danthefisherman Posted October 27, 2022 Report Share Posted October 27, 2022 (edited) Haven’t posted build updates in awhile, but why not change that since I’m adding yet another project to the to-do list Something that I’m sorely missing in my lineup is a reliable topwater bait. My brother has been kicking my butt on a new-ish topwater that he made. Furthermore, he keeps taking back the prototypes that I try to steal from his box so I can only watch as he comes behind me and sticks big bass that had refused my subsurface offerings… it’s a bit maddening. I intend for this bait to primarily be a 6-7” wake to fish under overhangs, over laydowns, and along weed edges. There is a certain mod that I have been testing which will be one unique feature for this project, but I’ll wait on the reveal for that one. Hopefully it won’t take me two years to complete though, otherwise @porkmeatballs is going to have all these topwater bites to himself. Edited October 27, 2022 by danthefisherman FishinGang916, Jim137a and GreenPig 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azsouth Posted October 27, 2022 Report Share Posted October 27, 2022 Don't let @porkmeatballs have all the fun! Make a better bait then he will be borrowing yours. FishinGang916, danthefisherman and porkmeatballs 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted October 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2022 (edited) Lunch break update #2: started rough cutting the lateral profile…still a long way to go with the blade Edited October 28, 2022 by danthefisherman FishinGang916 and GreenPig 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogervang Posted October 29, 2022 Report Share Posted October 29, 2022 (edited) Dan, your nuts to be carving your bait from a block like that ^^^^. But what do I know, I just comment on posts hahaha can't wait to see this one! Edited October 29, 2022 by Rogervang danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted October 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2022 On 10/28/2022 at 5:47 PM, Rogervang said: Dan, your nuts to be carving your bait from a block like that ^^^^. But what do I know, I just comment on posts hahaha can't wait to see this one! You know it! This is a relatively small block of wood too…the bigger chunks are a real forearm workout Rogervang 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted October 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2022 Rough cut is coming along! Toro blanco and Ian oconnell 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted November 8, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2022 Rough cut outline is mostly complete. That means it’s time to mark the centerline and transfer the head details (I like to apply the pattern before I shape the head…probably not the easiest method, but it’s how I’ve always done it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogervang Posted November 10, 2022 Report Share Posted November 10, 2022 I was wondering what that was. I thought it was the magic touch. Haha not a bad method to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted November 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2022 4 hours ago, Rogervang said: I was wondering what that was. I thought it was the magic touch. Haha not a bad method to use. Haha yeah I mark a reference triangle on both sides of the material to help align the patterns to each other. I’ve found that it helps me to maintain symmetry of the rough profile and facial details. Big Epp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPCredeur Posted November 10, 2022 Report Share Posted November 10, 2022 On 10/30/2022 at 11:04 AM, danthefisherman said: You know it! This is a relatively small block of wood too…the bigger chunks are a real forearm workout Your baits are truly hand carved! Although a coping saw could definetly speed up that part of the process... I like the triangle reference, I transfer stencils for head detail and sometimes have trouble aligning thinks up, I may give this a try myself, thanks for sharing that! danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted November 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2022 2 hours ago, DPCredeur said: Your baits are truly hand carved! Although a coping saw could definetly speed up that part of the process... I like the triangle reference, I transfer stencils for head detail and sometimes have trouble aligning thinks up, I may give this a try myself, thanks for sharing that! Of course! I did it the same as you and struggled with stencil symmetry for years until one day the light bulb went off in my head to create one fixed point of reference during the pattern transfer process…simple yet effective. azsouth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted November 17, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2022 (edited) On to the head detailing! Notice that I leave part of the body flat during this stage. This helps me cut straight(ish) down into the wood and maintain better facial symmetry…otherwise there is a lot of room for the detailing to “wander” within the material as I thin the head section. Edited November 17, 2022 by danthefisherman azfisher, Secondshiftlures and FishinGang916 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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