Dave V

I am just getting into rod building and I have been really happy with my BPS Extreme rods. I want to make a rod similar with the same action. Does anyone know what blanks they use? I am looking for a 6'6" MH Casting rod blank. I guess I'll use Fuji ceramic guides, foam handle, etc... Kinda playing it by ear right now. Dave V

I haven't used Fine Flake Alberger Salt yet, but I am very happy with the results I get from using popcorn salt. non-iodized Table salt and floured salt is out. I have used sugar flakes as well. They are ok, but for the budget conscious like myself, popcorn salt is the way to go. If Fine Flake Alberger Salt is better and the price is cheaper than popcorn salt, then I'll be looking for that. Dave V

I'm strictly a microwave guy (until I finish my pouring pot this weekend). With M-F Super Soft plastic and no softener. this will put your 5" sticks a little heavier than a senko. a senko weighs .3 oz. this will put your sticks at .4 oz. 4 oz plastic 2 level Tbsp fine salt Regular table salt will make your worm stiffer than the fine salt and sinks in the cup much faster. a quick stir at the beginning of your pour with fine salt and pour all the way through with none left on the bottom. Dave V

M-F SS is really nice for sticks. If you use popcorn salt, it doesn't stiffen up much at all and the action is awesome. you can really feel the bait wiggle on a wacky rig. Dave V

I pour the 3.5" and 4.2" model. Great bait and very versatile. I use them on jigs, t-rig, Carolina rig, dropshot and even as buzzbait and spinnerbait trailers. They keep the buzzbait up and are great when slow-rollin' a spinnerbait. Dave V

Some flake bleeds more than others. You shouldn't have any bleed with the first flake application if you add it to the heated plastic. It will usually bleed on the reheat. I find if I reheat at a power level 6 setting then the flake won't get hot enough to bleed and the bait colors remain consistent. I don't use pouring pots, only Pyrex in microwaves so i can't help with that kind of application. Your bad bleeders are emerald, purple, orange, gold, teal blue. you can manipulate the flake to bleed to get original colors as well. Some produce a nice effect. Using different sizes of the same color flake produce nice effects as well. try using .025 and .040 blue in your black and blue senko and compare them to just the one size and you will see what I mean. Dave V

all M-F products 4 oz. SS plastisol add salt to taste 6 drops indigo 2 drops red 1 drop black 3/4 tsp .025 emerald green flake Zoom loads up the flake, compare with the zoom u-vibe speed worm and you will not be disappointed. Dave V

I have recently started tying bucktails. i have dozens now with many different sizes and patterns. What kind of box do you use to store them in for fishing? Dave V

If a fish inhales a bait, it will still survive if you cut the line 12 - 18 inches from the hook so it can be digested and the hook wont turn around in it's system. Sounds like a load of bull to me. I just hope these Nazi's don't get to any of our lakes!!! Dave V

Those are made by injector Dave V

Spending 4 hours pouring some great looking laminates and 3 pour creature baits and coming home from work to find your kids used them as monsters for their action figures and they are in pieces on the floor.

What do you use for a releasing agent when making a mold from a hard master like clay? I would think it would adhere to the hard master. Thanks, Dave V

Read pouring 101. Great tutorial. Don't sweat the "Diseased" look.just gives the bait texture. I've began by melting on my BBQ burner in an old stainless pot into Plaster molds. I was using 1 sided molds so when i made them, I let the plaster set for 10 minutes and pressed the master into the plaster and there wasn't any bubbles at all that way. also gave the plaster a lip around the bait so over pours were few. Now I'm ready to purchase a couple aluminum molds and 5 gal of plastic. My technique has improved dramatically since i started about 1 month ago. Keep at it. Dave V

Congratulations on a great finish. Awesome!!! Dave V

I've been having good success with the 2 part epoxy with a couple drops of rubbing alcohol. Don't thin it out too much. wait an hour before pouring. Use an oil release agent (I use Fish Formula shad) some use Pam. I'll start using that when I buy the garlic Pam. That will help with anything sticking to the worm and give it a nice glossy coat. Dave V

