Triton Mike

If you are looking for the 1/16th thick lexan Home Depot does not carry it. They only carry the 1/8th .093 thickness. I ordered my Lexan through www.usplastics.com THey were very fast and priced reasonably. My experience from the Glass shops were you had to buy a full sheet and most places didn't carry lexan but could order it. Glass shops don't use the 1/16th inch lexan much or very rarely as I was told. T Mike

Go to my website www.geocities.com/spotcountry and click on articles then Making a Spinnerbait mold. Just substitute something the size that you need in place of the spinnerbait. T Mike

I make something very similiar to what you are describing. I use a spinnerbait swivel with large eye rings to attach my hook. Makes it swing freeer (is that a word?) LOL. and gives you more bit to your bait by having your hook extend back further. Just one opinion or idea T Mike

Trust me your PVC pipe trick ROCKS!!!!! Thanks for sharing I would have never thought of that. Been using it for several weeks now. T Mike

I would also suspect that inline blades would make a resurgence as well. Nobody really capitialized on that market even Hildebrandt with the snagless sally. There are alot of neat mods that I have done with a Inline that I haven't seen manufacturers capitalize on yet. Besides nobody fishes them anymore so that alone makes them great baits . Widowmaker for a pic of an hidden weight spinnerbait go to www.soblures.com and click on the mini me link on the front page. T Mike

I think the next biggest trend you will see from the Big Manufacturers will be Hidden Weight baits. Right now they are the hottest thing going for Spots and smallmouth here down south. Maybe Tungsten blades should be hitting sometime soon. I know of several companies coming out with their version of a hidden weight bait at the ICAST show in July. Just my .02 Triton Mike

I don't understand the two green lines going vertical and the drilling process while in the vise? Maybe I just a dummie. Can someone give me a visual . THanks Big Dummy T Mike

Markell, Tinkering and making your own baits is the best way I know of to get an edge on your fellow anglers. I have much more confidence in my stuff than I ever will on store bought stuff. Save money to boot . I've gotten into all kinds of stuff ranging from, Making my own molds (plastic and lead) making spinnerbaits, rods, jig heads and now I am getting into making my own balsa cranks thanks to Blackjack and Skeeter. Lots of fun and not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. The painting is what I need the most help on. Don't get too involved in the selling part like I did. It then becomes a JOB. I was constantly behind 500-1000 hooks at a time and I went from fishing 150+ days a year to 30 days. = no fun. Money is nice but not everything!! Gr8flyz, At the time I only knew of the Chinese necks and liked the color selection they had and they were readily available. I found the other types of necks were more expensive BUT I never did the cost analysis or had the time to try the necks you suggested. Ie it takes time to trim the feathers find one the right size etc. If the hackles you suggested didn't cost too much more than the chinese necks they probably would have been the better deal. The thing that kicked me on the chinese necks is some hackles were ALOT better than others. So consistancy was an issue there. As for bucktails. I have only made a few and the ones I did make were on hair jigs. I think the buck tails will last longer in my opinion. However they BOTH have a different profile. I had Highroller contact me about making bucktails but the price they wanted to pay wasn't even close to what I was selling them for. So I generously declined. Felt like there was no need killing myself anymore than I already was. I still tie from time to time. . T Mike

I like to make my tutorials fairly idiot proof . Takes one to know one LOL. Markell you are correct I did sell the business a few years back. The guy I sold it to took a while to get started actually he never got started. He was killed in a car crash shortly before he was to get off the ground. He had a few contracts with some big name companies to mass produce them hence you see several big name companies that came out with their own version of the feather treble. His wife gave me permission to crank back up if I choose to do so but I got my hands in so many fires right now it's not even funny. I guide, build rods and tinker with just about anything having to do with fishing in what little spare time I have. Thanks for the kind words! T Mike

Go to my website at http://www.geocities.com/spotcountry Then click on articles and click on "Making of the Doodad" and you'll find everything you need to know on making your own custom dressed trebles. If you have any questions let me know Triton Mike

I've never heard of Hatfields. Do they have a website? Do they have a catalog?? bucca1@aol.com T Mike

You may be doing this presently but this is an option. Cast the snootie jig with the collar on then take some lead cutters and cut the collor off and slide it down the hook and blow torch ie melt the cut collar off of the hook?? Just a thought.. You can do an assembly line thing one person cast and another cut and melt the collar off. T Mike

Here is a pic of one of my spinnerbaits that isn't all crashed up by Spotzilla. For about a year now I have been adding the Flashabou in the skirt and as a trailer and it is unreal the look it gives in the water. Definitely something different. I twisted my own .028 wire form and added a 5/0 Gamakatsu Hook along with the T Mike Signature trailer . A trailer hook is strongly reccomended when fishing the trailer as I have caught several fish up to 6lbs going for the trailer but getting the steel stinger hook . www.geocities.com/spotcountry/spotblade3.jpg Triton Mike

