topwatersniper Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 I have caught so many bass and pike on a wood homemade topwater lure(unpainted) than store bought plastic that I wonder if wood has a special quality...any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Many will disagree, but that is allowed. The body material, be it plastic, resin, wood or anything else, is primarily just a density value as far as swimming characteristics are concerned. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Fair enough dave, but may I put out there the sensitivity of the lateral line...the only reason I bring this question up is because of my recent experience in October when I caught pike where I never have and bass where I never have, all seemingly due to the homemade wooden lure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 That is a very interesting suggestion, offering a possibility that I had not considered. Yes, the lateral line is the fish' main sense, detecting movement, vibrations and electricity from what I have read. The fish also uses the lateral line to sense minute changes in water pressure. This allows the fish to time its swimming action with the vortices running down its body, allowing it to 'lean in' and collect forward energy with its scales. So the question is; can a fish determine what a lure is made of internally. The lateral line is so sensitive, now that you have mentioned it, I do believe that this is quite feasible and this opens up a few ideas. The obvious next question; is what the fish sensing enough to make a difference whether to attack or not, as both lures are obviously not real. It could explain why soft baits are more successful, although every bait has its day. If a fish can detect such detail, then perhaps the inclusion of a swim bladder in a soft bait would be more convincing. Certainly plenty to consider here. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Dave, I appreciate your knowledge and adressing my question...I'll put a challenge to all you lure makers out there, make a simple wood "walk the dog lure" with 2 treble hooks about 3" long and 3/4" wide, don't paint it and put it up against a plastic one during topwater season...see what happens. My experience has led me to ask this question. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 If we're getting this technical (which is what makes it fun!) you should consider the finish of the lures as well A mass produced, store bought plastic lure would likely have a thin dipped or sprayed top coat.. Where as a hand made wood bait would have been sealed, painted and coated with a higher quality top coat, most likely a thick layer of epoxy Point is, the wood bait would have the sound of hooks and water slapping the bait more dampened than the plastic bait.... Maybe the plastic bait is too loud?? (Especially if it has rattles, as most wood lures dont) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Until we learn to speak "fish" there will always be questions that are answered more by personal opinion than by scientific fact. As far as top water baits are concerned it's my opinion that there are fewer differences between wood and plastic than other lures. Everyone knows of the characteristics of shallow running balsa lures and that one reason for their popularity, by both fishermen and fish, is the liveliness of the bait when it deflects off of cover. This is in no small part to it's highly buoyant nature. As far as I know man has not yet been able to match this characteristic with synthetic materials. As far as the sensitivity of the lateral line concerning top water baits I really can't say one way or the other. In off colored water the lateral line may play a huge role, but when smallmouth are drawn to the surface from 20 feet in ultra clear water I doubt the lateral line has much to do with it. just my , Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) I have found that, for me, one knocker baits work better in off colored water than either baits with multiple small rattles or silent baits. Lead balls are best for this. Maybe lead has a deeper/lower frequency knock. To me, it's more of a thud. Sst balls click. In clear water, it's the opposite, once the early morning/low light period is gone. I seem to recall reading, years ago, that whales communicate across great distances using ultra-low frequency sound. Elephants do something similar. Maybe the lead thud just travels better through the water. Edited December 1, 2015 by mark poulson 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Just for clarification, my wooden topwater lures that were wildly successful this past october were not painted or glossed or sealed..maybe the fish liked that pine flavor! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Just for clarification, my wooden topwater lures that were wildly successful this past october were not painted or glossed or sealed..maybe the fish liked that pine flavor! :-) Not sealed??... I dont think that could accurately be compared to a plastic bait... Thats like comparing a wet log to a pool noodle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Ok, just don't tell that to all the fish I caught, they might be upset I caught them on a wet log and not an $8 kvd sexy dawg! Shhhhhhh.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Besides, jrammit, with all due respect, if it works, it works...whether it be plastic, wood, or shoe leather. I guess I wasn't clear in the premise of my question...let me carify. In one instance my dad and I were fishing a lake, I had brought my wood lure for the first time...my dad fished pop r and spooks, which had always worked on that lake before. In one hour, I caught 12 bass and him 3. I realize there are many factors at work here, but this is but one of a dozen instances in which this "wet log" outperformed everything in my tacklebox. Just sayin.