I participate in recreation.outdoors.fishing.bass newsgroup and every year they get together for a southern tourney (Tennessee, Florida) and a northern tournament (Wisconsin). They call it the southern classic and northern classic. One is held at the beginning of spring and the other at the end of the summer. They are weekend get togethers with monetary and trophy prizes and fishing equipment prizes as well. families of the members attend as well. Over the past several years they have been a great success in bringing the newsgroup members closer together and exchanges of ideas and techniques. They are team based tournaments with different team members each day. Prizes are awarded as teams so the competition is overshadowed by the camaraderie, making it a more enjoyable experience for beginner and veteran alike. I myself have not been able to attend any tourneys in the past couple of years but plan on going to one of them next year and making it a family vacation if they have a Florida one again. My fishing partner has been to several in the past and he has a great time and it just keeps getting better year after year. The member base is enormous in this message board and I'm almost positive that a gathering of this sort would be a great success. With all the talented tackle builders and lure makers here, it would be a gathering that would astound anyone interested in the sport. What would you think of having a Northern tournament on Lake Wallenpoupak, Pa, and a southern tournament in Texas? Or maybe an Eastern tourney and Western tourney? Just an idea, please let everyone know what you think. Dave V

Looks like the album was pulled Dave V

Mr. Wermie Ernie, I had a great time talking and learning from you. I was looking at my workbench in my garage and thinking about the modifications I need to do. Too bad the fishing was slow, but that's how it goes, right. I love getting out on new water and it was a pleasure fishing from your new boat. The wermatorium is awesome. I poured some baits tonight from the scraps including a couple 2 color pours on my silicon dragonfly mold. It's a crude looking bug but it should float. I hope it fools a lunker Thanks again for everything and i look forward to wetting a line with you again soon. Dave V

I can't wait to place my first order with M-F. I'm going for a 5 gal size. I had a blast pouring the free pint he sent me. It smells great too. I don't know if it's just me but I like the smell of the M-F plastic. Dave V

Between the paddle tail stick bait and the beaver, I can't decide which I am more intrigued with. I have a big contract coming up and I'll be able to buy a 5 gallon of M-F plastic and some colors/flakes and an aluminum mold. one of the $45.00 molds. I think I'm going for the "slam worm" mold. I just know they are gonna be a blast pouring. My 2 cents. Dave V

Yeah that's the ozmo. We've been killing them with them on our local lakes. Dave V

Those are my favorite drop shot baits. They would be really easy to make with resin. I like the tiny Berkley flukes as well. Good luck with your hunt Dave V

I'm new to this as well. I received my free samples from M-F and had a blast pouring in my own molds and a couple of M-F molds. I have been creating just molds of custom designs I have made with clay and baked hard. I baked them right to a cake pan then poured silicon on them using the preparation technique from the tutorials. They come out perfect and I will pour the baits I want to keep and make resin molds from the choice pours. The resin is supposed to last and the one I made so far is nice. I am not doing this for the money but it would be nice in the future. I just want to become proficient at pouring and coloring. the aluminum molds are very nice. I was thinking of purchasing the stick mold with paddle tail. I really like the design but have yet to fish with any. Anyway, I'm just another noob adding my 2 cents worth. Dave V

I did a better silicon mold of the whole pan of prototype baits. It came out much better because the first tube of silicon was pressed into each bait to get out any air bubbles around the baits and detailed parts. Question, Whats the life expectancy of a silicon mold? Should I pour a bunch and make resin molds out of the ones i like? Thanks, Dave V

Thanks for the help guys, yeah actually, all I have is a 2cup Pyrex cup. I was thinking of several smaller cups. I'm headed to WM now and I'll check the selection. I'm just melting the same batch down and practicing my pouring with that. No sense in making a bunch of bad batches. Thanks for the update ghostbaits. Dave V