Travis

Isopropyl alcohol and devcon foaming? I have never had it happen and just attempted it again to make sure. Tyically the problem with IPA is it is cut with water and also will pull moisture from the air. I usually use acetone however if I want to thin devcon.

Tackleunderground - Search Results Here you go to get you started.

Send me your your information and I will send a crank body.

I don't think it is likely to be banned either. As mentioned a lot of money is made off of fishing and associated revenue generated (150 to 180 billion dollars approximately). However I imagine you could talk to some Pacific Northwest Residents and California residents and get a different response rather quickly about possible bans. Look a their trout and salmon fisheries and fights for water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Now if overall fishing declines on a lake guess what happens, anglers go elsewhere and take their money. If it were as easy as digging it up and redo it. We aren't talking about some little pond we can drain.

Many studies have shown that some artificials are actually worse than live bait. For example put many anglers on a carolina rig and mortality rates are high. I believe it is Texas that has done a lot of research into artificial versus live baits. I agree that much of the ban talks are sort of ridiculous and most always not necessary but responsibe anglers will always look into these claims inorder to protect our resources for future use. Who do we have to protect our resources from enviromental nuts and unfortunatly often anglers. Problem is too many guys that fish that truely just don't care.

No.

Natural food sources are dissolved and broken down during the digestive process and can't be used as a basis of digestion and processing on non natural sources. The chemical and physical reactions associated with something like the plastic used in baits bears no similiarity. Your neighbor gets shot and suffers no ill effects. Therefore we can conlude from this one collected piece of data that anyone shot suffers no ill effects? The issue that really needs to be focussed on his how abundant is the mortality rates associated with the consumption of plastics and the frequency of plastics being consumed. If these rates are above a certain limit, with detremental effects on the fishery, the banning of currently used soft plastic formulas for use would be justified. Lakes or waters with poor recruitment, management of trophy lakes, etc... would likely be the first to go this route.

Anglers are about the worst when it comes to issues like this. Everyone is out to get them when in reality it generally is the angler that is shooting themselves in the foot. I can attest that during examination of largemouth stomach contents I examined over the years several that contained swollen soft plastics (salt impregnated usually the worst). Many of these fish would not have been able to pass the massive wads of plastic through. These fish were usually in the process of starvation. Take a couple worms and put them in a ziploc of water and see what you get over time (don't forget the effects of stomach acids and agitation). But there are other sources that contribute to higher mortality rates and overall this isn't much of a problem in most waters.

I would advise against tying any shaping at all. If the mold is done correctly and release agent used the foam will form a skin. Once you start to shape or sand (coarse mainly) you will break through the skin and then expose air cavities. Then you will have to fill these cavities and sand some more. Once you start to attemt to "work" foamies by shaping, sanding drilling holes for weight or line ties, etc... you have negated any benefits of switching to foamies and molds, in my opininon. Just use wood.

From my understanding the scales must be certified prior to use, not after the fact. This is typically done for accuracy and bracketing by calibrated standards. Also they say it needs to be weighed on a certified scale and typically don't waiver too much. When it comes to identification the the New York regulations seem to read for a State Record Catagory Fish (not catch and release record) "Make sure the fish is identified and examined by a DEC fisheries biologist or his designee prior to any cutting of the fish or removal of entrails. Section F will be completed by the person verifying the fish". This always seems couter productive to me. Both these issues held true for the possible world record bass from few years ago (Paul Duclos). He released the fish instead of likely killing the fish to get it to a biologist and they used a bathroom scale that was non certified . Supposedly the scale was certified after the fact. But needless to say we still have the Perry's "World Record Bass".

Nice fish and truely a fish of a lifetime. Something we all hope to do but most never get a chance. WHY did he not have his license!!! States have made it so easy and many states have some harsh penalties for repeat offenders (jail, loss of fishing and hunting license, potential loss of vehicles, boats, rods, etc.). I seriously doubt the fish will count based on two if not three of these reasons: 1. Fish must be taken by angling in New York State waters in accordance with New York State fishing regulations. 2. Fish entered in the Annual Award and State Record categories must be weighed on a certified scale by the owner of the scale or an employee, and must be witnessed by at least one other person. 3. Fish submitted as a potential State Record entry must be identified by a DEC biologist or a designee. Fishing without a license would disqualify the record because he was not fishing in accordance with New York State regulations. The digital scales and not being certified would be the second strike. And the game warden might not be a DEC biologist and designee.

I think the problem is that many of us believe lure making is a learned skill. It something that an individual learns by doing, bottom line. Be leary of anyone that has it figured without spending the time in the shop. Some learn quicker than others, many make cranks in no time and will even sell some but these are the same guys that 5 years from now won't be around because they never really lurned how to make a solid lure. Many are willing to help guide someone down the right direction but usually only when someone seems to have attempted to do so first and doesn't come off as some guy wanting to make a quick buck on Ebay selling a "custom" lure. We were all newbies at some point you bet, but many of spend most of our time out in the shop making lures and testing them out to find out how bad we screwed up, a huge part of it is figuring it out on your own. If one won't spend the time in the shop at least take the time to scroll thru the posts. I can't count the hours I spent reading through posts. The I want it now concept doesn't fly with many guys. Honestly most have spilt their guts on the easy stuff devcon, poly, probinate, bills, wood, sealers, airbrush, etc.... all one has to do is read a little.

