Naptime Posted November 11, 2017 Report Share Posted November 11, 2017 (edited) Had to pick up the boat after some routine service, forgot I had left a couple rods on the boat. Figured I'd see how one of my home made plugs swims, so I trolled it next to the boat. Which means of course that the angle of the line etc. aren't matching what it would be it I had actually casted it though I did hold the rod tip near the water. Does it really matter, or do they basically swim how they swim regardless? Edited November 12, 2017 by Naptime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefreeordie Posted November 11, 2017 Report Share Posted November 11, 2017 I doubt I'm gonna say anything you haven't already considered, here, but: ANY testing you do will give SOME valid info. And, everybody uses lures differently, so if the lure swims they way you want it to..well then...it works. But, yeah....I've noticed that the same lure, deadsticked straight down the same current will swim differently according to the angle it's attached to (how high your rod tip is) AND, having 7 ft of line out has produced different action than having 20 (though I seldom get conditions where I can see a lure 20ft away). I make a mini-darter that some people I've given one to love, and others hate. The ones who love it and fish it catch with it. The lure will not hold straight downstream in a medium/fast current, yet does dig in and dance as it swings across. For some, the criteria for a good darter is one that holds (never flips or surfaces). For me, I use different lures when I'm deadsticking over some down current structure. (and I also make bigger darters that can hold in fast current) Anyhow, I think trolling a few feet behind your boat gives an absolutely valid idea of how the plug swims. If you take notice of how it 'feels' in your hands (can you feel the vibrations, amount of tension, etc), then you can compare that to how the plug feels when being retrieved out at the far end of a cast. One difference I've noted is how deep a plug will go. Certainly, a deep diver will give an indication that it dives, even with only 10 ft of line out. Some plugs I've tested, tho, go deeper than I thought they would, over the course of a long retrieve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naptime Posted November 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fBkz5Md/0/2f53226d/640/i-fBkz5Md-640.mp4 9 sec video of the test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefreeordie Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 Little, if any, roll. That plug is stable and has a great action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew9745 Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 Boat, shore, rock, whatever. That thing looks good in the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naptime Posted November 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 Thanks. It started life as a dowel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonellr Posted November 13, 2017 Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 That's the best and tightest wiggle I've seen on a homemade plug! Do that thing in mackerel and beef it up, then fish for tuna! "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." -Doug Larson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrocco Posted November 13, 2017 Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 Very nice action! Would like to see a picture of the plug if you get a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naptime Posted November 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naptime Posted November 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 (edited) One of my first, before I got a lathe. Basically a piece of dowel, drilled on a drill press. Shaped with a rasp and sander. I woodwork more than I fish. Edited November 13, 2017 by Naptime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrocco Posted November 13, 2017 Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 Swims good and looks good! Looks like a unique profile on the face. Should be a real killer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naptime Posted November 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2017 (edited) I don't keep a notebook of my builds. From the marks it looks like there are belly weights in front of the hook and maybe behind it too. I use small dowels as plugs on top of the weights and then sand flush. Edited November 13, 2017 by Naptime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthefly Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 I would foil the sides or add some large silver flake on the side not a lot about a flake every cm or so has the look of an old time lure those guys in the 50's were right about a lot of things good job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishy Fisher Posted November 15, 2017 Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 That thing swims great. I'm going to try a copy of that mouth. So simple and efficient. Obviously it gets the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naptime Posted November 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2017 Here's another view, with total weight. It was 49g if you prefer metric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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