I have made some plugs that work great and a few others that bob and weave at the head like a pro boxer. One I am working on now is a larger, thicker, version of an eely.

My question to all my brother fishermen and women who like making thier own lures is what are the most prevalant reasons for the head roll?

The eelys I made swim so sexy through the water, side to side, it hard to imagine the larger version not swimming the exact same.

Any ideas?

In my opinion, if all other things are equal, I think lip slot position has a great effect on roll....the lower the lip slot (and the lower the line tie, and the more lip that hangs below the plug), the more "lever" effect you get and the plug rolls more. The higher slot, with less lip hanging down off the plug, gives less roll and more wiggle. At least, that is how it's worked on the plugs I build....some plugs, it's really critical, others are more tolerant and allow you a little more latitude.

a small injured bait fish will swim in a short arch and then stop as if to gain more strength
and then repeat the process.... this is what predators are most looking for.....
a sign of the weak...the wounded - that cannot so easily get away...
so before you totally change that action
consider calling it your crippled plug and save it for special applications.

Just my opinion ....there Swimmer, but in some cases that's the exact
retrieve (action) we are trying to simulate so fine tune it....
make a couple that are off...slightly and see how they do

I think the wider the lip the more the roll but have not actually tested it.

Swimmer listen to what Raven said. To exacting an action is only benefitial to showing other plug builders how good your workmanship is. The fish really don't give a damn most times an probably more times than most wish to admit.Watch an injured herring in a school of them. No way you could ever copy that unless you had a full set of remote control surfaces in the plug.try the ones that swim real weird when the fish are fussy. you may be pleasantly surprised with a new secret weapon. tight lines Ron

Thank you all