mark poulson

Think of a shrimp.

I hope it came with an instruction manual, and all the appropriate safety warnings.

Pouring your own baits is fun, but hot plastic can be dangerous, just like hot lead. Many of the same precautions you take when pouring lead should be taken with plastisol. Use a respirator with a solvent filter cartridge, use gloves, and have an exhaust fan removing the fumes as they're generated. If you can smell the plastic, it's getting into your eyes and lungs, and any other open mucus membranes. That is something to avoid. Take your time, and plan your moves before you begin to pour. A clear working area prevents accidents. I have the plastic coated shoes to prove that, and lots of streaked pant legs. Never pour without full clothing. Short sleeves will work, once you have gotten your feet under you, but err on the side of caution at first, so you'll enjoy pouring. Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

I fly fished the creeks in the eastern Sierras for years, and my biggest trout was a 1 1/2lb brown trout. When fishing for bass, I've caught a lot of stockers on traps and jerkbaits, and released them all. I caught a good hold over rainbow on a split shot robo worm, another on an Ika, and one on a jerkbait next to shallow rock in the wind. Best was over 3lbs, up at Cachuma on that Ika. It was so determined to eat that Ika that it hit it twice! I kept that one. Orange flesh, cooked over a bbq, wrapped in tinfoil with lemon, butter, and onions. Yum! Trout fight really well for their size, like stripers. I try not to touch them when I unhook them, wet my rubber net first, and do all of my "surgery" over the water, so they can fall right back in.

You are a clever devil! How is the stock advanced?

Since pink is white and red mixed, could you do that to get this color?

Skimpy, you're getting a true following, like Star Wars! I look for your name soon on the list of Oscar nominees! Hahaha

I fish grass and tulles, so I like the Arkie head.

Making baits for money took all the joy out of it for me.

I would call the mold maker and ask for their help/advice.

No need, I got the gist. Again, a beautiful boat. Well done.

It's not slacking, it's called life happens! Take your time, play around with wood, see how you like turning and working it. I am a carpenter, and I love all things wood! Once you've gotten a little farther into the whole turned wood lure process, you will have plenty of time to experiment with other building materials.

That's a great link. I have never been able to seal wood, except for small balsa baits. And the problem with balsa baits is that they are more fragile, so need a good hardener before you paint, and a good, strong, hard top coat afterwards. That's why I began using Azek PVC Decking and Trimboard (thank you JR Hopkins) for almost all of my baits. It is totally waterproof, and hard, so water penetration isn't an issue, and it will hold up to fish teeth. I haven't turned PCV so I can't say how it turns, but it machines just like wood, with the same tools. Just wear a dust mask, and have a fan blowing past you so the dust goes out the door, because the sanding dust seems to have an electrostatic charge that make is stick to everything, including your sinuses.

Try shooting at 320+-, and holding pressure for at least five seconds.

I've tried that, and I found that the lips are too soft/flexible for crank baits. They are also too thick for small cranks.

That's what I found, too.

It's as clear as mud! Great looking boat!

I use the glass blasting media beads to make my senkos, but I add some salt, too, for flavor. I really think the fish hold it longer if it has salt. I use Baitjunky's soft, and add both heat stabilizer and softener, and I have been able get a senko that is both heavy and flexible. I use the basic 2 parts plastisol/1 part salt formula, only for 1 cup of plastisol I add 3/8 cup glass beads, and 1/8 cup salt. I add 1/4 tsp stabilizer, and 1 tsp softener.

I'll check and post what I find.