So the story behind this is basically that it is my first attempt, I don't have lip material on hand, or line ties, or lead (cant get lead sinkers in VT), but I do have some wood.

I carved this up, hollowed out the belly, packed 5 bb size tin shot in there twisted some line ties and hook holders following daves post and checked to see if it would float.

It floats with the water line just over the edge of the lip. I think the epoxy should add a little more weight and get me a nice shallow running bait. I am hoping to finish and have it fishable by this weekend.  

good looking bait, I made some floating trap copies a couple of years ago.   1 thing I see is that you line tie may be too far back towards the tail.   If it does not swim then move the line tie forward to where the flat nose starts.    You want the bait to have a more nose down postion in the water.

Thanks for the advice.  I loaded all the weight up there because I was looking for that position in the water, but I didn't think about making sure the line tie was as far forward as possible.  Good to have a possible fix in mind if it doesn't swim well.  

Neat bait, always good to see another baitmaking addict.

One thing I will tell you is that when BigM talks baitmaking it's wise to listen.

Neat bait, always good to see another baitmaking addict.

One thing I will tell you is that when BigM talks baitmaking it's wise to listen.

This I have noticed.

I am doing a spray paint job tonight with the only colors I had in the basement.  Will post pics when I finish.

Anyone else that has tried any of these have tips?  

Nice start ,I can't wait to see the finished product

If you have to move the line tie forward don't get carried away.   Just past the hump on the back of the bait, right where the flat lip starts.

No pics because Big M was right.  Moving the line tie.  

Nice start ,I can't wait to see the finished product

Now I have to hope I don't dissapoint.

If you installed the line tie with epoxy then all you have to do is heat the wire with a lighter.   Approx 20-30 sec and let it sit another 20-30 sec and repeat.   The line tie should just pull right out, don't forget that wire is hot.

I will try that technique to get the old one out. I just put a new one in ahead of it but havent removed the old one yet. I am putting a bit more weight in as well, want it to fall really slow. The floating is not working for me. I am also messing up an already ugly paint job doing all this. I wanted a black bait. Painting it was definately getting ahead of myself.