Tiger Needle how to - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Slipknot · 02-19-2005, 06:13 PM

First of all this plug was inspired by an Old John needlefish plug that he came up with years ago. Those things catch fish like nobodies business. Slim, heavy enough for excellant casting and fishability and very much like a sandeel or other slim baitfish.

I start out with some tiger maple wood 3/4" x 3/4" and turn a nice shape needle.

Next step is to thru drill with an 1/8" bit, I use the lathe to thru drill and start off with a short bit then go to a 6" bit. It is tough going with a figured wood like maple but patients pays off.
Once the thru drilling is done I drill the belly holes with a 1/4" bradpoint bit with the drill press. I have to look the blank over good and decide which side goes up and which side will go down to be painted pearl white. I setup a fence and placed markings on the fence for the 3 positions of the weight holes and the position of the hook/swivel hole. I use a #4 Spro swivel for these 130 lb. is plenty and it's small size suits the plug better.
Next step is drill the eyes.

Now I cut the waste ends off, sand smooth and wire the plug. Next I melt lead and pour it in the 3 holes, the lead follows the thru wire a little and adds more weight.
Now I file/sand off the excess lead then putty with filler any voids that are left.

Now a quick cleaning of the plug and it's time for stain.

I use Minwax Driftwood stain because it is close to an olive color, but on the sides I mix some yellow dye to the stain, it looks great that way. I take some of the sludge from the bottom of the can and smooth it on the top of the plug then blend it to the sides as a transition. I go lighter on the bottom as it usually gets painted with pearl white.

Once the stain is done I do a light coat of Minwax High Performance Wood Hardner.

Once the wood hardner is cured I lightly sand with 320,then airbrush on white paint on the belly only. Next airbrush on the pearl white on the belly, then put in the eyes. Now it is set to go on the spinner and get the Envirotex.

Sometimes I use Red Mahogany stain for a darker plug for dark night fishing.

time for hooks and put it in the plugbag

I don't know where the pictures went but I took some shots of my last one of these.

NIB · 02-19-2005, 06:49 PM

ok gimmie.Stop the torture.i think i gotta vomit must have Tony Tiger Needle.AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

spence · 02-19-2005, 06:51 PM

Yea, that needle was sick

I voted it Best in Show

-spence

afterhours · 02-19-2005, 06:52 PM

beautiful slip!!

Young Salt · 02-19-2005, 07:14 PM

tiger needle looks Grrrrreeeeaattt!!!

i'm stuck on step #1 start out with some tiger maple

Tagger · 02-19-2005, 07:23 PM

nice pictoral.. great plug .. thanks slip ..

redneck24 · 02-19-2005, 07:32 PM

incredible plug slip.

ProfessorM · 02-19-2005, 08:06 PM

That was my favorite. Not that all the other ones weren't great too. That has Bone Hill Road at nite written all over it. P.M.

l.i.fish.in.vt · 02-19-2005, 08:21 PM

beautiful plugs Slip, guess i won't be using the curly maple i have stockpiled for a highboy.

MAC · 02-19-2005, 08:29 PM

Awesome needle

capesams · 02-19-2005, 08:33 PM

an I just threw away 2 can's of mini hardner

nice work slip

justplugit · 02-19-2005, 08:39 PM

Thanks so much for sharing how to make that plug,Slip.

That plug looked like it was a live sand eel laying on the table

Like Karl said ,please make it a permanent how to

Goose · 02-19-2005, 09:16 PM

Wow... Maybe I'm gonna get into plug buildin after all

Skitterpop · 02-19-2005, 09:42 PM

I want three please

Moses · 02-19-2005, 09:45 PM

I must say that is the nicest looking plug to date I've seen here. Txs for the 'how to' Bruce..

TheRattBoy · 02-19-2005, 10:16 PM

So Slip, the only thing sealing the plug is wood hardener over the stain?I know you've got clear too but water getting in the plug (swivel hole) just wondering if the hardener is enough...

johnny

That is a BEAUTIFUL needle.

Jigman · 02-20-2005, 09:54 AM

Cool how too

Interesting looking needle too.

Jigman

Slipknot · 02-20-2005, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TheRattBoy
So Slip, the only thing sealing the plug is wood hardener over the stain?I know you've got clear too but water getting in the plug (swivel hole) just wondering if the hardener is enough... johnny

That is a BEAUTIFUL needle.

I am not too worried about it Johnny
The plug will not take stain after wood hardener, so I put it on afterwards.
The fish will mess the plug up anyway.
Most of the thruwire hole gets plugged up with lead anyway, and the envirotex will help seal the rest.

thanks for the compliments