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Lol indeed bob, maybe even a $439 roman swimbait. Mine cost .44 cents to make...ill never buy mass produced again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Besides, jrammit, with all due respect, if it works, it works...whether it be plastic, wood, or shoe leather. I guess I wasn't clear in the premise of my question...let me carify. In one instance my dad and I were fishing a lake, I had brought my wood lure for the first time...my dad fished pop r and spooks, which had always worked on that lake before. In one hour, I caught 12 bass and him 3. I realize there are many factors at work here, but this is but one of a dozen instances in which this "wet log" outperformed everything in my tacklebox. Just sayin.... Agreed... But we (or I) were under the impression you were comparing a wood bait to a similar plastic bait, having the material as the only main difference Of course, results speak for themselves... But there is much more at play here than wood vs plastic.... Im not knocking it, just tryin to get on the same page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 the million dollar question. I build wood and urethane foam lures everything said has truth. . customs/homemade we get to tweek mother nature in wood. it,s been said densitys ,that's a great anology . different woods for different apps. . the closesest to wood we have found is urethane foams to achieve the styles and denistys becomes a science project.. after all the years building I still love wood. its magic to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Jrammit, good point...just noticed spellcheck made pop r "plaster of paris", just to be clear, I don't think that would work as well...ha ha 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 (edited) It is a good topic tsniper... I love working with wood just as much as the next guy! But i recently started working with resin (I have my reasons) and wonder why loading it with micro balloons could not equal a balsa bait??..... Not saying it can't, havnt got that far with it yet... But ive read many times (and again here) that nothing matches balsa Edited December 2, 2015 by JRammit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 I agree with Woodie, something magical about wood. I know of a very knowledgable shop owner in California that says his customers request wood topwater over plastic. Not that the plastic doesn't work, he just says the wood has a "more natural" sound to it that bass prefer. I love working with wood and after so many years it's easy for me to shape it and get it to do what I want it to. Nevertheless, it does have its issues, for one you have to use a heavy topcoat to keep it sealed. There are baits out there like roman that use a thin coat but they quickly lose paint. Plastic is so much easier, no sealers, no primers, no worry about water intrusion. The other thing I like about plastic is you can use a thin clear coat. With wood you lose much of the detail, the scales, operculum, etc with a heavy coat but all this remains with plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 I have a solution for you riverman...as I stated in my previous posts, I don't paint it, don't seal it, haven't lost one, costs less than fifty cents to make and is effective. As long as you can deal with throwing a bait that looks like a stick, all these wood problems are solved. Btw, I use pine from lowes that costs 77 cents for a 8 foot piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 I use pine, cedar and poplar. I have used balsa, but I have found the pine and poplar does just fine compared to balsa. As far as well designed wooden bait compared to production plastic bait, there is no comparison, IMO. You would be lucky to get 3 out of 10 plastics to run correctly. A well made wooden one, will run true. I find that wooden ones out performs plastic. Although the wooden was made for me (custom). Now I'm trying it out for myself. We'll see. Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Let me clarify my statement about plastic baits. When you have bought a bait that is suppose to dive to 25' but does not hit structure at 20', it does not work for me. This is one of many examples. Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topwatersniper Posted December 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 sorry, new to forum...the previous post is a pic of my dad with a 28" northern caught on the "wet log". We have fished this lake for 3 years and never caught a pike. this is one of 3 pike caught with the wooden wonder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 28" northern caught on the "wet log" See, i helped you name it (ha ha) Im still thrown off by the use of unsealed wood in water... Obviously it works for you, do you notice any change in performance from first cast to last? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonoman Posted December 2, 2015 Report Share Posted December 2, 2015 The thoughts I have on it is that wooden lures tend to be tweaked more than say a plastic mass produced one, if you think about it the plastic one was most likely built off a wooden master to do its thing, well that's all its going to do, most likely built out of plastic due to expense, ease of building and turn around times for profit, custom wooden lures are just that custom whether simple in design or complex, I'm not sure history will be as kind to plastic knock off lures regardless of beautiful paint jobs as it has been to guys like Fred Young and other custom crank bait guy... I build hundreds of wet logs a year but I prefer to try and make them last a bit, sure they will work au natural and yes they would be cheap, but it would certainly be cool if one is hanging on a display board somewhere 100 years from now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