My kids have been on various medications for asthma since essentially birth. We used Singular with two of our children for 2 years with no ill effects. Individuals just need to be aware of possible side effects and drug interactions of their medicines. Seems simple but most don't and aren't concerned. Take the time to talk with the pharmacist (doctors aren't really into the drug interatction thing or side effects).

I would imagine that the cap really doensn't seal. If it isn't teflon lined then it is going to escape. You could probably find a cap and place a teflon cap liner in it so you could seal it when not in use. I think someone said it was MEK based so not as volatile as some organics but still would evaporate readily.

"Kill spots" are anlgers representation of things we see on bait fish. This may seem sort of simple but in fact holds the main purpose. The "kill spot" is truely a false eye spot and draws attention from the predator. The false eye spot was evolved to cause confusion in predators. Many fish have false eye spots located near the caudal fin region. The basic premise is two fold. One the predator strikes at the tail thinking they are attacking the head region and the little fish get to live another day with a torn up fin and missing a few scales. Or the predator becomes confused and can't make and effective strike do to undecisiveness on where to aim the strike. In theory a predator will attemt to strike towards the head. The fish is oriented in the correct position to swallow (those fin rays fold back easily go the other direction and well not so great) and more likely to catch the fish if you strike at the head because generally that is the direction they prey tries to escape. How many fish jet backwards? In theory we all should put kill spots dead center of cranks to increase the likely hood of getting the most amount of hooks in ones mouth. But honestly don't think that it matters as much. I am sure many will swear by them.

All depends on what one believes their time is worth and what the goal is. They all make money just some more than others. Some guys just want to make enough to support a hobby others are out to make money.

Depending on where you are pouring you may be able to set up a "hood". I would recommend a hood set up at all possible. Properly designed it will end up easier, more comfortable and cheaper in the long run. The respirators are great but if used properly you need to change out the cannisters on a regular basis dependent upon usuage. Check out North Safety or similar place at their respirators. You can contact them for specific requirements. Some people also encounter difficulties with respirators. Proper fit testing is also necessary. http://www.research.northwestern.edu/ors/labsafe/hoods/index.htm#Conventional%20hood

I find no difference between sanded and non sanded bills. On some I sand to get the matte finish others I don't. Sort of what ever strikes me at the moment.

Not going to find anyone disagree that RTV gives a better detailed mold and if not for the price many would use it instead of POP or durhams. The catch is that many lures don't need RTV for the detail. I have Durhams rock puddy molds that I have poured thousands of lures in that were coated once in devcon and still produce a bait just as nice as day one. A sluggo style bait for example. A properly done POP or Durhams Rock puddy will give just as good results as an RTV and when it comes to molding prototypes a huge waste of money to use RTV until the bait is all worked out.

I would add the scale detail before hardening in the oven. You can use a dowel, pencil, whatever you want to make a scale like pattern. You can get creative on how to make the scales. I would over do the scales so that all the detail is picked up once you coat the pop mold.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Australian Guns Stats I know many will chime in of course the article is proganda that the other side uses to dispell the truth. Ok I own guns, have always owned guns and am completely against gun control. However the fear tatics used by both sides to support the claims is horrendous. Many things have changed since the good ole' days and at some point many will have to face the fact that the fear and paranoia, both reality and percieved, used during the cold war no longer exists. Unfortunately this fear has molded many previous generations and continues on. Do any of us truely believe that the USA will turn on its citizens and exterminate us? Do you believe that another country will take us over (if we don't have guns) and then exterminate us?

Looks like you are off to a good start with the masters. Should be a good starting point for some lures. Now the goby needs a little work, to be honest, but is a good first effort and shows you picked up on some of the fin detail. I would refer back to some photos. As is you have a nice representation of a killifish. The body shape is off. Do a search for round goby photos. I placed emphasis on the head on my goby representation. 1354046 - round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Perciformes: Gobiidae) @ Forestry Images http://eoutdoorventure.com/images/%5CGoby%20MNRPic.jpg

I always say focus on the big details. Anyone should think of a few things when they think goby and these are the details you need to emphasis. Scales, etc... are nice but will be lost in my opinion because of the gobies main features in the head. RTV can be nice if a lot of undercuts and design elements to work as locks once a bait is cast. Where is the pic?

Glad to here you got the bait worked out. Always great to figure out a lures problems. As far as other tackle stores in Lafayette/West Lafayette it is slim. All you major retailers are poor at best. Used to be a guy on Kossuth that had a tackle store but I would imagine it went under judging by the few times I went in. ArrowsIII and Tackle Too has some tackle but I wasn't too impressed and at one time Walker's carried a very, very limited supply but that was when they were on Earl and I don't recall seeing anything at the "new" place.