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  1. #91
    Yellowfin Tuna
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    P1060011.jpg

    Time for some pix. (Comics are always more interesting than novels).

    The one thing that stands out like the proverbials on soft plastics is the size of the vibration generator (the tail flapper) when its pulled through the water.

    Its positioned at right angles to the intended direction of travel (back towards the rod). The tail is thin and soft/pliable so that when moved, the surface of tail bends slightly allowing water to spill around the side and commence the vibration.

    Because the tail flapper is thinner at the edges, it will bend at the edges first. One edge bends (could be either but one will go first) which creates a lower pressure on that side and drags the flapper in that direction. Lets say it goes right.

    The shaft of the tail then counteracts that to pull the flapper back towards the centre where the other edge then starts to bend pulling the flapper to the left.

    Then away the lure goes with the flapper tail swinging right then left. Like a soldier marching.

    The magnitude and frequency of the vibration created will depend on the surface area of the flapper.

    No matter what tricky remedies the manufacturer sets up to make up for the lack of surface area, unless he's got a decent flapper surface area to start with he is operating from a handicap right from the start.

    Have a look at the lures shown in the pix.

    From left to right we have increasing sizes of tail flappers (vibration generators). That means increasing surface areas available to flap.

    These are all roughly the same shape so it should be easy to come up with some sort of "figure of merit" as vibration generators when compared with each other. Not absolute figures but relative figures (to each other).

    I've compared them all with the little pink one on the left so I called it a Figure of Merit (FOM) of 1.

    Then the others fell into place easily:

    . pink one........ 1

    .grey.............. 1.7

    .white squidgy....3.3

    .thumper......... 1.5

    . spinner blade....3.5.

    To add to the list yourselves just measure the dimensions of the flapper in mm and divide the result by 154. That'll give you a FOM which is the basic starting point for all of these devices.

    Naturally, the bigger the flapper, the bigger the potential figure of merit.

    This is a very simple starting point for soft plastics with a flapper tail. Things can change a bit when enhancements are introduced like positioning of the jig head to produce body roll (like a slick rig squidgy) or a bulbous tail like a thumper. But the basic principle of how much the potential that tail flapper has, wont change.

    Pretty simple stuff here and I guess you could say that you see that just looking at the tail flapper and you'd probably be close to right. This simply gives a starting point referenced to something.

    However, the ball game really changes when you get into hard body lures.
    Last edited by Douglas; 06-01-2018 at 08:34 AM.

  2. #92
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    What’s your thoughts on curl tails?

  3. #93
    Yellowfin Tuna
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    Hello Peter

    Mate, I'd class them pretty much the same as the pink and grey photos. Those 2 I'd class more as based on vision rather than pressure/vibration based.

    If you look at the cross-sectional thickness of the tails on them as well as the curly tail, they don't have much firepower available to push a pressure wave at right angles to the direction of travel ( in the direction of flap). There's some but not a lot.

    Curly tails are designed as lift and drop type lures. The tail flaps as its lifted and flaps as it drops. These are only short-term pressure wave generators (on the lift and drop). They also are comparatively thin in cross-sectional area and therefore don't have the necessary bulk to generate much. They also don't have a bulkier "knob or tail" on the end to generate something.

    If you look at the bulk of the tail (not much) compared to the bulk of the body (a lot more), its obvious that the tail is more of a "rippler" than a pressure wave generator. Like a streamer off a fan.

    If they're fished horizontally you can easily see the "ripple" effect on the tail. Not a very good pressure wave generator. But I've found them successful in dirtier water (particularly on king, grunter and fingermark) if jigged up and down with a bit of force where the whole body AND tail produces little rapid shock waves. But that's not what how they're designed to be fished.

  4. #94
    Yellowfin Tuna
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    Default Curly tails

    Photo of a curly tail.


    As you can see the thickness of the "flapper" (the curl tail) is very very thin. So thin that you can see through this particular one.

    So it has no bulk to swing any substantial flapper from side to side to produce any pressure waves at all.

    It simply ripples behind the body and produces very little in the way of pressure wave/vibrations.

    So its basically a sight lure.

    Works particularly well in cleaner water is my view.

  5. #95
    Yellowfin Tuna
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    P1080012.jpg

    Here Gunna

    One just for you.

    A 400mm monster caught and tagged ready for release this morning in clear water that you could see about 1 metre into. On the same curly tail in the photo on yesterday's post (post 94).

  6. #96
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    Excellent Douglas. Is that as clear as it gets - 1M visibility?

  7. #97
    Yellowfin Tuna
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    Yep

    Its 12 Mile Creek which flows onto the saltpans and then into Inkerman Ck near Port Alma.

    Have never seen 12 Mile that clear before.

    Have never ever seen the river itself at 1 m.

    Best I've ever seen at Port Alma boat ramp was when I could just make out the outboard prop. What would that be? 12 inches at most and that was a few years ago in drought (no dirty river flow).

    Interesting though. I've tagged about 65 little barra 300 - 400mm in 12 Mile.

    Friend of mine has tagged 55 in the same little creek at same place.

    Yet neither of us has caught a fish with a tag in it.

    Heard this little fella "boof" on the other side of creek. About 20 metres. Tossed the curly tail over there to within 1 metre. He grabbed it as it sank attracted by the rippling tail as it sank.

  8. #98
    Yellowfin Tuna
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    Back to the topic of how effective paddle tails are as vibration generators.

    P1070012.jpg

    I've set these up over an edge and at an angle for better viewing of the thickness of the tails.

    As these paddle tails swing left and right to the direction of travel, then the thinner the tail the less efficient as a generator with simply not enough thickness/surface area to generate much AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL and no mass/bulk to really push vibrations out there.

    The 2 on the left are thin (especially the pink one. Look how wafer thin it is. Not much bulk/mass to generate anything substantial). The one on the far left is a "squidgy fish" tail and not a slick rig with the weight inside the body hence no body roll.

    But look at the 2 on the right especially the wedgetail/thumper. Quite thick and the tail has bulk/mass to push vibrations out at right angles. A real vibration generator with no body roll. It looks quite docile on the retrieve. Not much apparent "action" (no body roll). But wedgetail/thumpers sure work.

    The wedgetail/thumper principle has been incorporated in soft plastic vibes to give extra vibration on the lift and a bit more on the drop.
    Last edited by Douglas; 09-01-2018 at 06:45 AM.

  9. #99
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    It certainly seems to back up why the slick rigs are so popular in the Barra dams.

  10. #100
    Yellowfin Tuna
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    Slick rigs have body roll and good vibration generators with the thicker tail. The little "vanes" at angles on the side of the body also add some turbulence vibration.

    On first look, hollow-bellies look the goods as well. They work but have smooth bodies (no "vanes" to create turbulence vibration).

    Haven't done much dam fishing but have spent time on floodplain lagoons here.

 

 
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