The experimental study investigates the takeoff characteristics of lower jet trajectory from the dovetail-shaped flip bucket under different inlet conditions. The experiment analyzes the influences of velocity and water depth on lower takeoff characteristics, especially the variation of takeoff angle of lower jet trajectory. The following items are addressed 1) relationship between takeoff angle of lower jet trajectory and inlet velocity as well as inlet water depth 2) characteristics of the takeoff angle as a function of changes of inlet Fr0 3) the empirical formulas for calculating takeoff angle of lower jet trajectory. The results indicate that the effects of inlet conditions are significant on lower takeoff characteristics. Additionally, with the established empirical formulas, the calculated values of horizontal distance of lower nappe profile are in good agreement with the experimental data.