Wake Bait ?

[69_GS_400]

I finished my rat wake bait. It turned out pretty good. I did a test run at a local pond and noticed at a slow retrieve sometime the bait would not wobble back and forth. For the most part it did but sometimes would stop wobbling. When I sped up the reel retrieve the bait would not wobble at all and would pull to the side. I did put a hanger ring on the line tie and also was using a leader. Not sure if this would contribute to the issue. Also I kind of eye balled the bill cut and size. Maybe it's not big enough or cut at the right angle? (The plastic portion of the bill). Also could it be the positioning of my line tie?

[69_GS_400]

I wish I could post a picture of the bait.

[JRammit]

Should b able to go to "more reply options" and post a pic

I cant give you a good answer since ive never built a wake bait, but i read your other thread, sounds like you put ALOT of work into this guy! We'd love to see it!.... And might i suggest building a quick copy to test any changes before hacking away at your piece of art...?

[Vodkaman]

69 - there is a minimum speed for vortices to be generated. This speed is different for each lure. In science, they quote this as a Reynolds number which is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard to us. Just to let you know that you have done nothing wrong and your bait is working perfectly.

 

As for the second part, were it stops wobbling and swims to one side, this may be that the lip is too long. As the water pushes on the lip, it goes nose down. If the lip passes the vertical, the lure will transition into porpoise mode and bob up and down. In the transition the occasional side wobble would catch and send the lure off to the side.

 

Dave

Edited May 27, 2015 by Vodkaman

[69_GS_400]

Here it is. The bill does look crooked to me. Again this is the 1st bait I've ever made or painted.

[mark poulson]

I would lose the leader and the snap, and tie directly to the split ring.  Just use heavy enough line, so you feel comfortable.  I have no idea what kind of fish you're angling for, so maybe you feel you need a steel leader, but it will pull the nose down and affect the bait action.

The angle of the lip looks kind of steep to me, almost like a square bill.  Maybe it's just the picture.  But I try to get my bills to set 75-80 degrees from the centerline of the bait...almost up and down.

[Vodkaman]

The lip length does not look too long.

 

Dave

[69_GS_400]

I did follow some of what you did when you made yours Mark. The bill was cut at About 80 degrees. I took another trial run at the pond with no leader and it did move a lot better. Now my bait is much bigger then yours. It's about a 6" bait. And when o did the jointed section I made it about a 1/3 of the entire body. So I cut off 1/3 for the rear and the rest was the front of the bait. I intend to make another but down sizing into a 4" bait. I hope to get a more erratic wobble like the rapala j9 floater jointed lures but on top of the water

[biggamefish]

I would try rounding the edges of the bill

[69_GS_400]

Thanks for all the replies and help. I was thinking about trying a wider bill. I may just leave this one alone. I'm already starting on a smaller version. I hope to make this one in the 4" range and maybe get a little more jointed side to side action. It will prob take me another month to get then next one on the water.

Just out of curiosity can a bagley balsa b body shape be made on a wood lathe?

[Vodkaman]

Don't fix the lip until after testing, this way you can try a few options. Just make sure the wood inside the slot is sealed to prevent water ingress. The loose lip can be wedged in with a couple of shavings off a cocktail stick.

 

Dave

[Tim2199]

X2 on not fixing the lip. Recently I hot glued a lip in. Held the lip really well. Tested it in the water. Then I placed it in my toaster oven at 65 degrees Celsius for a couple of minutes and the lip slide out. the glue came off nicely too when it was slightly warmed (not sticky if it's not hot).

[Nathan]

Another type glue that works well for a temporary fix is Elmers rubber cement.When done the rubber cement is easily removed..Nathan