Is this the Place?

[ProfessorM]

Not that brilliant Fred. I stole, copied idea. I just sanded the paint of the plastic Youzuri, saw where the weight was and gave it a try in that location. Sandpaper, now that is brilliant.

[Jigman]

I also prefer to work a spook with the rod tip down and to the side. If the plug is far out, there is current, or there are decent waves, then you'll usually have to work the spook with the rod tip up. I like to mix it up some, work it slow, fast for a short bit, dead stop, move again. Its all good Also agree that its hard to work a spook as well when it is far out. On most days, they are more enticing to stripers than a pencil. Have had several cases where bluefish were blitzing and trashing pencils, put on a spook and work it slow at the edge of the school and start pulling a few stripers out too.

Jigman

[WoodyCT]

Anyone find an optimal action on them things?

I made this great big one outta pine with a little tail weight and no belly lead, and I love it's big lazy zig zags, and even occasional dives and jumps, but dang if I haven't raised a single fish on it.

I'm hoping it's just cuz I haven't put it in front of something big enough to eat it...

Perhaps long coasting zig zags aren't what it takes...

[numbskull]

Good morning. Gets later and later each week.

Woody, in my experience decent bass like big lazy slow spooks more than the splashy faster kind. Hard to make yourself work them slow, however, particularly when things are slow and you are searching (same issue arises with swimmers).

Got a big thrill out of F Pintauro's articles about Musso. 2 weeks ago Back Beach was telling me how the "Musso" eely was such a great lure for him at the Race years back. I told him the only eelys I knew of were the BM and Pichney (a style plug I fished years ago a bit but left me underwhelmed). Also they are forward weighted and don't look like fast water plugs to me, so I was surprised (and a little skeptical) they were a hot item at the Race. Accordingly my eyes popped out when lo and behold there is a picture of one in Frank's article. That and a Musso bottle darter, and some lipless swimmers.
Certainly got the juices flowing. Here are some prototypes (next to a copy of a musso pine sr).

[Backbeach Jake]

Just sitting in the back of the classroom, George. My usual seat.
I've been working on some long and skinnys myself, shooting for a sandeel.
Figured how to hydro without water or other liquid yesterday. Now I don't have to redry my spun wood. The plug orients just about as forcefully as in water.
I'll be drilling and slotting this afternoon

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

Figured how to hydro without water or other liquid yesterday. Now I don't have to redry my spun wood. The plug orients just about as forcefully as in water.

Flat smooth table, Fred? I'm all ears.

[Grapenuts]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

Just sitting in the back of the classroom, George. My usual seat.
I've been working on some long and skinnys myself, shooting for a sandeel.
Figured how to hydro without water or other liquid yesterday. Now I don't have to redry my spun wood. The plug orients just about as forcefully as in water.
I'll be drilling and slotting this afternoon

yep! think railroad tracks....thin,very thin tracks an roll away.

[numbskull]

No comments on the patched misdrills, by the way. The darter deflected when I through drilled the weight, the lipless swimmer I forgot was off center drilled.

Epoxy and 1/8" dowel cures many ills.


The other lesson for the week is that soft maple is a SPONGE. Had a darter go from 2.1 to 2.9 oz (2.8 after drying) after 6 hours soak, and a wad go from 2.0-2.8, though it dried down to 2.4. Sort of wrecks havoc with any attempt to weight it before you seal it.

[Backbeach Jake]

I thought that was where the weight was.. maybe I should move up a few seats...

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Backbeach Jake

I thought that was where the weight was.. maybe I should move up a few seats...

Actually, I think most plugs are not exactly round, particularly after you sand them. The softer earlywood (I think that is what it is called) machines faster than the harder latewood (darker grain lines). That is probably a factor, too.

[Backbeach Jake]

The base of my lathe is two parallel tubes. I laid a spun blank on in and it rolled, stopped rolled back a little and stopped.
I had to have done that a thousand times in the past but never took notice. The wood and the tubes only touch at a point, barely at all, and the wood rolls very easily. When it stops mark the top.
If the lathe base isn't built like that I'm sure that mocking one up and leveling it would be a snap.

[WoodyCT]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Good morning. Gets later and later each week.

