GB GONE

Has anybody had any patches made (Like for Pro Staff shirts), or stickers (like the cool TU one on my truck!!) or had any shirts embroidered with their logo??? I'm looking for a source for one or all of the above. So far I've been googling and wish I could go to somebody that I know has done some good work in the past. Any names, websites, etc. appreciated!!! Jim

I guess when you are selling more than $200,000 in baits a MONTH, you might have a little backlog!!! Did everybody see that interview with Andre on Saturday??? Jim

Hey man....I have just molded a few in plaster of paris. I pour a few every time I pour so I have a nice selection on hand in my box. I would try Lurecraft (www.lurecraft.com) as they seem to have a mold of almost every bait made now... Jim

You can always make your own...I'm working on a flipping bait that would have the body portion as 2 part but the claws and appendages only be one part....tricky but very easy to pour in my prototype plaster mold. It gives you a full body but the appendages, etc. are flat on one side. look at the Bass pro flipping craw for a good example.... If I get a chance, I'll post a picture up. Jim

Weird...the only time I shook mine, I had the "bubbly" overflowing!!!! The drill mixer has been the best for me so far. I did notice though that if I let it set after "shaking the crap out of it", the bubbles would not be as bad the next day or 2....

I would email Bob first before sending $$$$ as he is extremely busy with molds (per some emails)... Not that he won't get you the molds but that way he knows what he has coming in and what to prepare for... Just get on his site and send him a note. Might take a few hours for him to respond (personal experience) but he will get back in touch with you!!!! Jim

My last couple have had gazillions (borrowed that from my 4 yr old son) of bubbles and foam on the top after heating. It was taking more time to scrape the bubbles and foam off the plastic than to actually pour the darn baits. This bucket is way different!!! Same micro, same heating technique (2 minutes on high..add color..stir...30 seconds on medium..add flake and scent..30 seconds), same mixing with drill motor...BUT...no bubbles!!! I mean I can be ready to pour in less than five minutes. I mean there may only be 3 to 6 bubbles in the whole 8oz cup..WOW !!! Thanks Del & April!!!! Don't know if there has been any difference on your end but I'm seeing a huge one on my end!!! I can actually pour out almost twice as many baits now in the same time frame..Anybody else seeing this difference??? Jim

BigZ has a point. I guess if you are willing to pay top $$$$, Bob or Del may consider your mold...Business is business and we make some money using these molds over and over again. Not that I am pushing for a price hike Bob oe Del :-D Jim

Bob has made me a few with no problem. Either Bob/Del are super busy right now OR your mold just can't be made up to their standards.... Good luck in your search... Jim

I do really like Doug's scent. Cooks in great and has a scent that lingers. My partner caught a 7lb + fish the first time out with his scented baits. In all we bagged aver 15 fish in 3 hours with many in the 3-5lb range. I'll be "lake testing" his scent again tomorrow and will post results. I have pictures, just didn't have the digital this time. Jim

OK guys....I've done a little trial and error with the infamous "sugar flakes".....My recipe is 4oz plastic, 1oz softener, 1 1/2oz flakes, 1/2oz salt. Sticks seem to wiggle great and fall fast. I'm throwing them on a 3/0 wide gap hook and 14lb Iron Silk. Some other positives about the "flakes"....the sticks still pour great with the flakes as the flakes seem to keep the salt suspended. I have not had any salt on the bottom of my cups when i'm finished. I do stir every 2 sticks though..Also, the re-heat of "flaked" plastic is much better! No burning at all!!! I have had a good response from customers and I like the sticks with the flakes myself after testing them on 2 consecutive weekends. I've decided that the time it takes me to use salt costs me way more $$$ than the flakes...time is money...or at least it is less aggrevation !!! Just my continuing observations on the "sugar flakes"... Jim

I have poured them both ways with no salt being my favorite. I like the knock offs better than the originals because of the softer bait and they have a great gliding action with one side being flat. Also, I like lime green and smoke blue pearl....RI doesn't do those (yet)... Jim

OK...I've got some Zoom flukes that look to be almost exactly the same..I think!!!??? All the pictures I see on the net are poor at best. Thanks!!!

