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How to add a Skirt to the New Vortaks

Add a skirt to our new fishing lure- The Vortaks

Try these tips and techniques for adding skirts to the new fishing lure- Vortaks rotating bullet head for salmon fishing success. First, secure the materials from the list below, then give these set ups a try with our new fishing lure, the Vortaks. 

Materials List

You may already have these around. If not, go shopping at your favorite sporting goods store.

New Fishing Lure Set Ups

Vortaks and Needlefish Skirt Setup

  1. To begin, take a white Vortaks in one hand.
  2. Then take a Goldstar number 35 needlefish in the other hand.
  3. Next, line up the needlefish's skirt cut (the end towards the needlefish's head) with the Vortaks tail flare. Make sure the skirt cut is at the base of the shank flare. The head of the needlefish should run parallel with the Vortaks' skirt shank.
  4. Now mark where the needlefish's head/nose meets the Vortaks' shoulder (right behind the end of the spin fins). Note the mark is usually just behind the needlefish's eyeballs.
  5. Cut the needlefish's nose off at your mark. The nose part of the head is not used and so discard it.
  6. Next, lubricate (spit works well) the needlefish where the cut was made and work it over the end of the Vortaks flare.
  7. The needlefish's head (minus the nose) will fit nicely over the Vortaks skirt shank, and the needlefish's skirt will be spread well by the Vortaks tail flare when done correctly.
After those steps are completed, the needlefish skirt is done and you can fish this one.

Vortaks and Mylar Skirt Option One

  1. The skirt material for this setup is a 4" banded mylar purchased from Purple Taco Fly Supply.
  2. The mylar pattern used is three colors cut at 1.5" each.
  3. Each 1.5" section of mylar is placed side-by-side on one side of a 1/2" wide piece of 3M 950 Transfer Tape. The total length of the skirt pattern is 4.5" when the three colors are stuck to the transfer tape.
  4. Pick up a Sea Green Vortaks and hold it in one hand.
  5. Using the other hand, peel back the protective paper off approximately ¾" of the 3M 950 Transfer Tape.
  6. Place the exposed end of the adhesive tape on the Vortaks skirt shank so that the ½" wide tape covers the ½" long skirt shank and the mylar skirt material points away from the Vortaks head.
  7. Next, wrap the mylar skirt around the Vortaks skirt shank, placing the new wrap over the first wrap.
  8. Continue peeling back paper and wrapping the mylar skirt assembly until the 4.5" is completely taped down to the Vortaks skirt shank.
  9. After the skirt assembly is on, use your thumb and forefinger to apply pressure over the taped skirt section, and squeeze down to ensure a tight adhesive to Vortaks shank wrap.
When the skirt is placed in a tail orientation as described, the Vortaks will present a slim profile and mimic smaller early-season bait fish. The number two setup is done and ready for the tackle box.Author's note: Scent Striker completed an in-water test to determine the holding power of the 3M 950 Transfer Tape. The tape held the mylar skirt securely after a 336-hour submersion. During a pull test, the mylar broke before the tape was pulled apart. Some adhesive softening was observed at the tape's edges, however.

Vortaks and Mylar Skirt Option Two

  • A yellow Vortaks and a new 4.5" mylar skirt assembly are used for this skirt application. (Follow steps 1-3 above for the mylar skirt assembly.)
  • The only difference between securing the skirt for option two and option one is the direction of the mylar skirt fibers – they point away from the tail and over the Vortaks' head.
  • Pick up a yellow Vortaks and hold it in one hand.
  • Then, use your other hand to peel back the protective paper off approximately ¾" of the 3M 950 Transfer Tape.
  • Place the exposed end of the adhesive tape on the Vortaks skirt shank so that the ½" wide tape covers the ½" long skirt shank and the mylar skirt material points up and over the Vortaks head.
  • Wrap the mylar skirt around the Vortaks skirt shank, placing the new wrap over the first wrap.
  • Continue peeling back paper and wrapping the mylar skirt assembly until the 4.5" is completely taped down to the Vortaks skirt shank.
  • Use your thumb and forefinger to apply pressure over the taped skirt section, then squeeze down to ensure a tight adhesive to Vortaks shank wrap.
  • Place a self-adhesive eyespot along the Vortaks centerline about ½" from the nose to enhance its salmon-attracting attributes. Next, place an eyespot on each side of the Vortaks bullet head.
Choose the mylar skirt over the head orientation to create a fuller bait profile. When the Vortaks is trolled or retrieved, the skirt flows back over the tail in a way that makes the bait look fat. This option is a good bait for imitating bigger late-season herring. Option two is now complete. Time to put it in the tackle box!new fishing lureGet Scent Striker's new Vortaks rotating bullet head today.Fill your fish box! Don Habeger Founder