First lathe plug attempt, need insight

[Zeal]

Well, I am aiming for the Pocket Rocket as my first lure to make. Only made 2 so far (getting the hang of the tools), the first was way too small but this one hopefully shows some promise.

The Specs are 3.5" long, 2.75 " around (the center of the body), a little over 1" around the nose.

Is this worth trying to go all the way with or let it go to the firewood pile?

What do you guys think needs improvement as far as the lure design? I kinda winged it honestly, and it is about 1/4" shorter than what I wanted it to be. The reason I wanted a nose was because it looked like a submarine.

My apologies for the dark photo.

Brutal honesty is welcome! Going back out at it tomorrow!

*For the much better picture go here http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_0073.jpg

[chefchris401]

You're on the right track...in my book anyway.

Has a squid shape, which is a good thing.

I make something similiar, heavily tail weighted, no eyes and a big single hook rigged with a curly tail grub.

Fished with short twitches it darts a bit, but once you pause it, it will dart backwards and the grub tail spins on the fall, usually the fish is following it and once it drops they crush it as it falls basically in to there mouth.

Pocket rockets are a great plug to start with, good basic design and pretty easy to turn.

Keep us posted and keep posting pics.

I'm no pro builder so that's just my two cents of input.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Pete F.]

Pocket rocket or a Bullet?
My suggestion would be start with a plug you have and that you know works well. Copy it, make it work and look the same. That will probably take care of the basic skills and you won't have made quite as many bluefish plugs as the rest of these guys (mine were always perfect) Then pick another plug and make it work.
Have fun

[Zeal]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

Pocket rocket or a Bullet?

Honestly, was aiming for kind of a mix of both. Either way, aiming to make it small and stubby and able to cast that mile (and of course producing).

[Zeal]

Turned this one today (under Pete F.'s advice and did a little reduction and imagination work), I found this more along the lines I was aiming for, though I'm not sure if it's fat enough. Came close to a Dr. Frankenstein moment though!

http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/...4/IMG_0074.jpg

Specs for this one are 4.5" long and the body at fattest being around 1.75" to nearly 2".

Better this time around? Thoughts?

*The links I post for the pictures are spyware free so don't worry*

[pbadad]

When you speak of 1.75" -2.00 is this the length of your widest diameter area? Usually we speak of the widest diameter in relationship to the nose. i.e. 1.25 diameter @ 3 1/2" back from nose. Keep spinning and get some calipers to check your dimentions. A slide caliper manual ruler read style can be used to check diameters while spinning to hasten your time. I check with digital caliper after the lathe stops. Glad to have you aboad. Just keep firing your questions. Many here have been making chips for years.

[Zeal]

From the nose, the diameter is fattest around 3" away from the tip. The body being the fattest is 2" away from the nose (where the taper ends) to 3" from the nose (where the taper to the tail begins)

Hope that made sense