I'm trying to design this bait around fishing heavy cover, but in a very small-bodied (2") "finesse" sized crank. The body is around the same size as a Wiggle Wart.

Initial test vid: Action is pretty wide and snappy.

Hey Jon, maybe it's "bathtub effect" but does it seem to turn on its side when swimming?.  If so, the lip may be too large.  Hard to tell how it will react in the "real world".

About lip angles:  the working angle of the lip in the water as the bait swims is important.  A bait that swims head-down (relative to the horizontal surface of the water) has more working lip angle than the same bait swimming horizontally.  You can adjust ballast amount and position to get any swim orientation you like.  Many cover cranks swim head-down so the body of the bait protects the trebles from snagging cover.  I know I'm preaching to the choir commenting on this to you, Jon, but it's something worth reiterating for newbie builders or guys who just want to modify commercial crankbaits. 

Hey Jon, maybe it's "bathtub effect" but does it seem to turn on its side when swimming?. If so, the lip may be too large. Hard to tell how it will react in the "real world".

About lip angles: the working angle of the lip in the water as the bait swims is important. A bait that swims head-down (relative to the horizontal surface of the water) has more working lip angle than the same bait swimming horizontally. You can adjust ballast amount and position to get any swim orientation you like. Many cover cranks swim head-down so the body of the bait protects the trebles from snagging cover. I know I'm preaching to the choir commenting on this to you, Jon, but it's something worth reiterating for newbie builders or guys who just want to modify commercial crankbaits.

Hey Bob! Actually, that was being caused by my haste to get it into the tub..  ;D ..I installed the line-tie without super-gluing the shaft and it was rocking in the hole.

Here's the corrected video....I also raised the tie just a little to tighten it up a bit:

Thanks for the thoughts, too.....I still definitely consider myself a "newbie" so my ears and mind are always open to design principles.

I can definitely see what you're saying about the "working" angle, and how the attitude of the body relates to protecting the hooks.

I'm also using the minimum amount of ballast I can get away with, any lighter and the bait is kicking out on the side now and then.......I want maximum buoyancy so I'm trying to push that line of stability.

String that bait right there is nice! I like that action and I like that body style the best out of all the ones you've done so far. I just love small, tight swimming baits!   8-)

String that bait right there is nice! I like that action and I like that body style the best out of all the ones you've done so far. I just love small, tight swimming baits! 8-)

X2 Good job Jon. I really like that action.

Im not sure what your trying to acheev. I thought it had a rather wide wobble and like the first comment I think the lip angle may give you some trouble for a brush bait.......

Looks great! You have the "carving" fever now!

What size crank will it be?

One-inch mini? 

Im not sure what your trying to acheev. I thought it had a rather wide wobble and like the first comment I think the lip angle may give you some trouble for a brush bait.......

I think the picture may make it look like it's more extreme than it is.

The angle is the same as a Lucky Craft RC 1.5 (around 40 degrees) - one of my best cranks for cover crawling, so I thought I'd start there.

I raised the line-tie so that the action would be tighter than the LC (it is).

Based on my comparisons - the action is tighter than both the Lucky Craft and Zoom WEC Sand Flea. Very similar to an 80's model Bagley KB1 round lip - - which is kind of a standard I keep in the back of my mind for certain cranks.

The buoyancy is pretty high as well. In my tests, it had the exact same rise rate as the Zoom Sand Flea, which is a balsa crank. This really surprised me, considering my material is twice the specific gravity of hard balsa. I can only guess that the material also requires a lot less ballasting and that's what is evening out the weight.

There's only so much I can figure out in a tub, though......I need to get these things in some real lake water!

What size crank will it be?

One-inch mini?

Sorry....looks like the pics disappeared for awhile.....it's almost 2". 

Thought I would experiment with some eye socket cutting for 3D eyes.

I think this would be a heck of a lot easier with maybe a grinding cylinder or Forstner bit, and a drill press......I have none of the above... ;D

Just had to make due with a plain old drill bit and a cordless drill.  I think it turned out "ok."   

That doesn't look bad. One bit of constructive criticism I'll give is that with a bait with such sharp and aggressive lines it needs some mean looking eyes as well! 

Thought I would experiment with some eye socket cutting for 3D eyes.

I think this would be a heck of a lot easier with maybe a grinding cylinder or Forstner bit, and a drill press......I have none of the above... ;D

Just had to make due with a plain old drill bit and a cordless drill. I think it turned out "ok."

Try using a "uni bit" aka step drill bit and or a bore bit, it may make it easier!

Great looking bait so far