alsworms

Without a doubt......EBAY!!! It might take a while to build up stock, but if you start searching for hooks you'd be surprised how many different kinds are listed on the site. I have used Ebay for hooks for the past 5 years. You can usually get 'em for a third the price of what you'd pay in the stores. Chris

Great shot of the little happy camper!! That's what I've always said about kids and fishin'. We fisherman might spit, cuss, and moan at times, but in the end we are all basically a bunch of good guys who happen to love this great outdoor sport. Why not pass that on to the younger generation?? Thanks for sharing the cool picture. Chris

Just a quick not on my site...... For anyone who wants to access it, Mercury is right on the button. Thanks Merc for passing that on. For now, the URL is www.alsworms.netherweb.com. We had server problems and will be stuck with this site until alsworms.com becomes available again. Not sure yet when that will be, but if you bookmark both sites, you'll find us one way or another. Chris

Hey Scott, Good to hear from you. I have you to thank for turning me on to Calhoun. So far, so good One other thing to mention to Mark........ make sure you get the softest formulas, regardless of brand. Working with medium (or harder) formulas can be a major pain! Once you get used to the feel of pouring, then you can move to stronger grades if you need a tougher bait. Chris

Hi Mark, In my opinion, MF is by far the best plastic out there, although it is the most expensive of the bunch. You can go to their website at www.fishingworld.com/M-F-Manufacturing or call them at (817) 281-9488. Recently I have messed around with Calhoun plastic and it's pretty good stuff at an unbeatable price. Their number is (706) 629-9077. As for colors, I use both MF and Lure Craft. Both companies vary in their concentration. If you know what colors you're looking for, post a reply and I'd be happy to tell you which company is best. Good Luck Chris

Hey Merc...... I had been out for awhile and just noticed this fish........ WOW!!! Now I KNOW I'm movin' in

Hey Chrimy, Happy to hear the baits worked out for you. I was a little worried when you said they were not as clear as yours, but hey.....a Win's a Win You don't have to worry about a lizard mold. Just keep catchin' those fish Chris

Hey Fellas, I'm still alive and kickin'. Been working through computer problems, as well as building a new one. You know that old saying....."you don't know what you've got until it's gone"???. Well that sure is true when it comes to the internet As for the scents, like Mercury said.....I'm flat sold on Pro Cure. Kick N Bass is a dynamite brand, but once you've tried Pro Cure you'll never go back. They feature the best darn shad, garlic, craw, and anise scents around. And no.....I'm not a distributor for them.......YET...... Speaking of salt, Mercury hit the nail on the head again. I'm sold on popcorn salt now too. Used to add Leslie table salt to my baits, but popcorn salt does not need to be grinded and it stays suspended in the mix much better. Add your salt at the beginning and your scent at the end and you'll be in great shape. Good Luck Chris

Happy Belated Birthday Red. Thanks for all that you do Chris

I recycle plastic, but just for tails and veins. I'm not sure if I would trust it for more than that. Chris

A note on MF's pumpkin color.......throw it out and get Lure Craft's pumpkin It doesn't matter how much color you add, MF's will look like a light cinnamon at best. I don't know what it is, but I have this problem with a few of their colors. With Lure Craft's pumpkin, about 1 drop per ounce should do the trick. You'll learn these fun little costly lessons as you go Chris

Hello, You shouldn't have a problem with MF plastic scorching, especially on a burner. Plastic will actually scorch easier in a microwave or pro pot. My first guess would be maybe you are using something other than the super soft formula? If you are pouring their regular or salt water formulas, they will never heat to a nice pourable state. Sometimes you can overheat that stuff in an effort to make it thinner. If you are using super soft, then my guess would be you haven't mixed the container well enough, and some hardener has settled to the bottom. Although MF stays mixed better than all other plastics, it can still be an issue if the container has set for awhile. I don't know what kind of container you're using (1 gallon, 5 gal. etc.), but take your jug and shake the heck out of it for about a minute, then try it again with just a couple ounces. I have never had a scorching problem with MF, and I run mine on high heat when I use a burner. Heat stabilizer is only needed for very low grade plastics, or if you're pouring tails or something that will require constant re-heating. I would stay away from it if possible because the stuff is super stinky, and just a bit will make your baits smell bad. Lure Craft's burner isn't any different than one you can buy at Walmart for a third the price. Some vary in heat, but I'm sure that isn't the problem here. Give my idea a try first. If that doesn't work, post the results and we'll move on to "Plan B"..... Good Luck Chris

