Backlash

I have been seeing some people cutting the tails off the hardtails there useing for bait , I would

assume that it is to make it look like the "slash" has already happend, does this make a king go ahead and take the bait??? Or is there another reason

givnupfreshwater

Cigar minnows cast much farther with the tail cut off and doesn't seem to affect the bite in a negative way.

Freespool

IT gives you alot more distance

Tuna Man

I find that by cutting the tails off baits, they won't spin and foul up a line when you drop them down. That is about the only time I cut them off. I'm sure I'lllearn something about other times with this thread.

wrightackle

A freelined live cigar minnow from a boat will always try to swim back to the boat. If you clip his tail off or better yet butterfly him about a half inch up from the tail they are much bettet behaved. Any predator fish is going to pick on a bait that is just not acting right. A butterflied live cigar minnow will live surprisingly long as long as you start close to the tail.

WW2

I try to maim all of my bait in some form or fashion, that's what makes them attractive. I take scissors on the boat and cut every fin I can to some extent.

sc23

It's been awhile since I fished the pier, but I'd cut off a pectoral fin on a live bait. It'll often swim on it's side, which means a free meal to a king. Cutting off the tail would have to reduce fouled lines.

Inn Deep

Learned this a long time ago from an old commercial fisherman: Many of the baitfish have a small gland in their tail that puts out a scent when indangered. A kind of protective device.