Snax Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 (edited) Hey everyone, Here's a look at my newest swimbait. This is a 10" Walleye replica. After MUCH tinkering with joint types the past several months i have settled on the ones seen here. I believe that Mark Poulson also uses this method which is just creating a small slot for the screw eyes to sit inside. The hinge pin passes through the two screw eyes and the flat faces of each section catch the water creating a great swimming motion. The only thing I did as far as shaping the faces was to notch out a section on one end of each body segment where the screw eyes stick out from. This helps give the lure a better side profile with less space and allows for more freedom of motion. If I didn't do the notches, the screw eyes would need to be sticking out further thus making larger gaps between body sections. Whether or not that would effect the action or not I don't know but I like the look of tighter spacing. Obviously the hooks and all hardware are not installed in the photo. I'm about to send this wooden body off to be made into the mold for my Featherlite models. Hope you like it. Edited February 19, 2009 by Spike-A-Pike Rule 3 violation photo size 1023px Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 That is really nice.............great job. Jed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Thanks bud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 That is going to be a good swimmer too with all those joints...should have a nice sinuous motion even at slow speeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 It does swim well Jed. I pay close attention to where I place every joint. This one swims with almost no head movement and it looks like the tail is actually propelling the lure. Even though I've done a ton of experimenting on my own I have definitely borrowed from many of the other folks here who were kind enough to share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAOS Tackle Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Snax... nicely done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Sorry for the oversized photo infraction! I really had no idea it was too big. I just made it smaller and hopefully it is now legal. If not, I'm sorry in advance and I really did try to follow the rules! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Great stuff snax! Looks tasty.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish 30acre Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 again, looks amazing. im in the process of creating some what i hope to be sweet swimbaits. if they turn out anything like yours, i will be very happy. and i meant what i said in the gallery... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAWGHUNNA Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Bad 2 tha bone SNAX!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadawgs Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 awsome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockjaw Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Nice job Snax. Are you going to keep the molded fins/tail or are you planning on replacing them with fibetts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 It looks perfect. If it swims like you say, there will be Pike marks all over it! Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Nice job Snax. Are you going to keep the molded fins/tail or are you planning on replacing them with fibetts? I'm going to stay with the molded fins and tails Lockjaw. I love the look of the fibbetts but it's just so time consuming to do them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbass101 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 hey snax what are the width and height of this bait and where did you put the ballast? in my baits i have to ballast each section seperatly and to the point of slow sink then put it all together and it swims fine but when its lite enough to float it has alot of roll? when you went from wood to plastic did the ballast amount or placement change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 (edited) Great questions! The bait is 1.25" at it's thickest and it tapers down into the tail. I'd guess the height to be about 2", maybe more. I weighted the first three sections only and mostly the head section. The only difference in ballast going from wood to Featherlite is in the actual amount of weight added. Its location remained the same. I keep the weight between the belly and the center line of the lure for a keel effect. The lure can be worked slow or fact equally well with no rollover at high speeds. Edited February 20, 2009 by Snax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foo G Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Looks delicious! Let me know if you need a field tester! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptown Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Snax, Looks Great! Joe Trueglide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KcDano Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA Delta Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Once again Snax, you've out done yourself. That looks incredible. Can't wait to see some swim video. Keep us posted. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 (edited) Here's a video clip for you! Click on the image. Edited February 21, 2009 by Snax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 oooooooowww that swims good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Thanks Matt! Your incredible Bluegills were the inspiration behind the level of detail I put into this bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA Delta Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Snax, thanks for the video. I wish we could see a lot more videos on everybodys lures built here on TU. They really shows the most important part of a lure. Your swim action is awsome. I'm just getting the hang of working w/ PVC & now you have these poured lure bodies. I can't imagine starting a whole new way of building these creations. Does this ever end? Keep up the hard work & Snax you are an inspiration to people here on TU. Keep us posted as always. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snax Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Thanks for the kind words Tim, and to answer your question it NEVER ends! lol Even after making a successful bait I'm now thinking about how to make the next one even better! It's a sickness but one I'd never want a cure for. I also enjoy seeing videos of everyones lures and I think with lures it's almost needed to really get the design across. Words can only convey so much but these videos are a great educational tool. I'll never forget seeing my first John Hopkins swimbait video! Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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