woodenfeather

Thanks for the replies. This is the first spinner bait mold I've seen let alone owned so I wasn't sure if there was something I wasn't doing right. I guess I'll figure out a way to jury rig it. If I come up with something worth sharing I'll let you know.

Hi guys, I just got a spinner bait mold and have a question. When I place the hook and wire form into the mold there isn't any way of securing them vertically. The mold allows about 3/8" of movement up and down. I just let gravity dictate where it should be but I'm afraid the "joint" is too far back in the head which would make it weak. I was thinking about attaching some small brackets to one outside surface and then attaching a magnet to come in flush with the inside surface. Have any of you had this problem or is it unique to this mold? (do-it ultra minnow in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2). I like the fact that I can shorten the arm/lengthen the hook and vise verse but I just need a way of keeping it where I want it when pouring.

Hi Guys, I haven't been around in a while and just noticed that the plastic unfinished lures aren't for sale here anymore. Am I just not seeing 'em. I was interested in buying some of those Rapala shallow shad rap knock offs I saw on here a while back. I haven't seen them available anywhere else so if you know where I can find some please let me know. Thanks!

Thanks for the info guys. I like the bondo idea, especially since i've got a big can of it somewhere around here. It never crossed my mind to try it. That's what makes this place such a valuable resource! thanks again!

I read an article in an old tackle making book recently that suggested using plaster of paris to make a two part jig mold. My question is has anyone here tried it and with what results? Also since the book was relatively outdated is there something better to use that would be more heat resistent? I've used wood in the past with great results but I want to capture some details that I wouldn't be able to carve in the "negative". I appreciate any input!

Awesome! You could clean up with one of those babies in my neck of the woods.

Hey thanks for the tips! I tried your method and I was able to get the results I wanted. I was using a torch before but borrowed an iron and that seems to be the way to go. Thanks again.......Dan

Hey Gr8flyz, That's a nice spoon. I'm sure its deadly! I just started fooling with soldering and I really suck at it. The paint is to cover up my sins. Eventually I would like to be able to use just enough solder to attach the hook to the blade but right now all I can achieve is a puddle. Unfortunately, as with all my hobbys, I can never devote enough time to any one thing to get very good at it. If you can give me some tips I sure wouldn't mind .........Dan

Hey guys, I wanted to share some ice jigs I just made. I found some size 00 willowleaf blades and soldered hooks to 'em. I sprinkled powderpaint on the one side and left them hammered nickel on the other. Tipped with a waxworm, I think they will work good for gills and specks. If not they were fun to make. Now if we could just get some ice!

Walleye will weep! Excellent work

Thanks for the compliments guys, and the tips! I think part of my problem was I didn't cure them properly in the oven. I did another batch and they seem much more impervious to the glue. I also tried some of that soft plastic glue and i'm not having the same problems. I haven't tried the enamel paint Gr8flyz suggested but suspect it should work fine. Thanks again for your help. Celticav, I do not have a website or a photo page. This place is pretty much my only means of showing off my stuff. When it comes to computers I'm at a loss. My younger brother is an absolute computer genius and I am trying to get him to help me out but he speaks a language that I don't quite understand. I'll will let you know if I do get something going but since I don't really sell any of my baits it probably won't be any time soon.......Dan

Thanks alot for the info. Gr8flyz! I knew there was some more supplies I needed to buy

Hi Guys, I just tried powder paint for the first time and I'm really impressed! Talk about instant gradification. I have a couple of questions though. Have any of you figured out a good way to make eyes on say a round ball jig. I tried dabbing a little vinyl paint on but the powder paint dissolved underneath. Same w/ spraypaint. Ok so the stuff is pretty sensative to solvents. My main problem is I tied a bunch of jigs up and didn't notice that the head cement I was using was turning the stuff to mush also. I can't be alone here. Is there a type of glue I can use that won't react to the stuff? Any help is appreciated!

Thanks Big Splash. That's a good point about the hook guage, I never even thought about it. I'll have to look around for them. My jig mold will only accept the thin wired hooks. I wouldn't want him to loose a big fish and maybe a tooth on my account.

My Bro in-law recently moved to the west coast (Seattle) and has discovered the incredible steelhead/salmon fishery out there. I've been making him cranks for Christmas but now he says he needs jigs for steelhead. Instead of asking him exactly what he needed, I wanted to sound cool and said no problem. The problem is I've never fished for steelhead. I do know that he uses mostly 1/8th ouncers. Anyway I came up with a pattern that I hope is effective and wanted to get your opinion on it since your obviously an adept salmonid fisherman. Also, do you think I should tie up some natural looking patterns like stoneflys onto jigs. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Bummer! I casted one of my favorites right into a tree the first day out. I almost killed myself trying to retrieve it. You can't get to attached to 'em if your going to use them. Take lots of pictures and if you make one you really like, put it in a shadow box and hang it on the wall. And use a ton of epoxy to topcoat them.

Thanks guys for the compliments and the tips! Celticav, where might I find this etching primer you mentioned. I'll check at the hardware store today but let me know just in case I can't find it or if there is a particular kind you recommend...Dan

I made a crude wooden mold and melted some old weights in a tin can and was able to make all of one before the wife shut down my stovetop operation. I'm not sure of the best way to paint lead. I roughed up the surface and epoxied, painted with spraypaint, and epoxy topcoat. I think it turned out pretty cool.

Hey Guys, The water's gonna get hard around here soon and I would like to try my hand at making some jigs and jigging spoons for perch and walleye through the ice. Can anyone direct me to a good source of info. on the basics......Thanks

I have been using Sharpies( felt tip permanent pens) for stripes and such. I'm sure a stencil would be the way to go for making alot of the same but I think its fun to freehand 'em when making just one or few for yourself. This only works if your using an epoxy topcoat.

I would say definetly use devcon as a sealer/primer on balsa. I wouldn't thin it unless your trying to spray it on. If you don't use it as a sealer than you'll have to put on no less than two topcoats of epoxy. I had a bunch of lures I had to add another coat to because they don't hold up. Balsa is just to soft and relies on the epoxy for strength.

I'm certainly not a pro but hopefully I can help. I made some floating rapala type baits from balsa awhile back and I found I got the best action by puting the balast right at the front hook hanger which was about 1/3 the lures length from the line tie. I figured it out by building a lure and drilling a couple holes in the belly and putting split shot in until I got the desired action and buoyancy. I would suggest you do the same as the body shape, bib and hook placement play a roll in determining where and how much weight to use. If you are using balsa wood than you will definetly need to add weight but the more you use the more sluggish the action will be. If you do it right than it will be stabil whether cast or trolled.

Hi guys, I've successfully made some lures using balsa with the through wire method where you make 'em in two halves and then sandwich the wire and balast between. I want to try making some jointed lures but I have a couple of questions. Useing the through wire method, is it better to build the entire lure and finish in one piece minus the bib? Or do you build the front section and then just drill a hole through the back section for assembly after finish? Thanks for any help.....Dan