Bassinfool

I had issues with Dead On bubbling as well to the point that I bought a vacuum chamber. Depending on how much you bought and what container it came in, I would HIGHLY suggest that you not shake the container and instead use a plastic tip mixer that you attach to a drill. Experienced much less bubbling when mixing this way. In my experience and considering where I live (central Alabama), moisture is normally the number one culprit when I get bubbles in my plastic. Moisture can also get in your colorants, flake, powders, and other things we put in our plastic. Salt is also an absolute magnet for moisture.

It probably won't be as clear as fresh plastisol but as long you mix it sufficiently it should still work just fine.

I just ordered some to check them out this past weekend from Collecting Warehouse. Once they come in I will report back on quality, etc.

I just make baits on the side, but I have a buddy of mine who absolutely loves the AI stinger mold and will order 50-100 baits at a time in a single color which is great because that makes it much easier on me to just make up 4 cups of plastic and go go go.

I currently work in the medical field and there is simply no possible way I could quit to make fishing lures and hope to come even close to matching the salary and benefits of my current position. For me, making lures is a fun and enjoyable distraction from the living hell that is being responsible for 100+ staff in a COVID ICU although I do sell/trade a few bags of plastic on the side, mostly to some close friends. Maybe when I retire I will use bait making as a way to supplement my retirement. That being said, I don't want to dissuade you from going down this path if it is truly something you want to do and be successful at but I would caution you to first take a very serious look at what that would mean for both yourself and your family.

Buy it right and buy it once is what I always say. Sure, the upfront cost of the BassTackle injectors is higher but they will literally last you forever and they're the best quality available. Do you really want the headaches involved with some of the cheaper options? I have several injectors- 2 from Bear's Baits (no longer in business) and a couple of BassTackle ones. The BT are the best option on the market BY FAR and their customer service literal cannot be beaten.

Do you have any pictures of the finished bait of the 4.5 Hollow body swimbait?

I only use 1.5-2 tabs at most. Much more than that and the skirt gets a bit too full.

It's not a problem I have very often. In the event that it does occur, a drop of super glue on the shank of the hook does the job.

These are the hooks I have been using. https://www.barlowstackle.com/Mustad-91768NP-BN-Jig-Hook--P403.aspx https://www.barlowstackle.com/VMC-7346-45deg-Swimbait-Jig-Hook-P3787.aspx

I just use an EWG and split rings. I would be worried that the bait keeper/coil would interfere with the split ring in the hook eye and cause the bait not to run correctly.

I know you said non braided but if you want really hi vis line that will last a long time then I can't recommend braided line enough. I have two hi vis braids that I use for wacky rig, shaky head and drop shot. The more expensive option is the Sunline SX1 braid which I have in 12lb test that I put an 8lb fluorocarbon leader on for drop shot/Ned rig. The other option that I have started using recently is the Daiwa J-Braid X4 which I have in 15lb test to an 8-10 pound leader for my wacky rig and drop shot. I really can't tell you how much of a difference the braid makes when you are catching finicky fish. The braid is super super sensitive and being able to see those subtle bites makes a world of difference. I truly believe if you try it, you won't regret it. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Sunline_SX1_Braided_Line_Hi-Vis_Yellow/descpage-SXHV.html http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_J-Braid_X4_Braided_Line_Fluorescent_Yellow/descpage-JBX4.html

Top inject can be tricky. You may need a sprue extender.

Can we stop with the dick measuring competition that's going on and either get back on topic or close this thread down? We're all adults here, supposedly, so let's stop acting childish and represent ourselves and the bait making community in a way that we would be proud of.

Man, I really really like that mold. Nice work.

For mine I use watermelon red for my top color and my bottom color is 2 drops of Carolina pumpkin, 1 drop of white in 1/2c plastic with .035 black flake, .015 copper and .015 gold flake. There are several different variations of this color so make it up the way you like it.

http://www.basstackle.com/6_Treat_Worm_p/165-kj-4.htm The zoom bait is 5" long, this worm from BT is 6" but is the closest I have seen. They also make one that is 4.35" that is a great bait but isn't quite as big bodied as the magnum but still bigger than most other worms that size.

Some colorants flow better than others. If they're thick, you may need to thin them out some. You can do this by adding some worm oil/scent or raw plastisol to the colors.

JB's fish sauce has some really great stuff and in several different variations. He's also a great guy to work with so give him a look.

I got mine off Amazon which was the best price I could find at the time with free shipping. I usually dip my baits 2-3 times and they're good to go. A couple of them have a little bit of hook rash but it's no quicker than any of the commercial baits out there so I've been more than happy with its performance.

My only concern would be that it is a silicone mold. In the past, I have used a propane torch to heat my belly color after it has cooled and then poured my line or back color on top of it to get good seams. You could try this with either a torch, lighter or heat gun and I would try the heat gun first as it is less likely to mess up your mold than the high heat from the torch or lighter.

Can't really help with the packaging other than to suggest using packaging in the future that will give you plenty of wiggle room and not to push all the air out of the bag. That little bit of air will help to keep the baits loose in the pack and not sticking together and getting bent. As far as your bent baits, like others have said you can try the hot water. I don't use boiling water but water that has nearly reached the boiling point. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't you just have to try your luck and see.

Looks very nice. If you ever need some testing give me a shout!

If I could only choose one supplier for my colorants and flake it would be LureWorks. Consistency and quality of their products keeps me coming back on top of great customer service.