Sunday Morning Plug Talk Thread!

[ProfessorM]

Look nice.
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[numbskull]

I've been at them as well.
Test swam a 3oz version a few days ago.
It has quite a slug of lead ahead of the hook and my impression was it might do better with even more.
They are very buoyant and put their tail up and wag once you get them going but are hard to hold near the surface as such.
When I fish the plastic versions I pull them down and slowly swim them back to the surface then repeat.
They cast surprisingly well.
I'll get you that larger plastic one out in the mail to you this week, Ryan.....I got sidetracked the past few days.

[ProfessorM]

Would the action be similar to a Nike? Kind of similar shape wise and it sounds like they have similar depth ability and action.
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[numbskull]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

Would the action be similar to a Nike? Kind of similar shape wise and it sounds like they have similar depth ability and action.
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The line tie is a bit below center and the face wider than a nike. Tends to act a bit like an exaggerated surfster. The nike goes under a bit more easily if I remember correctly.

[Diggin Jiggin]

Very cool looking plug, I really like the lipless stuff. I may try and mess around with that kind of stuff again once I get going.

I haven't been turning anything yet. Finishing up some house projects first although I am working on refinishing some plugs to get them back in the rotation.

[Ryan560]

No rush George.I hope to test swim these this week,going to try a few different weight placements. Thanks again
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[chefchris401]

Got my 5.5" spoon lips sanded and primed

Started turning a big batch of 8.5" pikies, so fatties and some slims, both surface and medium swimmers hoping to have em all turned and drilled this week.
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[pbadad]

Finished my first batch of plugs. Second coated wired. System 3 dry , hard and looks satifactory. Sealed the remaining pikes , once dried prime them andwill leave them for awhile to tend to rod work.

[Ryan560]

Worked on making some darters this week, Got them all ready for sealer. There based on a Tattoo 2oz. version. I hydro oriented 4 of them and for the other I just made it so the grain runs vertical on the lip. Hopefully they swim, I'll test them next weekend if the sealer dries by then.

[pbadad]

Ryan looking good. The sealer should be ok in a week . What sealer? I've thrown testers next dry. No ill effects. Val oil - turps or spar -turps. Helps to have a warm spot to dry.

[pbadad]

Maybe if the fog lifts and sun comes out I may prime .

[Ryan560]

Thanks Billy. I use spar and turps,usually hang them in the garage atleast 24 hrs till they don't smell as much.

[chefchris401]

Originally Posted by Ryan560

Thanks Billy. I use spar and turps,usually hang them in the garage atleast 24 hrs till they don't smell as much.

In my findings and when I used spar mix it always took at least 3-5 days depending on heat. I always tried to let em dry for a least a week.

Since I switched to epoxy sealing I can paint with 48 hours and I feel it really helps the wood harden up.
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[numbskull]

Oh man, I've got bodies everywhere.
G2 clones, Skinny Donnys by the dozen, habs clone 2.5's, big predators, swim baits, a jinx, medium pikies, a few leftover lipless swimmers and darters, PTjude swim-a-long clones, a few skinny danny tries and the one thing I have to build, pencils, yet to go. Then there is the distraction of the Dalecki Darter thing.

The idea of painting, epoxying, and wiring all this makes me queazy.

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Oh man, I've got bodies everywhere.
G2 clones, Skinny Donnys by the dozen, habs clone 2.5's, big predators, swim baits, a jinx, medium pikies, a few leftover lipless swimmers and darters, PTjude swim-a-long clones, a few skinny danny tries and the one thing I have to build, pencils, yet to go. Then there is the distraction of the Dalecki Darter thing.

The idea of painting, epoxying, and wiring all this makes me queazy.

Lots of stuffs good luck. I have not painted a thing yet spent the last 2 weeks building a spray booth and making a old furnace blower
Into an exhaust system. PIA and so darn time consuming. Hope to try and paint something soon.
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[chefchris401]

Got 15 spoon lips painted yesterday while it was 58 degrees out. Did a few different colors than usual and few custom request for buddies I fish with.

Finished drilling/sanding a big batch of pikies (65 total) this week.

Did some surface slims 3.25oz , medium slims 4oz and 4.5oz surface fattys and a few of each size in squid 🐙 versions.

