Hi JB,

Your timing is impeccable because I'm right in the middle of rewiring some of my baits and have a few extra mins. I don't use a bushing on the front half (tail yes) I drill a hole to accommodate a swivel to remove the alignment problem. Obviouly you are now drilling from each end to the swivel hole location rather than completely through the bait.  don't get too hung up onkeeping the hole the diameter of the wire either, it's nothing a little bit of epoxy won't take care of... I like too countersink the front wraps into the nose of the bait too.

With these brand new ;) converted Tally Wackers I don't use a heavy BB swivel because of the extra weight factor. Good luck! 

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Gino,

Although the guy in that thread obviously knows what he's talking about, and maybe for someone who typically makes 100's of baits a year it might be worth it. However, for someone who's just making/modifing a few baits it seems like massive overkill... would be less hassle to just buy them finished from a place like AHL.

On longer baits like most Globes, you're obviously going to need a long enough drill bit to make it to the second swivel/hook location, those can be purchased individually in about any length you need. I'd guess that most guys on here don't have the time or expertise to make their own non-wandering drill bit though.

I've easily modified over 100 baits from original screw eye to wire and have never failed to be able to get the wire threw the bait by just "eyeball" drilling to where the swivel/hook will be. On those tail baits in the above picture I was just changing out the wire because after multiple fish it gets bend up and untrustworthy.

BTW, for you guys who use needle nose pliers to get the wrapped up weeds out from between the front and rear section of your tail prop baits...  I leave enough of a gap in between the sections so I can get my fingers between, the fish don't care and it sure saves a lot of hassle.

Cheers

Gino, no problem but I think we are at two ends of the spectrum here because I only build/modify baits to help improve on catching fish. I'm not into color (although I marvel at some of the artwork that is displayed here) and just try to build things that are as bulletproof as possible. Through the years I found that plain paint, hook rash/teeth marks don't seem to matter too these fish and unless it's detrimental to the performance of the bait... I actually prefer it.

With that said, I don't see how ANYONE could start a drill bit at one and and hope to always come out perfectly centered at the other end without some type of laser guidance. It would seem that most of us basement bait guys would almost have to at least put a starter hole in the center of the opposite end anyway.

Good luck on your "Frenchy", and I hope you catch a giant fish on it too!