spook tail weight ?

[Lower]

Thanks PNG and Jigman. Took a few picture...this will help. I started by turning a spook shape while looking at a picture of a bunker. Was looking for a little shorter fatter profile than a ballerina or spook. Once I got that I was playing around with how I would finish the plug (weights, line ties, etc). I understand how ballerina's differ from howdy's differ from a traditional spook. What I couldn't quite grasp is how the exact plug would differ with the different tail weighting schemes.

[Lower]

The first picture is of the two weighting schemes on matching plugs. The second is of the two line ties I'm going to try. So there are 4 plugs. 2 low line ties and two regular. One tail weighted one belly of each. I have plenty of howdy (heavy tail weight) type plugs. I'm kind of looking for a more slow glide type walk.

Anyway...just thought this might make for some interesting discussion.

[Jigman]

Nice looking plug. For more of a glide, move the belly weight up closer to the belly hook.

Jigman

[numbskull]

However you weight it, I'd keep it floating at an angle. I built something similar a few years ago that was heavily tail weighted (and convex shaped/central line tie) and floated straight up and down with the nose out about 2". It sucked. Did more porpoiseing than anything else on retrieve. I think that sort of weighting scheme works better with narrower profile plugs. I also think the profile of the back half of the plug becomes important when you weight it. For plugs that float at an angle I like convex (hump of curve out), for plugs that float straight up and down I like straight or concave (curve in). I think as you pull the plug, the shape of the back portion briefly acts like a rudder/planer. With the heavier tail you want it to push the nose down, with the lighter tail push the nose up. I definitely like the lower line tie on plugs that float at an angle. I haven't tried them on plugs that float vertical, but I suspect it wouldn't work as well.

[BigFish]

My "Blitzseeker" is tail weighted and has a shot of "00" in the chin. Rests in the water at about a 45 degree angle and the chin weight comes into play upon retrieve. It walks the dog easy as pie and if you lower the rod tip below your waist and give a tug it goes subsurface and will stay there through the retrieve if you keep the line tight and pop the tip! I wanted the plug to stay chin down more than most "spook" plugs do.....did not want it to pop back up like a pencil when you pause. The chin weight acts as an equalizer keeping the tail from slumping quickly down when you pause.