View Full Version : Learning from Donny


numbskull
03-31-2008, 06:56 PM
Knocked off his lineup of big (7.5") swimmers. Top is a Maple (3.8oz) then a Pine 3 oz and the last 3 surface swimmers (also 3 oz) . Each came out .2oz heavier than the original (2.85 oz Pine)....still unsure why. The body shapes are the same. The Maple is unweighted maple, the pine and surface swimmer are weighted pine. The Maple and Pine share the same high slot lip (which it turns out is nearly identical in size/shape to the NJ tackle large Pikie lip) the surface swimmer used a lower slot lip that was reportedly smaller (I don't have an original) so I used a mid slot lefty 2 for 2 plugs (which is what Musso used on his medium swimmers), and a Pikie 2 for the other (reshaped to lower the wire hole). Will swim them Thursday. Expect the Surface swimmers to stay up, the Pine to go medium, and the Maple to go deep.

Flaptail
03-31-2008, 07:12 PM
The cloud one is really fine George. Don't leave your plug bag open near me with that one in it.

Youve been warned.

GattaFish
03-31-2008, 07:16 PM
The cloud one is really fine George. Don't leave your plug bag open near me with that one in it.

Youve been warned.


Gotta love an honest man,,,,:wavey::wavey::wavey:

eastendlu
03-31-2008, 07:37 PM
Flap you have a good eye and i'm drooling over all of them.Beutiful work George .

Tagger
03-31-2008, 07:49 PM
George I've seen soft maple at D&R... I've used soft maple on spooks .. seems alot lighter than maple ..

angler229
03-31-2008, 10:54 PM
Nice and clean work, nicely done as always.

Biteme
04-01-2008, 05:38 AM
Your killing me, very nice

Cranium
04-01-2008, 06:38 AM
very, nice work george, I have been fooling around with those, but cant
seem to get the lip right. been looking for an original to look at.

Rockfish9
04-01-2008, 07:37 AM
wow, your finishing strong., I've got a few to finish but your making want to go make some more.. those are outstanding!... I've got a surprise to unleash in a few weeks... right now they are "curing" from being sealed....

Slipknot
04-01-2008, 07:43 AM
they ALL look really fine :btu:

steelhead
04-12-2008, 05:46 PM
How'd they swim?

johnny ducketts
04-12-2008, 06:21 PM
Nice stuff !

saltydog
04-12-2008, 07:34 PM
just beautiful:uhuh: Ill take one of each:love:
GOOD LUCK GOOD PLUGGIN

numbskull
04-12-2008, 08:55 PM
How'd they swim?

The surface swimmer (weighted pine with a lefty 2 mid slot) looked good. The pine (weighted pine with a Pike 2 high slot) also was interesting, going down about 4-5 feet. The maple didn't swim much deeper than the pine (I had hopes it would dig like a Conrad), although I didn't have time to fool with tuning it. I suspect I can get it deeper with a few modifications to the line tie, lip angle, and losing the tail hook. They do seem to cast very well, I think significantly better than a big danny, but I didn't throw them on a full size rod which is more likely to result in tumble. They also have an interesting swerve and roll when you yank them that looks a lot like a bunker's movement. All in all, I came away impressed with Mr Musso's skill as a plug builder.

scottw
04-13-2008, 07:09 AM
museum quality man! thanks for the details too! gonna print those out and add to my three ring binder....

good2hook
04-13-2008, 10:01 AM
very nice. awesome work. clean colors.

rockdoc
04-14-2008, 07:08 PM
Beautiful. Especially that cloud blue! That color's been a favorite of mine since I picked up an old large Danny, probably a Lupo, in that color at an upstate NY antique store years ago.

steelhead
04-15-2008, 07:25 AM
I think I've got a surface swimmer in the basement. I'll take a look and let you know what I find on the lip slot and size.