Good thoughtPete F. I just made a few BM Jrs w/ 2 hooks. Moved the head hook forward and rear belly hook approx 3 1/4" back from front hook. Deepen the hook hole to 3/4" and used 310lb. Krok swiwels. They are flush with the body in order to slide a marginal skin on w/o tearing. I eliminated the tail weight. With the added swivel and 6X 3/0 @ 5grams it made up for the tailweight. Swims great. With tailweight and added hook it was too much to get the proper slow retreive action w/skin. Swims nicely right under the surface.
Nice I like the 2 hook job.You'll have to watch to be sure the tail does not foul on the tail hook..Perhaps if you made it slightly longer it would not be a problem.Weighting is key the fish will tell ya.
I like to use a lighter wood for my needles as I can the action I prefer with the weight..With a wood like Maple it is already on the heavy side.Adding weight becomes tricky as you not far from making a fast sinker..
FORE!
It's usually darkest just before it turns Black..
I had trouble with the tail fouling on a clone of the large BM skin needle. Trying the thing with the stiff mono didn't help. Eventually went to just one hook. I used to fish a large Habs with a skin and just one belly hook. The thing was about 14" long. Big fish just inhale these skin needles so I never felt I was missing anything good with just one belly hook. Even if I was, it makes up for all the ineffectual casts and time wasted when the tail tangles.
Ed,
I know...long time no post...I was planning to build some "skin" plugs and one thing I thought of as I looked at them was the swivels sticking out of the bellies. Due to slim design of the needles I think that the use of hangars made of 316 stainless would be the way to go. With my arthritic hands it's a bear to bend 2 curls, but I think it will make sliding the skins on a whole lot easier...Ummm... I haven't made one yet, but I'm thinkin' about it
it's a bear to bend 2 curls, but I think it will make sliding the skins on a whole lot easier...Ummm... I haven't made one yet, but I'm thinkin' about it
Hybrid Mode
