Big Epp

Anyone try making tail-weighted lures for muskie or bass?

Similarly I use a double cut. I make the first cut with the blade and then "shave" off the sides until it fits.

If you can use lead, maybe you could take a barrel weight and cut it in half.

Excellent point sir!

This picture has "bugs" in various stages of completion with a utility knife for scale. I use through wire in these because I make a lot of them out of willow branches and the pith in the center of the branch isn't a very secure place to glue anything. Also, these are around 1/2" thick, allowing very little space to glue stuff in. With the size of these guys I'm nervous to hook into a decent bass and bust the lure. I suppose catching a decent bass on one of these would be about like catching a muskie on a normal muskie sized bait, so I see the point of through wire for those toothy stu

Someone has to be the Guinea pig...

Rich, you did sound a bit like a grumpy old man in your initial post... but I completely agree with your sentiment. For most of my bass-sized baits (3-6") I use a twist eye from either .032" or .051" stainless wire. I haven't had any problems with any of my attachment points as of yet. Where I use through-wire most is in tiny lures. I've been making a lot of "bugs" lately, which are between 3/4" and 2." I put 1 or 2 size 12 hooks on them depending on how long they are. Most are made from a willow branch, though I just turned a few on a lathe out of redwood. While they are designed