Woody, in my experience decent bass like big lazy slow spooks more than the splashy faster kind. Hard to make yourself work them slow, however, particularly when things are slow and you are searching (same issue arises with swimmers).

Got a big thrill out of F Pintauro's articles about Musso. 2 weeks ago Back Beach was telling me how the "Musso" eely was such a great lure for him at the Race years back. I told him the only eelys I knew of were the BM and Pichney (a style plug I fished years ago a bit but left me underwhelmed). Also they are forward weighted and don't look like fast water plugs to me, so I was surprised (and a little skeptical) they were a hot item at the Race. Accordingly my eyes popped out when lo and behold there is a picture of one in Frank's article. That and a Musso bottle darter, and some lipless swimmers.
Certainly got the juices flowing. Here are some prototypes (next to a copy of a musso pine sr).

I figured folks would like the Musso articles- I sure got a woodie from them. Those, along with the work you and Paul do have me chomping at the bit to get into the shop.

Tried today, but could not what I intended for the Penn State duplicator I received for Xmas isn't going to work out for me. I'd have to make 1/16" thick (THIN!) templates, thus involving metal work, or cut originals in half lengthwise in order to use it. NOT and NOT! Going to return it and buck up for the Vega.

Thinking about a little 1.5oz. Surface Torpedo, like the ones pictured in one article.

Keep up the inspiring work,
W

[Striperknight]

Originally Posted by WoodyCT

I figured folks would like the Musso articles- I sure got a woodie from them. Those, along with the work you and Paul do have me chomping at the bit to get into the shop.

Tried today, but could not what I intended for the Penn State duplicator I received for Xmas isn't going to work out for me. I'd have to make 1/16" thick (THIN!) templates, thus involving metal work, or cut originals in half lengthwise in order to use it. NOT and NOT! Going to return it and buck up for the Vega.

Thinking about a little 1.5oz. Surface Torpedo, like the ones pictured in one article.

Keep up the inspiring work,
W

I have this duplicator and it works great. I make my templates out of wood. I'm all for keeping it simple.

[Jigman]

Originally Posted by WoodyCT

...Tried today, but could not what I intended for the Penn State duplicator I received for Xmas isn't going to work out for me. I'd have to make 1/16" thick (THIN!) templates, thus involving metal work, or cut originals in half lengthwise in order to use it. NOT and NOT! Going to return it and buck up for the Vega....

I started with that dup years ago. Worked out fine for me. Only upgraded when I started doing larger runs of plugs. Like Striperknight suggested, make the templates out of wood. I drew the profile of the plug on a piece of 1/2 inch pine shelving. Cut out the profile, sand it smooth, and then attach to the dup with two sided tape. You'll likely have to make a few adjustments to the dup to get it lined up right. Once you've done it a few times its pretty easy to set up and remove or switch templates.

Jigman

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Good morning. Gets later and later each week.

Woody, in my experience decent bass like big lazy slow spooks more than the splashy faster kind. Hard to make yourself work them slow, however, particularly when things are slow and you are searching (same issue arises with swimmers).

Got a big thrill out of F Pintauro's articles about Musso. 2 weeks ago Back Beach was telling me how the "Musso" eely was such a great lure for him at the Race years back. I told him the only eelys I knew of were the BM and Pichney (a style plug I fished years ago a bit but left me underwhelmed). Also they are forward weighted and don't look like fast water plugs to me, so I was surprised (and a little skeptical) they were a hot item at the Race. Accordingly my eyes popped out when lo and behold there is a picture of one in Frank's article. That and a Musso bottle darter, and some lipless swimmers.
Certainly got the juices flowing. Here are some prototypes (next to a copy of a musso pine sr).

That Musso bottle darter is a dead ringer for a plug I finally got nailed this fall. Just goes to show... aint nothing new.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

That Musso bottle darter is a dead ringer for a plug I finally got nailed this fall. Just goes to show... aint nothing new.

Yep, just another Italian who was well ahead of his time...

Columbo(Columbus) found this place we live...

Corleone was the modern day father of capitalism..

Balboa beat the Russians...

[numbskull]

And some Italian from Franklin invented the wetsuit potato