Jake,

I made one like yours a while back although I did not paint it. The tail I choose to use is that I poured from a 10" optimum the way you can make it work is to point the lip stright down or (if that does not work)....make the lip wider than the lure. If you want to save yourself effort just take some old plano divders cut the slot in the lure and keep testing it (by cutting the dividers to different widths) in your bath tub till you can get it to run right...I have been doing this by varing the weight I am adding, are you adding weight? Since I dont have space to paint mine my friends is doing some for me know..I am basicly getting a slammer that I can get to run 10 feet if I want.