Best wood to make top waters

[David P]

I'm looking to make a "chug bug" and other top waters.. What type of wood is good to use this for? Can I go grab a branch out of my backyard?

I'm looking for some very accessible wood for free or cheap.

[harshman]

If you are wanting cheap but don't care about looks get a dowel rod from your local hardware store. You can get them in many different sizes and they are already round which is half the battle of carving. If you want to spend a little more and get a better quality look for some balsa or bass wood. These finish much better than any hardwood ever could.

Harshman

[javasource]

Bass wood is my personal choice - although it is a hardwood - it works and finishes pretty easy. The dowel thing is handy if you don't have the tools or patience. I simply went to a local saanother sitell and picked up a rough-cut 2X8 (with very few or NO knots). I think it was like 5 bucks. Can't tell you how many lures I've made with that bad boy... I simply cut it into 2" x 8" strips and then stick those on my lathe.

I've also seen some people use a combination of balsa and bass wood. There are a ton of model plane websites in which you can order balsa - if it's too difficult to find locally. What they'll do is take a relatively thin piece of basswood and sandwich it between to pieces of balsa. This allows you a really good anchoring wood for your hook eyes and a really simple wood to shape on the outside (the balsa). My only tip on this method is to make sure you drill the hook eyes holes first and then glue them in with an epoxy (devcon works good). If you use balsa, it's a good idea to seal that wood prior to painting - and then seal it again when you're finished.

Considering that you're making chug bug's - I'd go with basswood or balsa option. Chug's have a relatively flat top and bottom profile - and if you use the sandwich method - you'll only have to focus the majority of your efforts on shaping the balsa sides. Good luck othe the lure mouth - I've use my Dremel and a rotary rasp for chug bug mouths - spend the time needed to make the lip of the mouth as even and as sharp as possible. I've gone so far as to shape a small diameter piece of copper (into the shape of a chug's mouth) so that I can trace the inside of the copper with my Dremel. SOunds kind of ghetto - but it works for me...

Last note - take an existing chug bug and trace it onto a see-through blank stencil page (Wal-Mart craft section). Make side, top, and bottom cut-outs of these shapes and use them as a guide to shape your lure evenly. A chug who's shape is off a little really doesn't run that true. Also, chug's come with rattles - so you may want to work on hook placement so that you get the lure to sit properly in the water. Put a chug bug in a bowl of water. Watch how it floats - and try and get your lure to float the same. some people use suspend strips on the rear trebles or even add a little weight to the *** end.

Speaking of trebles - I really like the Gamakatsu EWG's with the appropriate sized split rings. Light wire - great hooking percentage.

Fish On!

Mike

[David P]

Thanks guys, big help! I'll post my first top water once it's done. Probably won't be for a few weeks as I'm busy with work and such.

Thanks again guys!

[NEBassMan]

What do you guys think about Cedar?  Yay?  Nay?

I only ask because i have an unlimited supply for free at work.

Jason

[harshman]

cedar works fine to, You can get 2x2 spindles for a deck from any lumber  and they are easy to carve and finish. either way whatever you use make sure it is good and cured before you paint or seal it. You can microwave your carvings for a small amount of time to ensure they are dry.  

Harshman

[javasource]

Yeah, cedar is a good wood to use.  It's actually "harder" than some hardwoods.  It resists rot exceptionally well - but take some time to make sure you're using stock that has no knots.  Also, as mentioned previously, make sure that the cedar is aged some - or kiln dried.  If it's green (as with any wood) you might see some nasty effects down the road.  One great feature of Cedar is that it doesn't crack easily - but the downside is that it tends to make you re-sharpen your tools quite often.  If it's free, use it.  I like that microwave idea...

[BIG M]

Cedar is the best choice out of the woods mentioned here for a topwater bait.  Yellow pine would also be a good choice.  the higher density of those woods will make weight the bait easier.

to make a pattern put the bait on a copy machine, shoot one on it's side and one on it's back.  that way you get the exact deminsions.

I don't make poppers so can't help with the mouth, but I do make a sammy copy and I use either of the two woods listed above.

[Nick]

Marty,

Yep, the pine is the way to go, and I expect so see some dandies made by you with some fine wood that I hope you found in your mailbox! The cranks are being oput through some preliminary testing.