Troul Hawk

All of the RTV molds I have made for myself have stained, I think it is normal. At least I have yet to see any ill effects from the ones I have made. I really do not know what causes it, the heat, or one of the colors, but mine look very similar. Kinda a yellowish tint to the RTV.

Yeah, I think I would be interested in trying a pound or two myself. Great idea!

Wow!!! Nice!! What thrill to catch fish like THAT, and to think I get excited about foolin' smallmouth on the stuff I make. Thanks for sharing!!

I don't have any trouble with mine, but thought that maybe you could create a stirrer out of some threaded rod, a couple of nuts and one of those drywall hangers that have two wings on it that open on the backside of the wall. That way you could have it open once inside the jug, and then it would compress when you took it out. Never created something like this, just a thought.

Maybe adding the coloring while running the salt through a blender, like Daveh shows in his video http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/soft-plastics-how/13945-pouring-stick-baits.html Never done it, but I would think this would help in making a uniform color.

O man, I have to give 'em props for not panicking. I would have screamed like a schoolgirl and they would have found my stomped body all crumpled up. And talk about some scent control!

Great video links!! the second video I can do. The third... nope. Shhhhhhhhhhhh Spike. It's THEM. The blue people.

LOL, that tool is crazy. I can do a whip finish with my fingers no problemo. So mine will stay in it's slot taunting me. 10 years of tying flies and jigs, and I still :pissed:that tool. Sorry to hijack the thread.....NOW back to thread vs. wire. vs. rubber bands.

Any of you fellas ever try that acetate floss and then the solvent to weld it together? I like to tie in at least three or four whip knots to my jigs ( never have figured out that whip finish tool) and if I could just tie one knot then hit it with solvent, it might make it a touch faster. Then again, some times these things just don't work like I would imagine.

Thanks for posting you results HJS. I have never used the vinegar and now I know it will work if I ever need to delay my molds much more. I am glad this change will make life easier for ya.

I have been using my neoprene fishing gloves, full fingered version. I accidentally poured hot plastic out of the back of the cup when I was trying to stop a stream too quickly and even though I can feel the heat through them, I wasn't burned. Well insulated I guess. Another bonus is that they go up over my wrists as well. I can still grab small items because they are so forming, and push the start button on the micro., put caps back on colorant, and they make opening a jar of glitter a breeze. LOL. They are a tad warm here in TN, but I can deal with that for safety sake.

Yeah, I water it down to thin pancake batter consistency, then bake the water out after it has set up. seal it and your good to go.

I know you say POP, but are you using Durhams water putty? Or the real Plaster of paris, white stuff. Durhams has a much more workable setting time, IMO.

Sure thing!! Just send me a PM when you think you would like to go and we will work out the details. Any excuse to go fishing!

I have two of the Nucli-Eye Extreme, and I absolutely LOVE them. They are a bit high in price, but worth every penny if you stay out on the water much at night. The extreme version has three options, blue light(non glowing) only, black light only, and all six LED drivers on at the same time. default image I have installed RCA ports in four places in my boat two up front and two in the back, and with the single suction cup I can turn the lights to illuminate any angle and the person in the back can also. These things are so bright that you have no trouble at all fishing at night and have caught plenty of smallmouth over 18" with them, so I am confident they don't spook the fish. I see your in TN, if you are ever in Knoxville I would be happy to take you out and let you see for yourself.

Absolutely gorgeous!! Nice work

Nice, sure is rare to find that kind of service. Best of luck! and congrats on the new boat!

Her is a challenge for you stick pourers. There was a time when we did really good on the GY "core shot". Dark green outside and a chartreuse center. I don't know what it was about that bait, but they are hard to find in that color and may be discontinued. The fish ate' 'em up tho.

Normally I try to make as little splash as possible. But last year my buddy and I were out and I had one of those "moments" where for whatever reason I let my cast loose a touch too early and the spinnerbait went about 15' in an arch. When it hit my bud said (and I quote) "What are ya tryin to do knock 'em in the head?" about that time I set the hook on a nice keeper fish. Then I started throwing it high, and I caught two more the SAME way. I think the fact that I started the bait to move immediately, all the flash of the spinnerbait, low light conditions were the items that help fill up my "depends" that night.

I agree with Cadman above. Try it both ways, If you have a drill bit kit, go through the drill bits until you find one that will let you close the mold with it inserted into the weedguard cavity. You can then powder coat and then epoxy the weedguard in later. Much mo better, IMHO.

I can't say enough good about Charles and his products. You CAN'T go wrong with getting these skirts. I don't use the skirts in a conventional way, I like to cut the skirt in half, then use a full half or even spit the half in half to use a 1/4 skirt as a highlight. The bulk of the jig comes from living rubber. You can see what I mean in the album here http://www.tackleunderground.com/photos/index.php?n=2095 Sometimes I will use a full skirt in the greens, cause the last batch of living rubber in green is a bear to get to split into individual strands.

Sounds just like I have seen my buddies motor. It smokes a bunch when it is first started, but runs like a dream all day long afterward. Don't know for sure, but it sounds like a normal thing to me. We were on the lake today, and water temp was 44 and air was about the same.There was a blue cloud behind him.

In the heat of the summer here in East Tenn. I like to throw the Watermelon chartreuse under the big leaf trees. Maybe eaten as a catalpa worm, I dunno, but they sure do eat it up.

try painting an initial layer of POP over the worms with a small paintbrush and then pour the rest in from a corner, I think this helps. I do this when I am making RTV molds.

I don't remember where I read/saw/heard it from( maybe it was on here...lol) but one of the pro's takes his new buzzbaits and holds them out the window or tapes them to the rear view mirror of his truck(outside obviously), as he goes down the highway it really wears them in and causes them to squeak. I also remember part of that tip was to be careful tho, you can wear one out pretty quick as well.