I need to test a new lure design, can you HELP?

[Mr.J.]

I need help with new lure design

As some of you may already know I have been making my own spinner baits for 3 years now. This year is my first attempt at crank baits. To be clear and not to fool anyone, when I say make my own crank baits I mean I get the bodies unpainted and no hooks or split rings attached. I paint them then add hooks etc, nothing too spectacular.

Now I am trying to combine them both, half spinner and half crank bait. Theoretically it sounds really exciting. Spinner baits are made based upon the weight of the head. This dictates wire diameters and blade sizes etc.

Crank baits however are quite different in both size and weight so what I am trying to accomplish has no basis for me to work from.

I need some help. I need to be able to water test these new lures. A large aquarium with flowing water would work very well. Probably a 20 gallon minimum would be big enough, not sure what to use for flowing water, a small pump maybe? There does need to be sufficient water flow, just think about cast and retrieve speed required for proper testing or even faster for trolling tests as well. A large tub or washbasin could work as well, it’s just the aquarium gives a clear side view.

An in-ground pool would also be ideal but I don’t think anyone really wants me casting lures with hooks into their pool.

Does anyone have something that can help me test out some new lures? If it works there will be a couple of them in it for you.

I would like to be able to fine-tune these for the Westmeath weekend as I think these will be pike killers if they do in fact work like I expect them to.

I have tried experimenting by making my own invention lures twice before and they were both flops, I just thought you might appreciate the honesty.

[Cancatchbass]

Mr. J:

You'd be welcome to use my pool. I use it for lure testing all the time.

I'll have the cover off by next week.

Might be a bit of a drve, though? I'm nmear Gananoque and although I'm not too sure where Barrhaven is, I do know it's not nearby.

CCB

[franklauzon]

Barhaven being right on the 416, I don't think more than 1.5 hrs...

[Markus]

MJ, check out the local hotels. I'm sure they may be a small fee to use their pool, but I'm sure there's one somewhat close to ya. Tune away.

[Mr.J.]

MJ, check out the local hotels. I'm sure they may be a small fee to use their pool, but I'm sure there's one somewhat close to ya. Tune away.

Your making fun of me aren't you?

I can just see it now, Mr.J. standing on the diving board and casting into the shallow end, wouldn't it just make you day if I caught a trophy fish in a hotel pool and not actualy get arrested instead.

Wait until Westmeath, even if I do not get to test and tune them before that weekend I will still be bring enough variations along to try and I'll show them to you and if I am lucky I'll get to actualy out horse shoe you

[Markus]

I'm not making fun of you at all.

I know a guy that fishes professionally and when he's on the road he only stays at hotels with pools. Like you, he designs and makes his on lures and he's constantly tunning them. And he does it in the pool.

Put pride aside for an hour and cast away!

[M.T. Livewell]

There's gotta be some open water somewhere nearby you can hit.

I know the ferry at Cumberland is clearing up nicely. I suspect the culverts down at Petrie have probably opened up as well.

I should think there would be a puddle or two in the west end you could get access to.

Good luck. Sounds like a real interesting project.

M.T. Livewell

(btw, I'd offer up my pool, but she's still under ice and snow)

[Markus]

Just be carefull were you select to tune....if pike, muski and bass season is closed, you may have some work explaining why you're tossing spinner baits.

[Mr.J.]

Yes I have thought of all of this, it would be silly no to.

With spinner baits the balance is important for it to run true. The colorado blades give lift allowing it to run a bit more shallow and the willowleaf will run a bit deeper depending on speed of retrieval.

Have you ever stopped and wondered why the bigger the head the bigger the blades? It's nothing more than balance. Will I need more blades or less blades to keep this lure from rolling. Yes unballanced spinners will roll on you.

Now I am thinking of exchanging the lead head and skirt with crank baits and to also make it interchangable to any crank bait or even a spoon you may want to use at any given time. So light spoons and heavy spoons should act differently? How about deep diving vs shallow diving crank baits?

I really don't think I 'll know for sure how these will act in the murky local waters. I have several differnet configurations to try like 2 blades, 3 blades or how about 4 blades? Big crank baits or small? It should take some effort to try them all and see what works and what doesn't. I wish it was as easy as going down to the local river and trying a few casts.

In a fish tank you can see very easily how the lure will react under different situations.

[joco]

HI Mr,j If you want some reality situation ,,,,,,,,,some raught water,,,,,

you go at the Wave pool in glausester or kanata,,,,,,,,,this could be good for some reel test,,,,,,,,,,

joco

[JP]

Snow on my pool will be gone in a week so you are welcome to try it out here in Aylmer. Make a day out of it.
Cheers
JP

[Mr.J.]

JP

I might just take you up on that offer.

What is important to know is, or let me ask this question. Have you ever seen something and just smile and say out loud "how come I didn't think of that?" Well everything I want to try is either a variation of one thing or a better way of something that already exists, this is not revolutionary.

The weather on Saturday isn't supposed to be the best so maybe I'll make up a few and post them here for feedback and comments. I usually do my posts thru myfishingpictures.com but don't want to post my lures on their site, so can someone give me another way to get the pics posted here? Thanks

Once I have the pics posted you'll hopefully get a better idea of why I need to do some testing first to see how they will run, or if they will in fact run at all.

And if all goes as well as I hope then the Westmeath weekend is the ultimate testing grounds because I really think pike and perhaps walleye will really like these.

[moondog]

I made a couple of these type things--got the idea at the fishing show.
Looks like they might have quite the action to them.
Hope the fish think so !!

[out2llunge]

Mr. J - I've been making my own cranks for years, if you have questions just ask.

BTW, take somebody up on the offer for a pool, that's how I do my testing and you can't beat it - heated pools are even better.

Try a local community pool during "off swim" hours. Buy the lifeguard some donuts and coffee and ask nicely...

[Mr.J.]

I went into LaBarons today and guess what I found?

Something that is incredibly close to what I am making and this is great

Now I know it will work....JP need your pool soon because I have many different configurations to try.

Ok so here it is. Storm lures is showing this as brand new for 2005. Mine is going to be better than theirs is but it is the exact same idea, I am so pleased to have found that they are selling this, it's going to work woo hoo.

http://www.stormlures.com/sitemap/index.html

6th lure down WildEye® Curl Tail Spin Shad

But mine will be able to use with (hoefully) all and any crank bait and multiple blades.