Going to install the weights in the pikies today if I have time, but who knows.

Finished up a refurbish rat swimbait for a buddy. I'll do it's own post, a lot of work to get it back original state. The thing was never sealed and completely water logged when I got it. Just have to epoxy it this week along with the spoon lips (Tuesday hopefully)

Got a few reproduction request for two buddies to make a masterlure pikie and that bob Hahn little swimmer.

Do those and then move onto some needles, to fill out the bag this season.
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[chefchris401]

That's a lot George!

Part I hate the most is sanding belly weight holes
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[pbadad]

Originally Posted by chefchris401

That's a lot George!

Part I hate the most is sanding belly weight holes
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Chris did you try final sanding and weight hole putty on the lathe. I don't cut off the tenons until everything is drilled, filled and sanded.

[chefchris401]

Originally Posted by pbadad

Chris did you try final sanding and weight hole putty on the lathe. I don't cut off the tenons until everything is drilled, filled and sanded.

Going to try that on my next ones, I've thought about it, but never did attempted it.
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[JLH]

Missed Sunday morning but finally finished up some large needles for the upcoming season. About half are pine and around 2.8oz and the others are maple and 3.5oz. Will hopefully finish up some pine and maple Donny's in the next week or so as well.

I've been epoxy sealing most plugs this year which takes a little longer but based on a few tests it seems to do a better job of sealing especially with the maple.

Just threw the SS darter in there for size reference. I haven't taken that leap yet.

[numbskull]

Nice stuff.
Except what the hell happened with that green headed one? That's the ugliest paint job I've ever seen. Which probably means in 4 months it will show up in the maw of a #40 fish but still.......

[JLH]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Nice stuff.
Except what the hell happened with that green headed one? That's the ugliest paint job I've ever seen. Which probably means in 4 months it will show up in the maw of a #40 fish but still.......

Hah I've painted some that are much uglier than that one! I think it will be a fish catching color but we will have to see how they feel about it...

[Higgie]

Chef I'm with pbadad, leave the ends on and throw back on the lathe takes seconds
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[pbadad]

Chris one thing to keep in mind, I use minwax wood filler (bondo) it's harder than soft woods so I concentrate on the putty with the sandpaper. I use 80 grit to take the bulk off then 180/220 to final sand the entire plug. I also don't sand the plug after I finish cutting . This leaves the dia. Slightly larger for the final sand.

[ProfessorM]

A good file is what I use on the filler before sandpaper. By hand.
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[chefchris401]

Got these 15 finished up this week

Some day and night colors, couple request for buddies in the CSA.

5.5" spoon lips, 1.75oz








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[numbskull]

So cool.
Loads of fun potential in those.

[numbskull]

Test swam some stuff yesterday.
Half of it sucked..........but this 5.5oz Oprah Winfrey version of a magic swimmer was an "OH MY GOD" moment for sure. Typical frantic swim bait action at speed, but slow it to a crawl and it looks totally, irresistibly alive. If the line tie upgrade and finishing doesn't throw it off (right now it suspends perfectly)I like its chances.......to make that plastic humping, blarney-stoned, Zappa-spouting, sh!tgrinning machinist I fish with cry for a change.

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Test swam some stuff yesterday.
Half of it sucked..........but this 5.5oz Oprah Winfrey version of a magic swimmer was an "OH MY GOD" moment for sure. Typical frantic swim bait action at speed, but slow it to a crawl and it looks totally, irresistibly alive. If the line tie upgrade and finishing doesn't throw it off (right now it suspends perfectly)I like its chances.......to make that plastic humping, blarney-stoned, Zappa-spouting, sh!tgrinning machinist I fish with cry for a change.

Hahaa. Looks fantastic. I hope you are making more than one and they sink very slow cause with something that large and the crappy backlashing reels you use a snap off is in your future and depending on me to hang off the front of your boat with my rod tip to retrieve it might result in a disappointment. Does look very cool though look forward to seeing it a plugfest if you haven't lost it by then.
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[numbskull]

Bah, I'm not worried. I'll carry a mask and fins so you can go get for me......plus Art gave me a new reel for xmas so I can retire that pathetic worn out crap I've been using.....maybe.