tilapia plug 3

Looks good Mark. Should be a good color even in lakes without tilapia.

Thanks Ben.

I was kinda thinking that, too.

Flashy silver/grey contrast could be a crappie, a shad, or just something to eat before it gets away.

I got inspired by your deep diver, so I'm about to start shaping some 2.5/type bodies out of PVC, and adding a deep diving bill, to see if I can do it.

Fingers crossed!

When I add a bill that is going to have the line tie on it, I typically drill down through the bait and bill, and epoxy in a piece of spinnerbait wire to reinforce the bill/body connection, like a dowel

I worry that, even though my line tie wire will be set in epoxy, the strain of casting might loosen the bill.

Do you think I'm worried about nothing?

Can't say your worried about nothing Mark as I've been concerned about that very thing. On baits where I have the room (or when I remember to do it) I've been doing something similar. Only difference is I've been using a round, wood tooth pick. Maybe one of the more experienced builders will chime in as the one I just posted in the gallery was my first deep diver. One thing about it......you won't lose a fish because you built the lure too strong.

Hahaha. I guess it's like being too rich.....

I try and remember that I'm throwing the crank on 14lb mono, so the line will probably break before the lure.

But I worry about the strain that actual casting puts on the bill.

I think I'm paranoid from having bills break on Rapalas.