So January is Needlefish Month? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

RobG · 01-08-2009, 09:47 PM

Finished these handcarved needles this weekend. The two top are 00 buckshot weighted behind the barrel swivel with 1/4oz tail weight. The two parrots are weighted in front of the barrel swivel. The bottom one was going to be a jointed and after test fitting the aft section, thought better of it to make it a grub-tail needle. All were carved from clean pine, rattle canned and 2 ton epoxy. The inspiration for these came from all the hours I spend night fishing the flats of IBSP Sedges. Have seen thousands of needles out at night.....will try to capitalize on the bounty this summer. Next evolution in my building is a lathe and a spinner for e-tex. I enjoy handcarving but it's pretty hard for me to replicate the last plug I carved....guess that's what makes it fun.
Any input will be constructively received, thanks.

Flaptail · 01-09-2009, 06:24 AM

Very nice. On the stubby move that belly hook up forward and taper the rear end and you have the plug I catch most of my fish on other than skin needles. Add some black saddle hackle on to a 5/0 ss siwash with some crystal flash and voila, you have a killer plug.

Black/gold is a super needle color combo.

very nice you will do well with those.

Raven · 01-09-2009, 06:37 AM

hydrodynamically speaking does the tapered tail recommendation on that stubby give the siwashed hook more action as apposed to how it is now...?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

You do real nice Work Rob... keep it up...

numbskull · 01-09-2009, 10:39 AM

Great effort building without a lathe. Nice colors as well.

RobG · 01-09-2009, 01:42 PM

Flaptail, I've carved several more stubby's since finishing these and haven't drilled or sealed them yet.....going to put your suggestions into this new batch.
Thanks for the info.

Slipknot · 01-10-2009, 09:10 AM

Nice
I forgot about that and I missed this thread I guess
Good going on the needles, that last one looks like the front half of a jointed

YA JANUARY IS NEEDLEFISH MONTH

stripercrazy · 01-12-2009, 07:38 AM

the fl green over white works good in soco R.I.

splinters · 01-20-2009, 05:17 PM

nice work on the hand-carves, needles are my fave and fairly productive for me at night over the dunes on ibsp.

Slipknot · 02-13-2009, 01:27 PM

I guess needlefish month didn't catch on with very many people
Oh well

good stuff Rob and Karl

go4broke44 · 02-13-2009, 01:36 PM

it caught on with me, took me til february to build them though!

Slipknot · 02-13-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go4broke44

it caught on with me, took me til february to build them though!

that's ok, I'm slow too

pbadad · 02-13-2009, 05:17 PM

I missed this thread. Ironically I was in the needle spinning mode that month. Spun some swimmers for a change of pace. My eyes were getting locked in with the needle. Got to keep the eyes focused w/o a dupe!

ProfessorM · 02-13-2009, 07:59 PM

I like needles a much as a heroin addict. got a few to show, maybe next week. Every month is needlefish month in my book

pbadad · 02-13-2009, 09:26 PM

Heres to "needlefish"

pbadad · 02-13-2009, 10:11 PM

Karl F those swirled needles look sweet. Are they done with saran wrap?

saltydog · 02-14-2009, 07:39 AM

Karl F

would you like to SWAPone of thoes BURPLE NEEDLES

see you at plug fest
GOOD LUCK GOOD PLUGGIN

Jaycet62 · 02-15-2009, 02:54 PM

Hi Guys: I'm new to this, so please forgive an impertinent and possibly illegal question: would anyone be willing to give me an approximate idea on turning specs for these plugs.....I don't have one to copy, and its too far to drive to Surfland this afternoon!

Central NH is a long way from nearly frozen salt water!

Thanks for the help. Jay

pbadad · 02-15-2009, 03:34 PM

The Wad needle dimensions: 8 3/8" long, 1 1/32" widest point @ 4.25 -4.50" back, 7/16" nose diam. 9/16 tail diam. Hook 3" back. Birch for sinkers , cedar/pine for floaters. Finished weight 2 .75 floaters, 3.5 sinkers. Both have the same weighting . 24-27 grams located in the lower belly. 3 belly weight 8 grams ea. 1 in front of hook hole 1/2" on center of hook hole and 2 behind the hook hole. 1" on center of hook hole and 1" on center of #2 weight hole. 3/16" wire hole for ease of thru-drilling. Hope this will help.

Rockfishroger · 02-15-2009, 05:06 PM

Here is one I carved out wih a file.Not a standard NF though,it swims just fine.

go4broke44 · 02-16-2009, 10:49 AM

a little bit of what I've been working on

Diggin Jiggin · 02-17-2009, 07:57 AM

I turned some needles in january but I got sidetracked with darters and didn't get back to them till this weekend. I got them thru drilled this weekend, I should have some done by oh say, March....

technologist · 02-18-2009, 07:41 PM

top two are sinkers - bottom two float!