The difference between all the companies you listed is that Living rubber will send you a catalog along with any samples you request. I have dealt with all 3 companies pertaining to skirts and the guys at Living Rubber are on the ball!! Stamina is great to deal with as well and so is Barlows. Living Rubber deals ONLY in skirts and skirt making supplies. I just wish with the millions of color combos available that they would offer some pics of some interesting color combos to get the brain waves working since they have access to thousands of different colors of skirts. TMike

Nice blade.. I do the same thing with the flashabou in the skirt. Works like a charm . I'll post a pic of my creations after work. T Mike

I hear alot of folks don't like Createx. What paint does everyone prefer? How much and where do I get it locally preferably? FOr now I am just shooting at lead (spinnerbaits). T Mike

There is this cap cone like thing with a small hole in the tip which I thought was part of the air brush but it pops off. ONce I removed the cap my problems were solved Boy do I have a long way to go . wheww. Hughsey I've been still kicking around here and there and getting back into bait making for myself. Glad to see you on all the boards as well!! Keep painting them pretty baits bud!! T Mike

I jumped ship and bought a Passche Dual action brush and a air compressor today and take my bait making to the next step . I have the v1 tip in the airbrush and I am using Createx paint. I am getting 30psi according to the compressor (w/filter and the works). My paint is coming out spotty when it hits the bait almost like spitting instead of a nice spray effect like out of a spray can. IT does have some spray but some spitting as well?? I also notice I have a little bit of air coming out at the top of the brush seems like it is where the dual action button is. Is this normal??? Be gentle and talk in redneck terms so I can understand what yo sayin . Createx a quality paint?? Does it need straining?? Thanks for the help!! T Mike bucca1@aol.com

http://www.geocities.com/spotcountry/Spotblade.jpg If this doesn't work type the url you see above into your browser and try it. Let me know if it werks T Mike

Forgot the spinnerbiat url. http://www.geocities.com/spotcountry/Spotblade.jpg

Civic, You got some great advice from Reeper and Dave. Especially from Dave on the long casts and fast retrieve in clear water. Me personally I wouldn't even dream of throwing a double colorado blade in clear water only if it was at nite. They key to catching fish in clear water with spinnerbaits is like Dave mentioned long casts and fast retrieves. It's hard to beat SOB's Mini Me in my opinion. I personally like a heavier bait for even longer casts and even faster retrieves. The heavy head also helps the bait track a straight line on those fast retrieves. Find enclosed one of my personal spinnerbaits that I made that is about 3/4's of an ounce and a copy of a VPR brand bait that is similiar to the Mini Me but heavier and with my own personal Signature Trailer I have written an article a while back about fishing for Spotted Bass in clear water that might interest you and can answer alot of questions that you might have about fishing clear water. This article is derived from 25 years of fishing experience and 5 of those years as a fishing guide exclusively for Spotted Bass here in North Georgia (Atlanta area). http://www.geocities.com/spotcountry/Powerfishing.html Be careful who you buy your blades from. You would be surprised to see how many people have wayyyy to little experience in knowing what they are doing when it comes to making Spinnerbaits. I've seen gobs of spinnerbaits and even buzzbaits that don't come anywhere even close to tracking a straight line. If I can be of any further help just let me know Triton Mike

If I get a crooked wire on a spinnerbait all I do is bend the wire straight. Kinda like tuning it after it comes out of the mold. I think that is what you are referring to. T Mike

I've never tried plaster it might work. I know water putty works and it is just about the same costs. I use Durhams water putty at Home Depot. I have thought about plaster as well but I figured if it isn't broke don't fix it. It takes alot of time to do a mold (most of that being drying time) so I didn't chance it. Let us know how it comes out. Some of the molds I have made have lasted 100's of pours. They do require a little clean up but nothing a dremel tool can't cure. T Mike

I'm looking for some small diameter preformed spinnerbait wire forms. Looking for forms in the .026 range with atleast a 1.5 inch body arm and a 2.5 inch blade arm lenght. Also has anyone had any experience in bending your own spinnerbait forms? If so is there a homemade job you can share. I'd like to do a loop instead of a "R" bend. If there is not a homemade job is there a cheapy wire former that you would reccomend for making spinnerbait forms out of .026 wire and making looped wire ties. I have the Janns and Stamina catalogs handy. Thanks in advance Triton Mike bucca1@aol.com

My question is can you use Bondo or fiberglass to make a lead mold?? I use Durhams Water putty to make a Lead mold but it takes a full 2 days for it to dry to use (two parts to the mold 1 day per part). Anyone made a lead mold out of bondo or fiberglass and lived to tell about it?? I can make the mold no problemo I just curious if it can handle HOT lead. Triton Mike