Well I got myself a swimbait rod a few months ago, but all the wooden swimbaits cost way too much. So I decided to try to make one. Last night I started, scratched the first one, but the seccond one came out great. It is made out of seasoned maple (the only stuff I got around here) and is a tad over 6 inches. With hooks it will be about 2.25oz. All i have to do left is seal it and add the treble hooks. I drilled a smal hole in the bottom and added a weight (not sure how much it weighed, it was accualy a bullet sinker)

Here are some pictures:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/catfishguy/IMG00025-2.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/catfishguy/IMG00028-1.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/catfishguy/IMG00027-2.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/catfishguy/IMG00025-2.jpg

I used a huge split ring off a old muskie lure for the joint. I tried it out last night in the creek behind my house and it runs perfect and has a great side-to-side action. I'm really happy it turned out well. Today I'm going to start making another one, probaly with a real lip and with three joints. Any tips? Should I put a weight in just the front joint? I have Oak, berch, and maple trees around here. Which one is better?

Thanks and tight lines

Matt

PS

Speaking of swimbaits, yesterday I was fishing my ML Bluegill for a hour and got a monster bass on. I had him for 3 split secconds, then he spit the hook. I almost has a heart attack. I'm going again tomarrow, today is cold and raining and sean_e_bus21 is coming over and we are making some more lures.

Fun stuff, Matt!  About the one that got away remember 2 things about swimbaits- use of a lube is a huge help (megastrike or similar) and a strong, quick hookset.  You have to hit them hard enough to get the ML bluegill to pull through her mouth so the hook will stick.  It takes more force than any other lure you fish.  

Stick with it and one of these days your april fools thread will come true.  

Fun stuff, Matt!  About the one that got away remember 2 things about swimbaits- use of a lube is a huge help (megastrike or similar) and a strong, quick hookset.  You have to hit them hard enough to get the ML bluegill to pull through her mouth so the hook will stick.  It takes more force than any other lure you fish.  

Stick with it and one of these days your april fools thread will come true.  

Thanks for the tips, I'll have to try some sents.

Here is the finnished product

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g9/catfishguy/IMG00029-1.jpg

Its got 5 coats of sealer. Think I should add one more treble hook?

ROFL @ THAT

That would probably be a killer surf fishing lure without a doubt

Matt when I look at your bait I see a dangerously week link. If you were to stick a big fish on that bait I beleive your split ring would fail you. I have had split rings pull before on big fish and it sucks! I highly suggest getting some large screw eyes instead. I beleive you can get them at Stamina.

BTW my first baits looked about as good as yours.  

Heck yea I think the bait looks good, I've made some that look like would come out of a radioactive swamp lol.  I am still not very good but atleast it gives me something to do in the slow time and can only get better.  If you like doing it thats all that matters to me anyways, mine would probly make some of you laugh so hard you would knock yourself out when u fell out of your chair laughing so hard, but its mine and i don't care.  ;D  

Keep it up you will making lures for all of us some day.  

along the lines of what mattlures said, if you just hang a large (like 1/0 or 2/0) hook off the front section, you could probably get by without a rear hook considering your bait is so small (as swimbaits go). that is how the "rat" baits are.