"Canal Pencil"
 

Just curious what the flat bottom does on these pencils. Never fished one.

I'm not sure, but was told that it controls the roll and action of the plug in the strong current that the canal produces. Not sure if that is the reason, but was what I was told.
Rene
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So builders can sell two versions of the same plug.
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In a current like the canal the flat bottom lets the plug ride the top better. this allows builders to add more weight.

Huh...guess I don't quite understand that...aren't you sanding away buoyancy (and reducing lead need) by taking it to the belt sander?

**(Originally quoted wrong poster)**

Seriously, Chris -- you don't think this design has a benefit?

when makin the plug walk the dog the flat bottom adds stability too, it wont roll out as much when you're really rippin it. absolutely a benefit.

Gotta agree with Mike and Johnny. Plus the added weight may help when trying to reach out and touch some one.
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In addition to what Mike said, I suspect the shape itself makes the plug cast further.
It seems plausible that the flat bottom creates aerodynamics that reduce wobble and it may even create some lift (like an airplane wing).

Rise to the top faster with more weight, easier to work since it rides higher in the water.

Lifting body concept has merrit.
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Acts like a surfboard.

what the others said. Sometimes you need a lot of distance, small plug with extra lead goes a long way but is hard to keep up top. My canal pencils sink fast. But a flat side lets them glide the current as you work them downcurrent and lets you work them slower/easier.

Thanks to all of you here and who PM'd me -- I understand now and will give the design a shot for the spring herring run in the upper Merrimack.

Bingo. minus the wave... Hydrodynamic Lift :devil2:

Catches slobs at Cutty!

Definitely helps the plug get up on plane. With the added weight and throwing it in the canal current the flat bottom helps get it back to the top.

It can also make for some great sun surface swimming action if done correctly.
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canal specials
 

from my point of view, the planing of the bottom increases the surface area to allow more weight to be added, increasing casting distance. removing the rounded portion and adding more weight will serve to sink the plug. I also think that the increased width will help with the chop in the canal.

Think of it like skipping a stone. You skip a round stone...goes once maybe twice and then done.....When you skip a flat stone it goes and goes (If you are good at it :hee:)

When you skip a stone the water is stationary and the stone's momentum is what makes it skip....when you are throwing a canal pencil, the water is moving and the plug (stone) is some what stationary and just skipping along .

Great way to explain it.

I also find that the flat bottom of a Canal pencil produces more splash than a rounded bottom pencil. Consider the different splash that results from slapping the water with a 2x4 as opposed to a dowel.

Just another Old wives tale.
It actually has less surface area, it would have a slight tendency to develops some lift, but like Peter Pan said think happy thoughts and you will fly. First you need faith.

Pretty sure Mr. Gibbs screwed up a pencil popper and tried it that way and liked it.
I got to admit I don't see a lot of difference in the flat bottom pencil compared to the round one and I've fished a lot of them. Matter of fact I have gone back to fishing the regular Gibbs style pencils since last year.
Heck I even tried this, concave belly, as you can see in the pics below which looked kind of cool but without much difference in the action either