stratmanv

Vman, pm sent

HJS, This issue is a result of testing done on salmonoid species in Maine waters that contain both Bass and Trout/Salmon species. Results found undigested plastic baits in the stomaches of trout species that were swelling up and taking so much space as to prevent them from eating real food, and causing them to die of malnutrition for lack of a better word. They went as far as to deem one lake "no bass tournaments allowed", with talk of others to be named. They have since stopped it there, with the Dept of Fish and Wildlife urging fisherman to make the switch to bio plastics. How far this will go is anyones guess. A recent study has stated that as much as 25 million pounds of plastics are added to the bottom of the lakes in the U.S anually! That number is staggering. I just returned from a week in Maine and have been in contact with the director of fisheries management quite a bit recently. He is receiving a lot of political pressure from "trouties" about this issue. I only know this stuff because he's been in contact about a product I produce that he thinks could be a step in the right direction. The fact of the matter is that even biodegradeable plastics take far too long to break down to prevent this from happening. This should be a wakeup call for any fisherman who throws used baits over the side of the boat to think twice about ever doing it again. We all need to do our part before we all suffer the consequences.

MF has a color called Crayfish. Poured it for the first time last night. When held up to light it is a light shade of pink..very shrimpy looking. You might try that.

Now THAT is a mouthfull!! HaHa, that is awesome, great job!

We used aluminum stock, a drill press and a dremel. My partner did the work,he is much better at that stuff than I.

Santeerangerman, I made a mold to accept 4/0 or 5/0 EWG Mustads. They have yet to make it to my website, right now only Gami 5/0. I make them in nine colors and 4 weights.

I use weighted hooks with hitch-hikers.Quick, easy, and similar to texas rigging without having to push thru the whole bait. Pic is an example using a 6" fluke but same concept.

Is this what you are looking for? It is single strand. PM me if interested. I bought it on ebay and really don't need it. It is thick cut brown.

Thanks for the encouragement fellas!

Awesome color!!!

I'll tell you what I tried late last night, P&P rattles makes a plastic extractor which basically takes a core sample out of your plastic, and leaves a void in the center of the bait. I have one hanging that I made right before bed last night but haven't seen the results yet. I imagine it will be a smallish cavity, but a cavity none the less. Because you extract the plastic from the nose of the bait, I am quessing a second dip will be needed on the nose to give it some meat for rigging.

Longhorn, I had thought about that with my one part mold, but wondered how the hook slot doesn't fill in during the dipping process?

Just dipped in clear plastic. A lot harder plastic than the bait itself.

Yes, I poured them in an off white and the paint was nothing more than an experiment. I used pearl powdered coloring and brushed it on. Hard to see in pics (because I stink with a camera) but they have a cool almost holographic quality, sort of like the way a trouts skin looks.

I can see a that being a "tailbiters" dream. A couple of short strikes and you will be left with a nub.

After hours of failed attempts at dipping hollow swims, I have decided that dipping requires much more patience than I possess. So with that realization I did what any other stubborn bait maker would do and find a way around it. I promply broke out a bag of POP and made a 2 part mold, and within 24 hours produced my first few solid body swims. Obviously nto perfected yet, but let me know what ya'll think of these.

Actually I think you are on the money. My divider comes up about a 1/4 inch short of the beginning of the pour spout and the 2 colors meet and flow side by side. I will try making one with the divider higher into the spout and see what happens. Thanks for the insight.

That's a great idea. I assume the challenge with that is centering the cavity on-axis. Anyone else try that with success? Any tips?

Here is my first attempt with new divided cup. I also used painted flashing. Oddly I am not getting the swirl effect, but am getting a pretty decent laminate.

Stamina carries them in white,black and clear.

I agree with Ryan, imo,Mustad's have a much sharper hook point.

Have a half dozen myself, all awesome molds.

Great day to be a Giants fan!

Congrats Tubeman, well deserved!

Jim, tried your pop insulater last night but made it around a Bud light aluminum bottle-can. They are nice and tall and work great for dipping. Plastic stayed workable for about 15 minutes. Great call dude.