The 3" version can be found on Bob's site: http://www.bobstackleshack.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=77 $38.00 for the mold is not bad...5 cavities. I'll bet a senko-style bait would also work AWESOME if the minnows work.. Jim

In the soft plastic area (page 2), you can see an example of a stick bait poured by Travis made from a 2 part resin mold. They are tricky but can be done. Just takes some time and a little practice!!! Jim

I thought I would get this out there for anyone trying out or thinking of trying out the "sugar flakes" for their sticks. I use a recipe of 4oz Calhoun's plastic, 2oz "sugar flakes" and 1 oz of softener for my baits. I was fishing 12lb Iron Silk with a #3 wide gap gamy hook. First off, the first 2 baits that I poured from every batch floated. I had all the bubbles gone from my plastic but it seems the sugar flakes must have caused a few more!!! The baits also sank slower than a senko. It took almost 2 seconds more for the sugar flake baits to hit the bottom in my pool. The ends of the baits didn't quite "wiggle" like the senko either but that has always been a challenge even with salt. On the lake, the baits casted very nicely. They even seem to be a little easier to skip up under docks and trees. Maybe I was just casting well yesterday :-D !!! The baits sank perfectly horizontal with a 3/0 hook. I fished a lake that is very hard to catch even 1 fish on and the boat traffic from anglers, jet skis, wake boarders and skiers was extremely high. A kayaker came by and said there was a tourney that am and 2 fish (5.3 ozs total weight) won with a lot of zeros. Common for this crystal clear lake. I concentrated on docks and the 5th cast I weighed a 3.2oz bass. Caught 4 more dinks that didn't measure in the next hour. Took a little break to swim and then got back at it. With Mojo on the phone, I caught 2 more that would have made the well but I didn't measure or weigh them. (Had to rub it in a little Joel!!!) Missed a couple more before calling it. In all, the sticks definitely caught fish and held together pretty nice. I was able to catch 3 fish on one stick before putting a new one on. Not one stick flew off while fighting the fish!!! The flakes are kind of pricey and may be to much $$$ for guys that are selling but they pour real easy, and the reheat of plastic is unbelievably easy!!! If anybody has a good recipe (because mine isn't quite there yet!!) that they are using for these "sugar" sticks, please post it out there for us to experiment with!!! Jim PS I also think we need to know what chemical is in those "flakes" as the first batch I made the smoke caused my eyes to water up???!!! I'm sure an MSDS is required for all products like these!!! PSS The colors are very true when pouring with this sugar...I was using green pumpkin/red flake and I used the recipe straight as if I was pouring worms!!! Definite plus!!!

Thanks man!!! I'll give them a call!!!! Jim

Sorry Pop ...no orange hi-lite in my bag...darn!!! Think I may have a line from another member...thanks!!! Jim

I want some but do not need a 1/2 pound (or a pound)!!! Just want to pour some red shad up and need a little powder. I will pay for powder and s/h as required. Jim I tought I had some but what I thought was red was purple...tequila sunrise anyone!!!??

I'm in the process of making one as well...I found a nice little program called Presentation Publisher where you can add graphics, music, text, charts, etc real easy and then you can burn it to cd with autorun built in. When customer puts cd in, it opens and runs with now clicking on anything. You can build items in Word, Publisher, Access, Powerpoint and use them in this software. I think I got it for like $39.00. You may be able to google it as they have a website. I also use this software to make CD's for my family at the end of the year with all the pictures we accumulate. Add in some of that years music and you can remember the year and the tunes easy!!! Jim

I recently bought some on Ebay..think it was a TU member..I'll find the Ebay user name and you can post it up.. Jim

From experience I can tell you that it takes time to learn your camera. I could not take a good picture for a LONG time!!! Here is what I do: I put my bait (if it is any color than white) on a bright white sheet of paper, I use as much indirect light as possible (otherwise you get shadows from the sun, lamp etc.). I NEVER use the flash and I use the button on my camera for close ups...my close up button looks like a flower!!! The most important thing I did was to get a simple tripod!!! If you aren't perfectly still, you get a blurry shot!!! I also learned Paint Shop Pro and how to remove backround colors... I only have a 2.1 megapixel camera (fuji)...it is no big deal. Once followed some of the directions from other TU members, it was easy... Keep trying different things but be sure to get a little tripod. Jim

Remember this also. Most of the fish you catch are NOT hungry, they are striking out of reaction. I have talked with Ken Cook, Bass Pro and Biologist and he can give you the metabolism rates etc. for the water temp and prove that most bass only need to eat every few days. Reacting to something in their environment that is not normally there (ie a bubblegum worm??) has nothing to do with eating. I think a lot of what goes into lure making, coloring and selling has more to do with catching fishermen than fish. Of course...all my cranks have eyes so... Jim

Make sure its not from a "patented" bait if you are copying it !!!

I get them from Ebay, Paypal, Regions Bank (don't even have an account with them!!) on a daily basis. The best way you can tell is that you are actually on the right site is 1) the address in your internet browser will start with https://. The "s" is important as this ensure you are on a secure site. 2) the address will be Ebay, paypal, etc. Most of these links redirect you to another website. Also, there will be a little yellow lock down in the lower portion of your screen by the "cookies eye". Best is to just delete tehm but be sure not to block sender as these have a return email address for Ebay. If you block them or bounce the message back, you may not get "real" messages when you need to. Jim