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Bluegill swimbait, trying new tail type
Posted:
Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:02 amby RhettWheeler
Made a weedless bluegill swimbait that I intend to mold and make into a soft bait. here's my sculpy master. Hopefully it swims! Should work with a weighted swimbait hook.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj23 ... 6da40b.jpg
Re: Bluegill swimbait, trying new tail type
Posted:
Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:23 amby Mike - Alumilite
Nice work on the sculpting! One thing I might suggest is taking the tail that runs up to your paddle down a little thinner/narrower/smaller. If the tail running back to the paddle tail is too stiff, the tail won't paddle and may just drag. Or you'd simply have to run it really soft ... almost like a whiggley tail.
Mike
Re: Bluegill swimbait, trying new tail type
Posted:
Wed Oct 29, 2014 7:05 amby RhettWheeler
Thanks Mike! It took me roughly 8 hours to sculpt. Basically painstakingly did it until my fingers had blisters haha.
I had the opportunity to do a small test with it this morning (already molded it with some quick set)
With some belly weight she swam like a champ. I'm going to try harden up the plastic at various ratios and seeing which one i like best. I've found that plastic that is too soft causes the paddle to drag, too.
Like you said, I think i'm going to thin the tail down slightly on top and on bottom if you sit the blank up vertically. Should help it get some good beat in it's boogy.
Re: Bluegill swimbait, trying new tail type
Posted:
Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:54 amby RhettWheeler
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj23 ... f80e91.jpghttp://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj23 ... e56919.jpghttp://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj23 ... 33417a.jpgFinished product.
Accidentally melted the scales a little on the one side w/ the heat gun.
Going to make a resin casting of this bad boy, carve all of the details a little deeper, and use automotive paint instead of epoxy for the smoothe finish.
Tested the action yesterday and the tail beats and swims great. Very happy w/ the turn out!
Re: Bluegill swimbait, trying new tail type
Posted:
Thu Oct 30, 2014 11:51 amby warpsyrhead
Kick ass work as usual, Rhett!
How are you rigging the hook? In the belly? In the side?
I'm just wondering about hookup ratio and such.
Re: Bluegill swimbait, trying new tail type
Posted:
Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:30 amby RhettWheeler
whats up warpsyr
I have a nice deep hook slot in the bait, hook comes up through the back right next to the dorsal fin. I've been using a 1/4oz 5/0 weighted swimbait hook with the screw lock.
I haven't gotten to fish it yet, just finished the mold about 2 days ago and winter has decided to set in. Actions great so I'm execting good things for sure. May continue to tweak the design for spring and have a few different models.
