I am building a few 8 inch Pikies... some for FW musky use and most for Stripers. I plan on these being about 4OZ or slightly less with 2 big trebles (4X) and a flag in the arse.

Should I use a Pikie 3 lip or one of the big Godzilla (#4) lips that I see are now available. I see some builders use 2 belly wts... one in the chin and another just in front of 1st hook.

Does anyone use any tail wts. I will do a float test and adjust to float level when they dry from my sealer.

How big is the plug at its widest point. I have a 7.75" big danny that I use a pikie 3 lip on. a 9" pikie I make uses a larger pikie lip but the weighting is very different.

Lip seams to be large enough, I also weight very different!

Wrikerjr:

Plug is 1.48 inches at widest point... how do you weight your 9" pikie

Wrikerjr:

Plug is 1.48 inches at widest point... how do you weight your 9" pikie

I make them all as one offs. Some prefer one large weight in the chin. I prefer two large weights between the two hooks and some prefer a large weight before and after the 1st hook hole. The 9" pikie i make is thicker than that, the Pikie 3 lip should be able to move that.

I just drilled out the 2nd weight and replaced it with a shortie dowl section... I will go with just the chin weight...

I just drilled out the 2nd weight and replaced it with a shortie dowl section... I will go with just the chin weight...

Good luck. Before you do any of that you should turn the body and bring some weights down to the areas you fish and screw them into the body at different spots this will help you rather than bling placing weights into a perfrectly good body.

If you don't have that as an option. Behind 1st hook hole, before and after first hook hole, under chin and dead center of the plug are starting points. See how they work and tweak from there.

Plug design is the most rewarding aspect of plug building don't destroy it by looking for an instant homerun answer. Not saying that is what you are doing but I see it all to often.

Merry Christmas.