What's Cookin' ?
 

Seems we need a winter thread, something to keep running for a while.
Show and tell, discussion type stuff.

I finally started working on somethings, so here goes.

First a few WY Poppers. Frech claimed this (and an A40) where his most productive plugs. Supposedly he used them at night. Birch and heavy. He is vague on how to weight them. The diagram shows two huge 1/2" by 5/8" weights (which yields a 4 oz plug), his article talks about casting 1/2 by 3/8 weights for the plug (3 oz end result). I did both but think the lighter one is right.

Cutting the popper face well in dry birch was one of the harder things I've done building plugs. I am also concerned it is too deep. I've yet to find a way to make a shallow wide cup effectively that follows the angle of the face (although Fred told me how Gibbs did it using tiny different diameter circular saw blades mounted on a mandrel).

Next up are needles.

I've had repeated success on large fish (as in over 30#) with Eddy's small needle. It has gotten to the point were I consider it a "go to" plug. Eddy is buzy rebuilding his fishing cottage so he won't be making any more any time soon.......so I ripped him off.

....and then there was Flap :( . His favorite plugs were needlefish, and one of his "go to" needles had been built by eelpunt (wonder what he is up to these days). He had me measure and xray it one winter.....twisted, straightened hooks and all. I was supposed to build him some copies......seems like time I finally did. I'm pretty sure it will have good mojo. AYC 2.10z rigged with Mustad 3/0.

George thread to start. Something to look forward to turning on computer Sunday morning. Restoring a bunch of Goo Goo eyes and Bluestreaks for a friend. finally bought a Createx paint kit (20) color. Threw out the craft paints. More headaches with gun. No issues w/Createx. Back by popular demand, I'm making a batch of the reknown Billy D stuby needle. Many supporters in this neck of the woods have great succcess. I 'll get you one for Plugfest. Maybe do a few large Surfsters and a 6" & 8" Wadd. Those Frech poppers, do they float? Nightime use? Swimming like a SS little Neck? The popper face would seem difficult to do especially in a Birch or maple. Ball rasp is too violent of an procedure as an end mill? Oh well time for coffee. Who else is doing what?

Billy, if you are going with createx paints try to find some Liquitex air brush medium (Liquitex is a different company than Createx). when the createx is new it flows well, but as it ages a few drops of Liquitex as a thinner helps a lot.

Nice work George. Chefchris' redfin thread inspired me to give handcarves another shot, so I'm working on some 5 and 7" redfins. This week I hope to start duping some creekchub giant jointeds and some 1/2oz. gibbs pencils.

Thanks George. I was thinking of a thinner other than water. Airbrushing is definately a breed in itself. What u think flows doesn't. trust me those craft paint were thin and shot like crap. I did recieve a bottle of Createx brush cleaner with the kit. Could this be used as a thinner?

Lots of good airbrush info here

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...h-threads.html

Neat plug, Ryan. Mahogany or WRC? A lot of work getting those to work right. I tried once to replicate a F90 rebel but didn't get very far.

Great start to a thread george.

Ryan that hand carve looks great. I have done anything else with mine yet.

Fired up my lathe for the first time this week. Turned some habs 2oz needle bodies, some will be extra tail weighted for those windy days, 3oz torpedo Danny's musso inspired, 2oz slow sink needles based on dons shape but weighting is different, a couple eelys, and some CCBC 6900 series pikies.

Sealed about 60 plugs on Friday night after work, had some bodies left over from two years ago, the new stuff and some odds and ends from g2h that came with the lathe.

There are two hawg hunter pencils in that batch of mixed plugs, looking forward to making a bunch of those for my ditch fishing, cool design.

Also scored some more original pichney plugs that will see the ocean for the first time in their lives next season.

The big a 40 is very different than his standard a40, ill post some pics side by side in a new thread.

Got some small freshwater/schoolie stuff sealed up too.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

On the popper cups what works for me is a ground spade drill . I pilot drill first so the spade will cut true.

Thanks Chris

Thanks G, I think that one is spanish cedar. I made some out of wrc to but I still have to sand them. Should probably get to test swimming them before the water freezes up. I recieved that gibbs pencil on thursday thanks again for your help

Suddenly I'm all horned up over NJ style sealed plugs. Obtained a bunch of examples- Lefty, Skippy, Cyclone, Tom Bottomly, Pajama Plugs, Basswood, Luna... And came to the realization that besides the sealed construction there is very very little difference in shapes, lips, or action. Odd that they are such copy cats down there! Any how, going to make some of these in various sizes. From 4-8".

Also doing a lure I call the 2fer. Basically a white cedar slope headed surface swimmer with a pikie 3 lip, however, the slope extends 2/3 of the way back, instead of to the midpoint. In calm water the lure will swim on top with a nice tail wag IF your rod tip is up high. Drop the tip and point it at the lure and it dives 2-4'. In the breachway the big lip and long flat top make it a super stable deep diver. 2fer- Two for one.

This week I need to churn out some plugs for gifts.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Hey Fellas,

Some cool stuff there!
My building time has been very limited, but I've been on a crank/twitch bait kick. from 4 inch walleye size to 12 inch fall trolling sizes. All made from cedar and will have either stainless or lexan lips Also my first attempt at foiling (wow quite a learning curve):smash:
I've also been admiring how cool the added gill and fin effects are on some builders posts and decided to give it a go.
Here are a couple in mid stage! (crappy camera pic)

Happy Holidays fellas:uhuh:

MS

Hi Jon. Any particular dimentions for this 2fr? i like that option, top water and a diver. Looking to do a niche plug this winter also.

Another plug that has a good 2fer quality is the CCBC 7400 surfster.

I turned a body this week, rigged it with a pikie 3 lip, slow crank will stay on top, faster retrieve and it will dive 2ft.

Need to play around with some weighting options, want to make a med/deep diver.

Just love that shape!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

A Pikie Lip!!! on a surfster?............What were you thinking?
I was going to do the same :uhuh:...still want the body??

I haven't posted any plugs in awhile since I usually only turn in the Winter. With a baby on the way, it will probably be less in the future, but that's okay with me.

Numbskull, I love those Frech poppers!

here is what I've been working on. Wadd needles made from Tiger Maple. I think I'm going to do one like the tutorial, black, yellow and Block Island green.

Used the new plug spinner/dryer for the first time yesterday.

A few more.

Wish my epoxy looked like that :fury:

A new baby and a bunch of wadds. Life should be good. Congrats.

I have Skippy to thank for that.:buds:

Plugs look great Mark!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I can't wait! The baby is due late May...Hey, my timing has never been the greatest! :smash:

Nice looking stuff guys
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Thanks Chris

Look good Mark

Pretty big

7.5" and 3.3oz rigged with 4 .092 Screw eyes, rings 3/0 VMCs and a flag o the back. And 10-12g in the belly at the max width point.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Pretty much a wasted week stressing over Xmas, but #^&#^&#^&#^&ed around a bit. Nothing intentional, but had some fun. Avoided the "curse of the duplicator", that plug building mind trap where if you decide to make one you should make several dozen. Just started using up some of the odd sized,odd wood, left over blanks littering the cellar. Chuck 'em up, rough 'em down and grab a skew.

Ended up with some pine mini-mussos, some sloppy CCBC darter clones, some basswood SS little neck knock offs (with over cupped popper faces :smash:), and a few trial small needle shapes (thinking a pocket rocket, a floater, and a level runner).