[Soupysayso]

My apologies for multiple posts in a row. Some pictures for y'all to enjoy. Has a lead core that holds lip and hook with a crudely formed hard plastic head that covers the link ups. Marabou on top, bucktail for the rest. It's ragged but I think I can duplicate it. Nathan, you could call it a "crig"?

[RiverMan]

Soup,

Very interesting post you have put up. From what you have told me I would love to connect with a huge striper, sound like our salmon. Have you thought about using divers? Here we use them extensively for getting any bait you want down to 50 feet. They slide on the line and can be purchased from 10' to 50', maybe more for all I know. When you hook a fish they just slide, no problem at all to use them. Also, you could use some kind of lead wire splitter set-up with a long leader trailing. Downriggers may be an option too. Finally, there are cranks out there that will get to more than 30 feet with light line. Have you looked at any of the "hotlips" line? Run the 3/4 ounce version on a braided line, 6 or 8 lb diameter, 20-30 lb test respectively. The thin diameter will take you "deep down" in a hurry. The braid is so strong it's scary!


I'm curious, what kind of action does the second lure picture you have posted have? The "unknown" lure, very cool looking.

Jed

[Soupysayso]

Jed,
Everybody here downrigs, I have a bass boat and I'm not "ruining" it with downriggers, thinking about resale! Most guys own a deep V hull and are set up for it. I really don't want to catch stripers unless I'm on somebody else's boat with somebody else's equipment . Additionally, trolling is illegal in bass tournaments. But, you're absolutely right about everything you say with the downriggers, it's not uncommon to see 50-100 boats trolling the main river channel here for the stripers and lakers. We even have some landlocked salmon! Walleye are the new craze. Ya ever get out this way I'll hook you up with a great guide to see if you can get hooked up with one of these monsters.

As for the old lure, it sinks like a jig, wiggles like a crankbait, and the action? WOW! I hate to throw it for fear of losing it. Nothing gives off action in the water like fur, feathers, and hair. I figure Nathan may be able to come up with a good blend that is more deadly than what is tied in this mystery lure. To me, it appears to have a "mepps" french style blade as a lip and bent in order to create a concave place for water pressure to build and create dive/wiggle.

With regards to crankbaits, I just got the "precision casting guide" in the mail yesterday and I've seen that the luhr jensen 3/4 oz hot lips express TA is the deepest diver. They want like $7.19 at the luhr jensen site and my search for other retailers was in vain! Anybody know where I can buy these? I see plenty of the non bent lips but I'd like a few of the TA versions for playing with. My father has a massive supply of lexan and plexiglass and I would like to play with the idea of making these lips. I think there are materials out there to "cook" up your own lexan. Maybe somebody could provide some guidance here and I could manufacture some lips that are similar for people to put in their crankbaits.

The canadian wiggler I've mentioned is phenomenal! I can cast it double what I can cast other lures because it's stamped brass, can count it down, and begin retrieve. Like I say, I dredge bottom at 30ft and if I count it down, I can get a dive curve that will come close to 40ft. based on my electronic readings of bottom and then feel of the bait. I'm awaiting the release of the new MAV system from aqua-vu. www.aquavu.com Looks interesting but when they sent me materials they claimed retail would be around $800 and I see now it's in the neighborhood of $2000!!!

[RiverMan]

Soup,

So the old lure, is the bill shaped to encourage the lure to dive or is the lure made of lead? The pic looks like the bill just comes straight out. I wouldn't cast that thing for anything if I was you until you are able to reproduce it. I love old lures and couldn't imagine losing one to a rock, yikes!

Jed

[Soupysayso]

Jed,
There's a lead core inside, you can see it when you look close, looks to be about a 1/4oz ball head or less. Rest of head is made of plastic (kinda looks like hardened foam), crudely formed I might add! The lip would come out straight except that somebody modified it by bending the lip to create a concave surface. Sinks rather slowly but definitely wiggles like a crankbait. Had a northern chase it to the boat in Canada last time I had it in the water and that caused me to retire it. Wish I had a clue who designed it, I'd hate to duplicate it and not give credit where credit is due. Pretty much like a countdown rapala but made of hair. Neat huh? I'm gonna work on a duplicate wood head to hopefully pour my FIRST plastic mold. Little nervous about that but it's a really small task so the learning experience shouldn't be real costly. Should be able to get head cranked out of wood with dremel pretty quick. I'll post a pic when it's done. Might try to modify one of my old jig head molds with a dremel to make room for a bib. Wouldn't putting the line tie on top of the head give me more water pressure on the lip and thus more natural crankbait wiggle? Say with a 60 degree jig head?

[RiverMan]

Interesting design on the old lure. Yea you might try the line tie on top, particularly if the bill isn't going to be that large anyway. I would try to get the tie as close to the front of the bait as possible tho and make sure it is in a place where you can get a good hold with the wire. I hope you are trying the method Shawn (art brush) just outlined for the mold, sounds like you are, looks to be a perfect match for your detailed approach to things. Thanks for the info on the old lure, have fun.

Jed