Big Danny Help

[NIB]

The lighter the wood the easier it is to get it to swim.Of course it also means it's not as dense or durable.Pine is a good choice.red cedar is lighter.It's easy to work from a light base piece u can always add weight.U have to make sacrifices to remove wieght.I think the musso pinchney/Beachmaster clan used some kinda pine. I also got some Smaller 6" Danny's that he must've made out of maple.Obviously made for special ops fishing.Turn one in the mahogony an save it fot the big water.I have found that some of the ayc goes heavier (sap wood) i save these for when I want something heavier.Bassmaster like to use ayc for his danny's the six inch models went close to 3 once but still swam pissa.He exaggerated the girth in the middle of the plug to make it bouyant.He taught me alot about metal lips.Without tellin me anything.we learned together but I learned just from lookin at all his creations. I miss him he was the man.

[steelhead]

He was good to me as I got started in this a few falls ago. Traded some wonderful emails full of advice, helpful hints, encouragement and support! Never have had the chance to turn a plugs or fish with him. Hope to some day... BM,if you're out there, PM me. I got a plug for you :-)

[capesams]

white pine/northen/eastern,,also white cedar,,the stuff trash bins and garden shed's are made from.

[steelhead]

Turned another this AM.
Much better profile thanks to input and pictures posted by you guys.

[numbskull]

Looking good, but maybe wait to weight it. I might be able to give you the weight dimensions tonight. The weight you're showing looks like the size they used in the medium Dannys.

[steelhead]

Good eye. It is a medium danny weight. It's got to dry overnight at least before I weight it anyways. Looking forward to hearing what the weight dimensions are for these bigger ones :-)

[NIB]

I know lots of guys work off a template when the build a plug.an thats good if'n u wanna make a hole bunch an weed thru the not so good ones.I don't have a duplicator so i do most of my work by selective posistioning of hook holes weight an so forth.Here's what i do I will spin a blank an put the hooks where i think they will work best with the size of the hook an weight balancing as the determining factors.I always have some scrap wire lyin around so i string em up an try to balance the plug in the middle thats where the weight goes. Sometimes I will put it just back of that center 1/8" to give it a little casting Balance. This will keep it from tumbling as much an lessen the chance of hook fouling on the line.Now someytimes in a plug that size I will go wit a 5/0 on the front an a 4/0 on the back wit just tail feathers on the tail no hook.or 2-5/0's an no tail hook.Or a 4/0 front 3/0 rear u get the idea.I like to mix it up.Don't be pigeon holed into thinkin this hook goes on this plug.Use the hooks as a tool just like u would a certain lure for a certain situation.If I find a shape that works I work off the weight,the single most important thing is the weight.I can vary from one piece of wood to another an perhaps is the main reason some plugs work an some are dogs.I almost always take my stuff to the water an test em out wit hooks I have bent in so they don't harm the blank.I will go with several sizes to see what the differences are.Then I write things down its important if u make a good one an wanna reproduce it.Its a pita but its what works for me.I really can't see doin it any other way. Makin plugs is a chore to me the love is gone.There's not enuff instant gratification in it. I hate the waiting between stages of finishing.Alot of my own stuff i prime paint a epoxy the same day.no sealer an trash em when they are done.I have more lures than I can ever throw.I only make em if i think i can make something better than what i can buy or if I need something to fill a space in my arsenal.so testing is something i do to be sure it will perform as needed.Its a good practice.I learned alot about fishing thru this trial an error technique.Then again I make instant oatmeal an sit around an do nothing for a hour.If u get the idea.