Turning Swimbait Into Dead-Sticking Lure?

[BooyahMan]

I recently came across the Matt Lures Dead Twitch Trout (http://www.***.com/Mattlures_Dead_Twitch_Trout/descpage-MLDTT.html) and liked the idea, but I can't afford to spend $60 on a lure. Our lakes are stocked annually with rainbow trout and I was thinking that dead-sticking a rainbow trout swimbait might work wonders for a lunker. I had an idea for an 8" rainbow trout swimbait that we sell at my work. It's this one:

 

It's originally supposed to be for trolling or jigging for rock cod (don't know why a rainbow trout would be in the realm of rock cod...), but I wanted to turn it into something similar to the Matt Lures Dead Twitch Trout; a swimbait that floats upside down. As it is, the swimbait is almost 3.5 ounces and I doubt it floats. How would I go about making this float upside down? In addition, how would I rig this up? It comes unrigged. 

 

For those that TL;DR:

 

I have a an 8" swimbait that weighs about 3.5 ounces. How would you make it float upside down and how would you rig it for dead sticking?

 

 

Thanks for any advice!

[WRB]

Dead sticking a floating swimbait rarely works better than slow swimming a ROF5.

21 Century Triple Trout makes a good floater for dead sticking or waking.

Matt's upside down dead stick trout is a specialty lure, rig your floater with a mid body size 1/0 Owner treble.

When you see bass chasing trout, cast it out and let drift while you have a snack.

Tom

[gobig]

You will have to open that bad boy up and shave lead off the harness. Maybe add some foam or flotation balls. I think you would Do better knocking off a ms slammer or similar bait. All you need is a little enginuity wood dowl, table leg or something along those lines. Some hardware a rattle can and your in business.

[gulfcaptain]

Savage Gears 8" Line Thru Floater will work as well with no extra work.  Have had fish nose up it and follow it as it drifted around but not eat it.

[Dogmatic]

BooyahMan, can I ask who makes that trout swimbait(Almost Alive Lures)? Like Go Big says you'll have to open it up remove any lead, and add buoyancy, then create a rig for it. There are other cheaper options out there. One thing when fishing deadstick, you can't cast out and forget, you'll miss the strike every time.

[Master Bait'r]

Why not both?  Bettencourt makes a cool dying trout and bluegill that looks really cool.  Check them out, they aren't even that expensive.  

[BooyahMan]

Thanks guys for all the information. I tested it in the sink and I can get it to float with a thin piece of styrofoam (originally meant to be a float for trout fishing) attached to its belly so it would be upside down. I think I am going to try cutting it open and inserting the foam inside. My main issue is that I don't have a bass rod that will handle a lure this heavy. I can either buy a rod specifically for swimbaits or I might try hollowing out the body to make it lighter. It might end up being both options as I recently picked up a Savage Gear swimbait that is very similar to this one, but comes already rigged.

 

BooyahMan, can I ask who makes that trout swimbait(Almost Alive Lures)?

 

It's a small brand (I believe local) called Lethal Weapon. They are meant for ocean trolling or jigging.

[Bluebasser86]

I second the Savage Gear line throughs, either the 8" or the 6". They are very realistic and have a great swimming action when you do retrieve them.