danthefisherman Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 Two days ago my brother and I were finally able to fish the river again for the first time since lockdown. The bass were feeding heavily on newly hatched bluegills near weed beds, and we caught quite a few decent ones on crankbaits including the fattest bass that I've ever landed in my life. All the while as I was catching bass on the crankbait I wished I had a small bluegill imitator like a baby bullshooter or baby hardgill...something I could fish parallel to the weed edge and target the bigger fish with. Well, what's there to stop a bait maker? Just add it to the list of never-ending projects! Here's the new design I plan to make: it's going to measure a wee 5in and I expect it to weigh about 1.5oz. A multijoint swimmer and billed crankdown would be perfect to fish those weed edges. Of course I also want to make it into a glide, but I expect it to be more of a twitch bait due to ballast constraints which is fine for fishing in and around cover. I really would love to put soft fins on this baby, but I think it would take too much resin away from the body and add unnecessary weight so I'm opting for hard fins. I probably won't have it complete this season, but seeing how it's such a small bait I'm hoping to have fishable prototypes by next gill season. Nothing gets me excited like a new bait project! Now I have three baits I'm actively working on and need to finish haha. Happy building and thanks for following along! Dan swimbaitingthe229, brushhawg1, largemouth and 19 others 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke h Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 That is one fat bass! danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominioncaster Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 Sounds like a great bait. danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainhookset Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 1. that is a slob, congrats 2. Small gill baits are the bomb. can't wait to see it. danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noreaster603 Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 stoked to see this bait in action once you bring it to life! That bass is fat as hell haha what did that thing weigh? danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted June 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 1 hour ago, Luke h said: That is one fat bass! For sure! I was in shock when I pulled her up haha 39 minutes ago, dominioncaster said: Sounds like a great bait. Something that's been missing in my lineup for too long...there are so many small gills around that's it's no wonder I didn't make it sooner! A small gill glide/twitch bait would wreck those bass! 27 minutes ago, captainhookset said: 1. that is a slob, congrats 2. Small gill baits are the bomb. can't wait to see it. Thanks! I can't wait to throw it! 7 minutes ago, Noreaster603 said: stoked to see this bait in action once you bring it to life! That bass is fat as hell haha what did that thing weigh? Me too! Not sure what she weighed because I didn't want to bother digging up the batteries for my scale. Too bad I wish I got a belly shot she was bulging! Noreaster603 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogervang Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 Look at that belly! Every bait makers dream is to have all their baits finish hahaha that's going to be a killer bite size bait man. I would go with a solid resin bait also. I think with smaller baits the soft material starts to affect the swim of the lure a little. But nothing is impossible, right? Good luck with the build mam, it's going to be killer. danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El_Weruso Posted June 19, 2020 Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 That's a fish that'll become a biggin! Digging the baits profile, can't wait to see the outcome! danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted June 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Rogervang said: Look at that belly! Every bait makers dream is to have all their baits finish hahaha that's going to be a killer bite size bait man. I would go with a solid resin bait also. I think with smaller baits the soft material starts to affect the swim of the lure a little. But nothing is impossible, right? Good luck with the build mam, it's going to be killer. Yessir! You're probably right about the soft fins affecting the swim on smaller baits...I haven't made a hard bait this small in a good while, so it will be a fun change of pace! 21 minutes ago, El_Weruso said: That's a fish that'll become a biggin! Digging the baits profile, can't wait to see the outcome! Without a doubt...hoping we'll meet again when she reaches double diget status! Edited June 19, 2020 by danthefisherman El_Weruso 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted June 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2020 Made some pretty good progress for only one day of shaping! TootsMalone, Rogervang, azsouth and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthefisherman Posted June 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2020 (edited) Smoothed out with a quick set of mock up fins...chose to leave this bait pretty chunky to give it a bigger presence in the water. Liking what I see so far! Edit: also made a mistake with the measurements...the bait will actually measure 5.5" long with the tail Edited June 24, 2020 by danthefisherman SLargie, bigfish85, buzzed bait and 16 others 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iFishLA Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 Dan!! That is phenomenal!! Put me down for one when you get them in production! That thing looks so good bro... Good Job! danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse74 Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 Beautiful work man, you nailed it. danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzn n bassin Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 awesome , looks great, cant wait to see the finished product ! danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayRe Posted June 25, 2020 Report Share Posted June 25, 2020 Even I want to take a bite out of that thing. Great work danthefisherman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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