[radu]

Soupysayso

the japanese technique for building lures with a slider (used by Daiwa, Shimano, Zeal, Lucky Craft, Yo Zuri, Cultiva, Zip Baits and others) is exclusively used on plastic lures in Japan, as far as i know. And these companies go to great lenths to provide the scientific background behind these creations. Unless you have a scientific lab and electronic tools to measure the shifting balance at different angles the lure is pulled, different water pressures, different speeds and in the same taking in calculation the overall weight of the lure and the changes caused by the wiggle, it seems like an awful difficult task to me. Don't forget also, the lures using this technique are used here by people who want additional friction on the chassis on which the weight is moving, because they believe the fishing conditions are such, that a very fast shifting balance as the one offered by for exemple a rattling chamber filled with small balls ( where you have practically closed to zero friction when the balls move from one end to the other ) is not the best, therefore they want slower weight shifting (so , at this point, add into your equation the friction on the axis please ).
Above all this, you should consider as well the magnetic force being applied in case you decide to use a magnet instead of a simple sliding weight on that axis, and what you have is simply rocket science. And overall this, having to worry about all the details about how to fit all this into a wooden belly, in case you are not using plastic, and if you are using plastic how to find the most balance firendly shape and fit all of the above into it...this is not lure building anymore, if you ask me.

i have fished sliders and personally i found no difference comparing to the simple rattle chamber lures. maybe others can tell the difference, i couldn't. besides, i haven' t acquired the degree of perfection as to ask for slower shifting balances because i can really tell the difference between the two...

this reminds me of the talk about people using carbon rods vs. people using fiber rods, the later ones asking specifically for fiber rods because, having such fast reflexes, with a carbon rod they can feel the fish and set the hook too fast and too early therefore pulling the lure out right from between the 2nd and 3rd premolar on the upper jaw of the predator, and using a fiber rod, they would get a few 1/...... of a second delay in setting the hook and making a good set. personally, i don't have such fast reflexes, and i am very happy because of that.

[RiverMan]

Thanks for the explanation Soupysayso. Each of us finds joy in some part of the lure making process, for you it is in the "details". You made me realize too that I am not as much the spaz I thought I was for perfection, lol.

I respect your lure-building process, you have certainly done your homework, and reading different routes to the same ending (a cool lure) is how we learn. I will add though that some of the variation you strive to eliminate is exactly what I find most appealing. Wood is alive, and feeling a lure take shape in your hands is where the fun is at for me. By removing the wood from the center of the lure, you're removing the very "heart" of the critter.....in my humble opinion.

The measurements I make while building a lure are done to provide predictability, not certainty. If I were so serious as to want the wall thickness of my lures to be within .001mm, I would take out a bank loan, purchase machined molds, and begin plastic injection molding.

Why fool with wood? Sounds like you would very much enjoy the results from molds as they provide repeatability and precision, right down to the fingerprint you left on the prototype. I like them too for production, but for just "good ole traditional lure building fun", wood is impossible to beat.

Thank you for the exchange and best regards,

Jed

[Soupysayso]

See what happens when I can't fish? My brain gets spinning and I create things to do in spare time. Maybe I should just go get a second job or increase my client load.

Anyhow, radu, I completely understand that the Japanese put a lot of time, money, and research into their designs. Heck, I just want to play around because one never knows when they will stumble upon something. I am not trying to put down the Japanese tackle makers in anyway, in fact, I respect them to the utmost because they are always pushing the envelope in design and creativity, by necessity it seems. Maybe they're just good at catching fisherman, whereby more of us should pay attention to what they're doing if we plan to sell our own lures.

For me, I like to try to emulate a bait first. For example, I would buy a Japanese lure, take it apart, see what makes it tick, and see if I can repeat it, yes using wood. That's the fun in it for me. Then let's say I come up with a great design later that I think will generate interest. I could always add some fancy deal like this into the design and it might catch fisherman as much as fish, what the heck, ya know?

I don't wish to use magnets in the typical sense, rather use the fact that magnets repel each other to my advantage....never allowing a sliding weight in a jerkbait to come to rest, at least in theory. If it works I'm a genius, if it doesn't, I've wasted about another month and fishing season is that much closer! That's where I stand I guess. Radu, I appreciate the honestly about the Japanese industry, I'm learning more about it everytime I read one of your posts. Jed, one of these days when I have enough finished baits, I'd love to swap some with ya. I've gotta master the airbrush first though. By the way, what river does the Riverman roam?

[RiverMan]

Would be happy to exchange lures with you as well Soupysayso. I am about where you are with the paint, much to learn.

And to answer your question, I live in Northeastern Oregon and make my living working with rivers. Beyond that I spend any free time I can chasing salmon and steelhead on a long list of rivers near my home. Tomorrow is one of those days, will be backing some plugs down the river for steelhead at first light.

Best Regards,

Jed