I've spent quite a bit of time today experimenting with weight, weight placement, and even front hook hanger placement. Every movement seems to make a difference (the hook hanger has more influence than I thought as well).

I settled on a ballast placement that is definitely not where I expected, but this is all preliminary to real lake testing, so that may change.

I took a video of my tub test. ;D

This is definitely the kind of action I'm looking for.....towards the end of the video, I start ripping it. One of the things this bait definitely had to be able to do is be burned.

You can tell the bait is also still pretty buoyant.

Looks killer in that tub! What color do you call that? lol

Nice Job!

Looks great, like it WANTS to swim!  I'll be interested when you get it out on the lake and give the bass a chance to voice their opinion.  Nice work Jon.

I'm impressed, nice job!

Jon, like the action on that bait looks like a winner.

One question, does your future wife know you  fish in the bathtub?

Jon, like the action on that bait looks like a winner.

One question, does your future wife know you fish in the bathtub?

She just found out today....that I fish in her bathtub.    I think she understands......I think.... 

that looks great man!!

Jon, nice job. It looked to have good action.

Just don't try that while your in the tub 

Looks killer in that tub! What color do you call that? lol

Nice Job!

Sharpie 

Jon, very sharp, tight action on that bait.    That thing wiggles like my Tapp bait, I'm surprised with that wide lip.   Do you have a pic of the bait to show the ballast weight position.

Jon, very sharp, tight action on that bait. That thing wiggles like my Tapp bait, I'm surprised with that wide lip. Do you have a pic of the bait to show the ballast weight position.

Not anymore...I was gluing the weights on so that I could move them around, and I've taken them off now to drill out the cavity and mount them inside of the bait.

After adding the hook hanger, the 1/4 oz. weight was just a bit too heavy, rose a bit too slow. I cut it up until it was just right.

I'll post a pic when I get it mounted again - - but basically, ALL of the ballast weight is up towards the nose (about where your secondary ballast marking was on the diagram), and none is around the hook hanger.

This also gave the bait the best nose attitude so far.

I think one reason the action is so tight is because there is almost no lip angle.   

impressive. Great swimmin action

The 0 degree lip angle to keep the bait running tight.   I sent you a sub that was chest weighted only, just can't remember which bait.   I'm looking forward to the results of your open water tests.