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Posts: 619
Location: Verona, WI | About a year ago I thought I would switch up the gliders I make from basswood to maple. However no matter what I did then every lure I made in maple would balance well but the minute I got it in the water and started to tap it to get into rhythm it would just come straight at me - kind of like having a 8" Rattle Trap. So I shelved that project. Over the last couple of days I thought I would give it another shot with a different bait design I was working on. Same deal - the bait balances perfectly but when I take it out in the water to test it has no action at all. Are there tricks to working with maple that I wouldn't know since I have generally worked with basswood or cedar in the past? Any advice would be appreciated - here's a pic and some stats:
Bait is 8" long with two lead holes and is made of 3/4" maple.
The bait comes with three Mustad 3/0 trebles. First hook is located 1 5/8" from nose of the bait, second is 3" from rear of the bait, and last hook is in the tail;
First lead hole is 7/16" wide, 1" deep, and is located 2" from the nose of the bait.
Second lead hole is 7/16" wide, 5/8" deep and is located 2" from the rear of the bait.
Shane
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Fortunately your problem is an easy one to remedy. The wood needs to be at least one inch thick for that length of a bait. I found out the hard way that there is definitely a ratio of length vs thickness to get a bait to glide. Otherwise they come in like a stick as you mentioned.
Your weight placement is fine by the way. Make sure also that your edges are rounded over because if they are not, it will be much more difficult to make it glide.
Oh, also try not to drill past the center balance point of the bait or it will tend to roll like a top heavy iceberg.
Edited by Musky Snax 2/15/2007 7:48 PM
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Posts: 786
Location: Minnesota | Now you tell me Snax! I just made 4-12 inch gliders out of maple that are all 3/4 inch thick! LOL At least I won't be as disapointed when I try them out for the first time. I did put 3 coats of epoxy on them though and they are about 0.84 inches right now... |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Here's an example of what I'm talking about...
I made an 11" long and 1" thick glider and it glides like a dream.
I made a 12" long and 1" thick glider and it comes straight in with the occasional tendency to go to one side or the other.
I learned a the basics from Jed from bikinibaits and then found out some of the finer points the hard way...by wasting a @#$ load of wood! lol |
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