pic you cant make out the thread, but the first wrap secures the green area, the second wrap secures the red area. This is being tied on the top only, if you wanted to go all around the hook youd secure this with 3 or 4 wraps. Rotate your hook, grab a chunk of bucktail, flick out the **floatys** (again thats a technical term) cut at a slight angle place that on the hook shank, secure it. Easy and clean.

Once you have that down (really its just a matter of getting used to switching the material between hands) you can take larger amounts of bucktail, and secure them in place with 3-4 wraps (medium tension) and if you pinch the hair it will work its self around the hook.


OK, once you have that secured in place, wind your thread all the way to the front and wrap it all the way to the back. Cutting that slight angle in your hair does two things, makes it easier to secure A. and B. begins to build your head (you know what I mean if you've ever just wrapped crazy amounts of thread on the hair to get 'the look' I know Im not the only one to ever do that )

[ThrowingTimber]

Ok most of it is secured and you can begin to see a slight head forming, hint if you drop your bobbin and its waaay too close to your hook point, at this step you didnt measure right. About 7-9 wraps and this thing is secured, no need to kill it with wraps, but it sure makes em purty! wrap front to back and dont go fast, (the hurrieder' you go the behinder'er you'll get)