Hi John, I've never heard of the salt idea with plaster molds, but I can tell you what I've learned about stopping bubbles. If you haven't already tried this, add your water into the plaster instead of vice-versa. I read this once somewhere and I'll be darned if it doesn't work!! I think it just mixes better and keeps those tiny holes to a minimum. Hope that helps Chris

Hel Del, Looks great! Is there any way of making the body smaller with a longer skirt? I know you guys are busy and the last thing you need is another opinion, but I think it might work better??..............

Thanks Merc.... I appreciate that I am so sold on their product that I asked them about selling the stuff on my website; just some basic scents like the garlic, craw, and threadfin. Not many people have heard of Pro Cure, and they're unbeatable in my book. I'm trying to work out a bulk deal with them now. Hopefully, we can get it cheaper in the future. Chris

Another thing you can do is email them at sales@pro-cure.com and ask them if they have a dealer in your area. I found a dealer close to home and I actually pay about 50 cents less per ounce with them. If buying off the website, try to purchase in larger quantities. You can really get hosed on a 4 ounce bottle. I found out today why the threadfin shad scent bubbles. A buddy of mine told me that it's listed as a bait "butter", as opposed to the other popular scents listed as "liquids". Now I can't really tell the difference. They're both liquids to me ......He said the butters have an oil base which will bubble with extreme heat, and they are actually made to add to your baits after the pour. It all depends on your preference, but I don't mind a couple seconds of bubbling if I get those kind of results. I can tell you this......if you add the stuff in your mixture, that scent will last a heck of a long time. I fished yesterday with worms that were scented 5 months ago, and they were just as nasty as ever.

Hey Mercury, The shad scent reminds me somewhat of Berkely's power scent; nasty stuff, but it sure does work! I get a little popping in mine, but it usually dissolves in a few seconds. For some reason, the threadfin is the only one that bubbles. All others work great. I LOVE the garlic scent. It's unlike any others. I used to be a huge fan of Kick N Bass until I tried Pro Cure. Their anise, bottom fish, and minnow scents are all good too. Give 'em a try.....

HOLY COW - I'll take an "oops" like that anyday VERY NICE

Thanks for the info Chirmy. I went to our Michael's over the weekend and bought a bunch of dyes. Now I need to find the time to mess with 'em. Chris

Both are awesome colors. Maybe it's just the picture, but it looks like Del's is more red than pink? I'll bet that sucker catches fish though According to Dave at Lure Craft, if we mix the flo. colors after or during heating, you will end up with chunks of color in the mix. Now I have this problem with Lure Craft coloring.....before or during heating.....doesn't matter which. Chris

I used the pre-made bubble gum the other day with the same results, but I think I just didn't mix it well enough. I'm getting closer and closer with each try

Chirmy, Does it work as good as salt? Chris

Hey Del, I have heard about guys using the candle dyes. Will definitely have to check it out. We have a craft store just a few blocks away. Thanks for the info

Made this one today; just fartin' around. Sure is an awful picture Just can't get pink to work with my camera..... Anywhooo.......I added a little red flake, and threw in a purple vein. Still not quite the pink I'm lookin' for, but Oh Well..........

Fireball....... you can't get much brighter than that That's exactly what I'm looking for. I made some close to that, but I used WAY too much color. Just wasn't worth it to me. Now if I could use Lure Craft's I think I'd be okay. Their color is so much more concentrated. Chris