Took my new plugs for a test swim in the canal this morning. Some swam nicely and had really nice action, but a few swam like crap. They didn't really swim at all, kind of disappointing. So I was wondering, what can you do to a finished plug to improve it's action? I tried tinkering with the lip (helped a little) and thought about changing hooks. Any other ideas / techniques?

By the way, I didn't catch anything. Saw only a few (literally only about 3) fish break the surface all morning.

Thanks

I saw your pics on the swimmers the other day and think you should move the belly hooks forward a little more on most of them....better action etc.
Also something else is the tails need to be trimmed on the front.....I think you may be seeing some problems from the bucktail not being trimmed off the eye and too much is sticking out causing the water going over the tail to dampen the action. Maybe try dressing the tails a little sparser too....too much bucktail will kill it also..acts like a big mop on the back.

Hooks are too far back on the needles too.

Theres more to a plug then just a fancy finish. It has to actually work to catch fish.

You might be able to correct the swimming action with some lip or eye bending but if the weight distribution is wrong it might never swim right.
:rolleyes:

Try the different hook sizes and messing with the lip. I agree with salty, you need to move the front hooks more towards the head of the plug on the swimmers (take a look at some commercial plugs to give you an idea how far to move them). Will help the action and your hook up rate (stripers are head hunters). If you are not getting enough tail swing, drop the tail hook size down and loose the bucktail.

Jigman

Thanks for the feedback guys. Very good advice and I appreciate it. Looks like I'll be performing some surgery on a few plugs tonight.

:smash:

you say you tested them in the canal? how fast was the current moving... it will affect plugs action. and do what salty and jig said.

afterhours makes a good point. Current, or lack there of, will make a big difference in the action of the plug. If you plan to fish them at the canal, thats a good place to test them. If you will be fishing calmer water, test them in calmer water. Most likely, a plug that is good in calm water will not be so good in heavy current, and vice versa.

If you do surgery and move the hooks up, use some wood filler in the original hole. Light sanding after dry then a touch of primer and paint, then some epoxy over top. Good as new :)

Next time, its good to test a new style of plug before paint and clear coat. Makes it easier to change things if needed ;)

Jigman

Originally posted by Jigman
If you do surgery and move the hooks up, use some wood filler in the original hole. Jigman

That's one way... another would be to insert a similar diameter piece of hardwood dowel, coated with 5-Minute epoxy or Zap-A-Gap first, to almost fill the void. Then coat with wood filler... and sand when cured. Some fillers will crack if applied too thick, especially if exposed to salt water.