Ogajiga

OK, guys, last word. I have been busy on this and although I was advised not to disclose details I would strongly recommend NOT getting involved in "blacksun385" auctions. Thanks for all the member support.

I get a lot of Do-its on eBay. Put a search for "mold" under the sporting goods>fishing category in your browser "favorites" section and check it every 2-3 days max. Don't specify the model# or name in your search parameters because many sellers don't list them in title or description. Advise that if you really want a mold you might need to pay more than current new prices if the mold is discontinued and in demand.

Don't know why, but some new virgin aluminum molds will not pour full castings at first, even when warmed up. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, hours, or days of break in pouring without hooks before the annoying casting voids disappear. Sometimes one or two cavities refuse to fill out completely at all and are best left unpoured. On some airtight molds a light careful sanding of the mold faces to allow air to escape from the cavities during fill up helped, but not always. In that case, the mold halves can be cracked slightly to pour full castings though maybe with a bit of flash.The more molds you have, the more interesting challenges you'll encounter - I stopped counting around 50.

Correction: The color shift is mostly because Crystallina reflects the opposite color it refracts, so the glitter needs direct sunlight for max effect. Still, a different kind of flash from regular metallic flash glitter even in lower light. I think Lure Craft might have a finer pearl version of this color shift material.

Thanks "fish devil". I think I should wait for my VISA dispute to be resolved before dealing with the Feds? Because Paypal wording is vague, I thought there was a 45 day wait period to file a complaint when their online form didn't submit, but in review found a complaint must be filed WITHIN 45 days. Filled out online complaint form again and it failed to submit. I think that eBay erases suspected fraud records and Paypal dead ends the complaint process to avoid issues that could cost them. So far I am totally disappointed with their failure to help resolve my fraud loss.

Remember the suspected scammer "mcr2006wow" phone # I posted for LedHed 402-935-7733 ? Well I Googled it and got many references including this one: "08/21/2006 # DEBIT PURCHASE -171.89 PAYPAL *WOWMINEC 402-935-7733" which was a report of fraudulent use of a debit card on Paypal. So, again I caution that the suspended seller has another active eBay account "blacksun385" selling the same Gami hooks.

You can get interesting flash effects by mixing "Crystallina" fine glitter from Hagen's into a clear liquid top coat over a solid color base coat. Crystallina is semi-transparent so it wont appear too peppery over a light color base. For some reason different colors of Crystallina mixed together flash separately depending on viewing angle making for some interesting color shift effects.

Our local TV fishing host used to say "any color works as long as its black". And the overwhelming choice for Hilo Bay papio runs is clear glitter twisters. Around 10 years ago I mail ordered some blue pearl/pink pearl lam color "dos" and found they worked great. Then tried some blue pearl and pink pearl single color baits & found the pink pearl better. Then got some hot pink "Spike it" dye and really started getting some action on our ocean coastlines. So, thanks "cadman" and all others with pink issues for making my secret lures possible. Don't know if I should ask, but what is a c******bait? Now, of the thousands(?) of TU members only one is beautiful?

My vote would be for the Mustad Ultra Point 32746 as an upgrade from EC 570. Top of the line light wire would be Gami 114 if you're willing to pay the price.

OK, but does yer missus ever outfish you with pink? If so, lets see what whupped ya.

I think there are some archived threads on this subject. Pure bismuth or tin and their alloys are do-able with a lead pouring setup. My last price quotes for 100 lb. lots was $18.50/lb. bismuth and $12.00 tin. I think other members might know some small lot sources, but the prices are likely to be higher.

Now that I've got your attention, are there any gals around here? I think female creativity could add a unique level of skill to our craft, and would be interested in knowing what you're doing.

Oh oh, with a handle like yours, the fish are in for a rough time out your way. Yeah, just go ahead and Do-it this winter, and if you ask the right questions here you might get the attention of some serious jig men.

Right now on eBay you can buy painted with double dot eyes 1/64 & 1/32 round heads less than $10 per 100. Dunno how anyone can sell that cheap, but there it is.

Lets see, you wanna buy a $60 melter and a $40 mold or few to save some money? Also hooks, lead, and maybe some paint, fluid bed, heat gun etc.? The Do-it JNR-6-A mold can make 1/80, 1/64, 1/32, & 3 larger sizes plain ball no collar round heads.

First 16,000 hook auction came out to $.042 per hook then I got greedy and kept bidding for a better deal even though the 16K was a lifetime supply. Finally "won" another 16K for what LedHed mentioned, but the seller demanded extra S&H to ship to HI so the total was almost $1,300 for 32,000. But sh** happens so I can only "HANG ON" and learn some lessons.

Sorry, I was mistaken, rechecked "mcr2006wow" feedback and found one older +feeback for a 16,000 Gami hooks auction. Couldn't verify how many of those auctions were closed because the seller's transaction records have been deleted from the eBay system. Also found out why my PayPal complaint form wouldn't submit - theres a 45 day waiting period after a transaction closes. In contrast, eBay erased all evidence even before they sent me notice of the sellers account suspension. I wonder why?

"I hope this is a good seller" - Palmetto Balsa lotsa luck to you if you bid their items. Check the records of their suspended ID "mcr2006wow" if eBay hasn't deleted it yet. Although they have sold close to 20 cases of 16,000 Gami hooks in the past month you will notice no feedback for those being received. Having been personally ripped off for $1,300, lied to, then ignored by this seller your scolding critisizm when you "don't know what the truth is" adds insult to injury.

Yup, thats them M. & Carol Rupert aka "mcr2006wow". Hard to track em cause their email is with an Arizona ISP but my credit card statement lists a phone # in CA. They also have another eBay ID "blacksun" with area listed as MO still auctioning the same 16,000 Gami hooks after the other account was suspended. LedHed, if you're interested, they might be in your area 402-935-7733.

Yes they do wobble but how much depends on what you attach to the head and the speed of your retrieve. I too use one size over hooks with a preference for wider bite Sickles. My favorite application for these in the smaller sizes is as a finesse swim jig over (not through) shallow weed beds. I cast them in lighter pure tin to enable shallower and slower running than heavier lead.

Sometimes you can find deals on big lot closeout items on eBay but I just got scammed big time on some Gami hooks auctions. The seller was a pro, built up a 100% feedback in a coupla months selling small lots legitimately then used the pic of a box to sell undelivered case lots of 16 boxes. I and a lot of others are out some major $. Attempting to file claims with Paypal was a waste of time following dead end links and non-submitting forms. And in disputed cases eBay deletes transaction records so you gotta be quick to save any info. "if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn't"

Yeah, I too noticed the healthy tail. That chunk must have been a kicker.

Wobble Jigs - More a slow faller and shallow runner than a wobbler. Hooks ride point upright but are smallish and hook eye position traps weeds easily. Line can rub the nose on sizes over 1/8. Tough mold to find. Anyone want to try some just provide me an address.

In addition to moisture seal out bagging, alloying 4+% tin into your lead will retard oxidation almost indefinitely.

Yeah, if you're in an area where salt is on the road from sea spray or freeze control that can get into the wheel weights and absorb water in humid conditions. Some years back I bought some antimony melt flux from a guy on eBay which was some kind of pink salt that sucked enough water from the air to become droplets in minutes. So atmospheric humidity could be a risk factor to consider.