Bucktail Jig Info

[nathanhooper]

I am throwing a line out here in hopes someone has some good data. I am scouring the internet for trolling data on bucktail jigs. I am hoping to get an idea of X line out, with X weight jig, and X mph speed equals X depth.

I've gotten some data, but not much at all. Its probably pretty close across the board, but I want to try and downrig some bucktails and hope I don't have to learn the hard way of how deep they run below the balls.

[Feathers and Fins]

approximately 6ft per every 1/4oz with 150ft of line at 2.0 mph is a rule of thumb I use so 300ft = 12 ft with 1/4 oz or 150ft = 12ft with 150 ft out with 2.0 mph speed. be warned if your going in the wind and your boat speed drops so does the lure and ive lost more than a few not paying attention.

[nathanhooper]

Thanks. Do you run that much line out when you have them on down riggers? Seems like a lot. I was thinking more in the line of 50' at the most out if I am fishing 30' or so deep. So would a 1/4oz only drop 2' at 50' of line out?

I've got 3/8oz right now, but am thinking of going with 1/2oz to 1oz in the future. So lets just call my 3/8oz a half oz for now. Would you expect a 1/2oz lure to drop 4' with 50' of line out? That does match up pretty close to one thing I found on the web for sure.

I plan to fish mostly open water for the most part with them till I can get a feel for how they will handle. I might even just put them aside on windy days. That is the one thing I do like about crankbaits, they either just sit there or rise up some.

I've hear a lot about bucktails though and wanted to give them a shot at least.

[Feathers and Fins]

Down riggers I wont run bucktails I try to stay with spoons, swimbaits and hard plastic. But I have and cut it down to 60ft and try to keep where I believe 5ft below the ball is.