I'm going to start my first crankbait. I went to buy some materials and i have the coping saw, some sand paper, and all i could find is a block of basswood. All of the balsa wood was only in sheets! But i would like to make a prop bait, since i got my skitter prop stuck on a drain a few weeks back. Is there anything different i need to do with a prop bait? Right now I'm just going to design it and cut it out and sand it down and drill holes and order the other materials online thursday. So is there anything different I need to do for it or is it basically like doing a crankbait just w/o the lip? Any advice is great! thanks

im not positive but you might need to add a small amount of ballast weight not to much though

Here is the shape of it so far! Its about 3 and 1/8" long

Lookin good,  I am guessing you are going to photofinish the bait?

Lookin good, I am guessing you are going to photofinish the bait?

Yeah, if i painted it it would probably ruin it. lol

im not positive but you might need to add a small amount of ballast weight not to much though

If you don't add ballast, it's nothing more than a piece of wood.

im not positive but you might need to add a small amount of ballast weight not to much though

If you don't add ballast, it's nothing more than a piece of wood.

Can i not do the drilling a hole and putting a 1/8 egg sinker in there?

I can't really tell from the pic but it looks like you have not drilled the balast port, lie tie, or hook hanger holes.   On the next one you should drill those before carving while the wood is square.   That way everything is centered and balanced.

That's a good start because it looks just like the pattern.   Is this bait a walk the dog top water?

I can't really tell from the pic but it looks like you have not drilled the balast port, lie tie, or hook hanger holes. On the next one you should drill those before carving while the wood is square. That way everything is centered and balanced.

That's a good start because it looks just like the pattern. Is this bait a walk the dog top water?

Alright thanks for the tip! But no I want to put a propeller on the back and make it like a skitter prop. Or thats what i was hoping at least.

It's basswood so 1/8 and a prop will make it sink.    I would start with 1/16 oz belly weight.   You only need enough weight to get the bait sitting right in the water.    

It's basswood so 1/8 and a prop will make it sink.    I would start with 1/16 oz belly weight.   You only need enough weight to get the bait sitting right in the water.    

You should seal the bait with paint or a clear sealer and let dry for 24 hours. Drill the hole for the ballast weight and place the amount of weight you see fit, like BIG M said, 1/16th to start. Cover the hole with tape and then place the bait in a sink of water to check and see how it sits. If it lists to one side another words, leans to one side you must make an adjustment. This is really trial and error. The bait builders like BIG M have it down to a science.