A couple of canal specials. All a tad over 3 ounces and slow sinking, did really well with these last year.

Jolly good show

I gotta get my ass in gear. This is some cool stuff you are posting.

all of your plugs are beautiful and I have a dumb question, I've never fished a "canal special", I thought that they were a version of a pencil ...why are they "sinking", how do you fish them?...thanks for any info

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the idea of the Canal special is basically to reach a different water column than the traditional floating pencils. When the pencil sinks, especially as it is just cast and hits the water, it is thought that bass at lower water columns will see it better and become enticed as the sinking pencil is returned to the surface as if it were being chased. I would also guess that the canal special is usually heavier and can cast better than floating pencils. Not exactly sure if that is right, but it makes some sense to me. Someone who knows more please chime in.

The plug has a flat bottom and it is the flat bottom that allows the plug to get up on the surface quicker. That is needed as the current moves so fast that you need to get up on plane fast or you will be in the rocks before you can work the plug. Hawgs are a a variation of that theme. You can make them as heavy or a light as you wish but the flat is the selling point. The action is a little different too but not a real lot. IMO

They are sinking because the strong current in the canal coupled with the flat bottom will keep a plug on top. So that allows you to add the extra weight (which in turn makes them sink) so that they can cast farther to reach breaking fish. When the current is slower I prefer a normal pencil, polaris or spook.

I really have only used regular pencils, but for those of you who are making these are you tail weighting them, or balancing. Are you aiming to have them sit basically straight up and down, or more balanced? Does the flat bottom hinder the side to side motion? I really like to get my pencils moving spook-like.

tail weight. It is a current plug mostly. If you aren't fishing a current than stick to a spook or traditional pencil. Hinders it a little but gives it a little bounce.

Canal Specials are my favorite lure. And those:bounce:

..... you to add the extra weight (which in turn makes them sink) so that they can cast farther to reach breaking fish.

I don't need to do this. I just backlash, snap off and my plug gets to those fish no problem.:conf:

I don't need to do this. I just backlash, snap off and my plug gets to those fish no problem.:conf:

The problem is landing those fish after you snap of the plug. :huh:

Beautiful work Dan. You take pride in yoru work and it shows :bgi:

tail weight. It is a current plug mostly. If you aren't fishing a current than stick to a spook or traditional pencil. Hinders it a little but gives it a little bounce.


All I use are canal specials..I weight em so the nose just barely floats or they sink ever so slowly tail down.They cast like a missle..Easiest of all pencils to work IMO..

nice work Doug. I must say you learned alot .so, we should put away the Doug coaching stick or are you going to try off sets again?give us a call.