My brother in law asked me if I could make him some diving plugs for trolling. I told him I would have to figure out how to do it first. The only trolling plugs I have any experience with are Manns and similar types, so wooden ones are new to me. I was figuring on making something shaped like a surfster or a sloped headed danny. I think the slope would act as an additional diving plane no? Also I thought I should make it out of hardwood and weight it so it is almost neutrally bouyant. I'm not sure on what shape lip to use yet, but I figure a pikie type with the bill extended a bit should work? Does it sound like I'm on the right track or am I totally off? Also, how do you know how deep a plug dives? Any suggestions will help.

Jklett....If you have seen my slope head jointed swimmers (see the avatar) I have trolled these from a boat and they swim beautiful! You are on the right track...make a few in different configurations and try them....then work from there...through trial and error you can figure what changes you may have to make. Good luck!:btu:

jklett

here's a link to a thread I started a few months back. I pretty much had the same question. Thre is some great stuff in there that I am sure will be helpful
Here it is
http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/showthread.php?t=27582

My brother in law asked me if I could make him some diving plugs for trolling. I told him I would have to figure out how to do it first. The only trolling plugs I have any experience with are Manns and similar types, so wooden ones are new to me. I was figuring on making something shaped like a surfster or a sloped headed danny. I think the slope would act as an additional diving plane no? Also I thought I should make it out of hardwood and weight it so it is almost neutrally bouyant. I'm not sure on what shape lip to use yet, but I figure a pikie type with the bill extended a bit should work? Does it sound like I'm on the right track or am I totally off? Also, how do you know how deep a plug dives? Any suggestions will help.

There is a lot of this in the link jinski posted. One crucial point is that the line tie is usually closer to (or at) the center of the plug in diving/trolling swimmers. Use high slot lips, or cut your lip slot above the center line. The other idea you might play with is to weight the tail of the plug. The BlueStreak plugs were apparently considered premiere trollers in their time, and the one I have carries a big slug of lead in the tail (I think this slows the action to compensate for the extra speed boats normally travel relative to a retrieved swimmer).

check this out, it shows some trollers by the masters- pinchney and musso.
http://bassdozer.com/articles/surf_plugs.shtml