Hand carved Redfin winter project
 

So one of my goals this winter is to build a handcarve version of the Redfin, that is thru wired, and has a belly swivel.

I loved the blueshark/green point handcarves but didn't like the way they casted and the fact the company is no longer around or producing any more.

I looked around and found some great how tos and printed them out.

Got my template cuts already, and some 1.5x1.5x8" stock ready.

Have a few ideas on a weight transfer system, assorted lips ordered and some different lead weights for the belly/tail.

Will be a little but before I get em started but pretty excited to start.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...0CF2D1AE5A.jpg

that's awesome

Chef they are fun good luck, if you need help let me know
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Chris, is that a piece of pine? If you need some pine I have some tucked away.

If you need a tester let me know :btu:
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Spud if you have any 1.5"x1.5" or 2"x2" pine I'd love some.

Or any other lighter wood, red cedar, ayc, etc.
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Spud you have any birch hidden away? :)
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chris, you know if these work out im gonna have to hoe one off you haha

Its fun here is one i made for chris last y http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/...-16-51_785.jpg
few more
http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/...-34-20_839.jpg
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Skip, the only birch I had was 3/4" and I think it went in the wood stove. I will keep an eye out for some in the shop. Lots of maple and mahogany right now.

Stick with basswood or pine to start.

Shaping the body is child's play. Figuring out balance, weighting, lip size, position, and angle, line tie position, and hook details are the real work. Getting a desired action (as opposed to accepting the action you get) takes effort.

Consider a laminated plug (like they do with balsa minnows) as it gives you more control of the innards. Indeed, using foil finished, proprionate sealed balsa is probably the time proven best way to build these sort of plugs. Balsa sheets are easy to find (not cheap) and you can build plugs without power tools. Rapala has been pretty successful using this method of building. No reason you couldn't use synthetic material (like the swim bait guys) as well. Tackleunderground is a good site to browse through if you go that route.

Chris, I have some redwood around those sizes if your interested.

are you going to through wire it, or just go with hangers?

Johnny i believe he wants to threw wire with a swivel.
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I've had the best luck with red cedar making these kinds of plugs. Make sure you use pieces with very tight grain. The RC with wide grain is impossible to shape smoothly. I've made a few (I'll see if I can find them) that I made the whole plug out of one piece of wood, lip and all. They swam pretty well once I figured out where to place the weight--in those the weight was practically in the head of the bait. Something else that I noticed is that these types of baits are very often sluggish and the biggest reason is wire diameter (at least that's been my finding), it's imperative to use lighter wire than the 1/16 that we all usually use. If I know you Chris, you'll have them swimming better than the real thing.

It almost plug making season... I'll give you a call soon

I never considered wire being an issues, i made mine out pine maybe thats the reason. But as far as the weight you are right, i put it between the belly hook and the head. On a side note i added 4 rattles into the last 3 i made and it didnt slow em down, if anything they swam better when i voided out that part of the body.
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Hmmm, Did I get one of them??

That was last years special :) but Chris is makin me want to make a few more this year. Last years colors were the bone redfin, ghost white and blurple
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I'd like to make a few when can we get started?

Bill let me know and i will be more then happy to show you.
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as long as 'shines involved

I've made a bunch of these and they are one of my favorite plugs to fish. I have used AYC, Basswood, Red Cedar and Pine and have found they all work but some may be better suited for certain conditions. I make mine with a metal lip and like that I can tune it to swim subsurface. I have made them with swivels and with a sealed belly hanger. I prefer the swivel, a big one with a cut hook. I have done a few with lead poured in the belly hanger hole. That setup seemed to be the closest I came to them swimming like the original. I actually have had much better success tuning them to swim deeper for whatever reason. Probably just due to where I fish. They do cast horrible, especially with an oversized lip which I also prefer. Haven't been able to figure that out. I will be making more and look forward to what you come up with.

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/pearl001.jpg

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...ts/pb11006.jpg

^^^^^^^^ SWEEEET Always some very nice stuff,,,,

I hate you!...send me that smokey joe :uhuh:

The small size works well also. These are my bread and butter stuff here, the stuff that I throw 75% of the time on lighter tackle. Not that hard to make, can be fished on top or swam subsurface. They are very versatile. My 12 yr old had his biggest bass on one of these small ones.

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...ts/avac038.jpg

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...rsnbass002.jpg

Your how to is the one I printed out and downloaded the videos Ted.

Always been a fan of your work.

Those are sweet!!
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chef-greek were are the videos and instructions? I could possibly do this while on travel

Shoot me your email and ill send you the links, there's a how to from the Greek and he did a video, plus two or three other ones.
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Chef, wood is all boxed up and going out on weds.
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Thanks Johnny, ill make sure you get a tester :)