mhz

I started working on a wood swimbait at home. It is my first one, and it is a lot of work! I probably screwed up because I just grabbed a scrap of pine from my leftovers pile, and when I'm done I bet I'll wish I'd have bought the right material. Anyway, right now the one I'm making is 12", but not jointed yet, so I will probably shorten it some. It is real heavy and I'm thinking about cutting it vertically lengthwise and hollowing out a chamber approx. where a real fish's swim bladder is, to adjust weight/buoyancy. I'm just a beginner, and I'm wondering if anyone has design tips that might help me make it float/sit in the correct swimming position. Right now I'm afraid it may just turn onto its side, but I don't really know if I can stick it in water at this early carving point! Do you wood carvers float your baits to see how they sit? Then do you have to wait days for it to dry, or does it dry fast? :