Joe, what kind of wood are you using? If you're using something like cedar, pine, or basswood, your plug will be much higher in the water column. Trying finding something that is harder and denser, like a maple or walnut. They might be a bit harder to carve, but they should give you the extra weight that you need to get the plug down. You could also drill some holes and add some weight, but that might kill some of the action.