More darters.. - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Rockfish9 · 12-13-2007, 08:16 AM

I's been awefull quiet in here as of late so I'll post a few more darters that I just finished, I've got 3 sizes of bottles and some cowboys waiting on paint..

These darters are the process of alot of trial and error, the prototype fished well last fall, so here they are...

These are of a wider body style than the ones I posted earlier, made of mahogany, unweighted, single belly hook is a VMC 4/0 6X gladiator, swiveled by a Kroc 500lb SS swivel...Tail hook is a 6/0 VMC siwash..

I tried maple, cedar ,mahogany and birch,all with and with out weights, as well as different hook sizes and locations, the mahogany gave the best action to casatbility ratio,I gave them a test last Saturday at Cashan park in the rip running off the old boat launch, but the only thing available that was interesed were the seagulls!

The Dad Fisherman · 12-13-2007, 09:31 AM

Those are awesome.....we must talk

Woodbuster · 12-13-2007, 09:42 AM

I feel like punishing myself this year so I'm going to try making darters!

Joe- those are real nice. Do you have any issues with the open grain of mahogany?

Rockfish9 · 12-13-2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodbuster

I feel like punishing myself this year so I'm going to try making darters!

Joe- those are real nice. Do you have any issues with the open grain of mahogany?

No issues, the mahogany turns,finishes and seals well,the Cedar ones were pretty sweet as well,l just .50 ounces lighter,and a little livelier, and only swam down about 2' but very nice..it was hard to judge how deep the mahogany swam, but they swam deep enough to lodge into the rocks(twice) at the end of the ramp..

Flaptail · 12-13-2007, 10:20 AM

I am curious as to how they swim with that eye loop up on the plane?

I can see how they might really dive and hold in a rip situation but how are they in shallow moderately running water?

Did you arrange them like they are for a specific situation?

Nice workmanship.

Rockfish9 · 12-13-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaptail

I am curious as to how they swim with that eye loop up on the plane?

I can see how they might really dive and hold in a rip situation but how are they in shallow moderately running water?

Did you arrange them like they are for a specific situation?

Nice workmanship.

AHHH, the eye loop is critical, actualy, on a very slow retrieve I can get them to stay on top or just sub surface, because of the location of the pull eye, it is not necessary to sweep the rod tip to get them to dive, simply crank...I believe the fatter body has alot to do with it, the slimmer , more traditional models do not do as well with the eye loop as high up on the plane.... in the picture there a re a few that are actualy mistakes, as you can see, the dive plane extends just beyond the hook hole. and the second cut is higher on the back, those ones, were more suited for the fast water and were still OK in the slower water, but dug real deep in the rip....BTW, the ones I tried with the nose loop closer to the front of the plug displayed a tendency to roll out, something the higher loop does not do....

reelecstasy · 12-13-2007, 11:19 AM

Great work, dartahs were my fav plug this year..

GattaFish · 12-14-2007, 04:05 PM

Interesting info on the darters,,, I swam 6 variations of a darter I have been working on,,,,, Long way to go still,,, Hope to have a consistent plug to fish with next fall,,,,

ThrowingTimber · 12-14-2007, 06:48 PM

beauties man!

eastendlu · 12-14-2007, 07:05 PM

Those are some perty dhatas!!

Backbeach Jake · 12-14-2007, 07:34 PM

I hope that you realize that when I don't write anything that I am truly speachless. My God, what great work you do...

ThrowingTimber · 12-14-2007, 09:56 PM

This is my darter. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My darter is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.
My darter, without me, is useless. Without my darter, I am useless. I must cast my darter true. I must cast straighter than my enemy who is trying to crowd me. I must hook up before he hooks up. I WILL...
My darter and myself know that what counts in fishing is not the casts we take, the noise of our drag, nor the footprints we make. We know that it is the slam that counts. WE WILL SLAM...
My darter is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its swivels and its 6x hooks. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my darter clean and ready. We will become part of each other. WE WILL...
Before God, I swear this creed. My darter and myself are the defenders of this rip. We are the masters of our prey. WE ARE THE SAVIORS OF MY LIFE.