SW Lures

Oh heck it happens, bad week for me all the way around. Including fishing.......so I guess we move on. I believe like Travis stated to me and I will add a little bit more in, we all mean well and try so hard to design, create and have a product that delivers what each of us want or try to give to others. We get told how, we take the trial and error route or we check each step. I was told never till the ground twice, didn't have anybody to show me how, so I went the later. Now working as hard as I can to build on what I know from you people. I always believe you can learn from good and even the worst events. So...... Let's move on, Dale

Looks good. A lot of fishing going on and there is nothing wrong with that. Just putting something out to you about airbrushing, think in thin layers. Adding each layer upon the other until you get the shade of color you want. Try to stay at lowest pressure as much as possible. In time you can pre-mix or shade one color over another. When you do what Gliders suggested, do the white in layers till it becomes opaque. Your start to understand what we are saying. Keep it going, Dale

No I do this for my Guides that I hire for certain trips I take to fish. Got to keep them happy. They spend so much time on the water that they don't have time for this, so we barter and over time we have became friends. I make them baits that I can do. No real profit involved. I told them I would have it to them by the first of the year and doing this on weekends or whenever, it's not much time. About the bait, I was thinking about the head being made separate. Anyways that what I do, I will get an idea and mull over it until I'm happy. Then I do it and some times it goes pretty well on the first try. I'll let you know. Dale

As someone here stated that the weakest link is just that. This is very true. This is funny because I use the lightest line I can. We allow the fish to run and then we peruse it. I have had fish to pull me back and forth across the river, never saw what they were. One I cut off because I got exhausted the other broke off. Let's try this again, for me to make my point. I wanted to know if super glue would hold a reasonable amount of pressure against a straight (not twisted) hanger. I was amazed at the result. That's when I realize what another person here state (think it was BobP). Why use any through wires? I had to agree. Never used one until now for the only reasons that I have stated earlier. If you have read this debate Nathan, thank you for allowing it to run its course, it needed to. Dale ps, we can all hug and sang kumbaya. Sorry I couldn't help myself.

I tell you what, I have a load of fly's to start on (time line to meet) and after that I will start working on it and look you up no matter what. Dale

X2 with what AZ stated. You don't have to go extreme on the cost and still enjoy. Research brushing here, YouTube etc. Welcome, Dale

Gliders you are dead on. Get a good idea of what you can do, BUT assume nothing. A lot of these people here can put you in the right direction, but may not put you in the right lane which works for you. I trust what I see not what I'm told. Is this a bad thing for a personality? Can't say, but it works for me, has kept me safe. Gliders is right, find out what works for you. What you like! Dale

The reason I tested was because I was new at wooden baits number one. The second I was using super glue when everyone pounds the drums for epoxy, however super glue is a epoxy but not a two part. Third I was going after a species that in a certain environment is differently much stronger then any bass that I ever caught. Trust me I have caught some really nice bass. It's good to know that the eyes won't pull out, nor will they distort from a extreme strike. I have no fear anymore with what I make now. I was going to write more but it is no use. Take care, Dale

Lol that box looks just like mine. Excepted I reset the wood screw on mine. The stencils look great!

These guys here have been using baking soda for some time, these people turned me on to it. I went to harbor freight and bought one and was thinking this will allow me to learn about a small blaster, but it properly won't last long. Wrong still going for a nice price. It does fine all things considered. I may look at the Badger's next but if this one keeps this up before it wears out, I'll stay with it. Dale

Pretty interesting Strecher66. Is the thickness of the milk container the issue or the plastic make-up? I made a flat top box years ago out of scrap plywood, cabinet grade. This plywood gives you a smooth surface. I also made it big enough to do 1' baits. I just tape over the drill holes that I don't need open. Dale

We here debate heavily as you can tell, but when we do this you get our honest opinions. Then you can digest and do what works for you or change to another technique that will do better for you. I'm not going to lie, I will use a power tool in a second when needed. I didn't know what you have in money, just won't to say it doesn't matter. Enjoy your new hobby and keep us busy with lots of questions. Good luck, Dale

It will be awhile. I'll keep that in mind. I will have a lot going on very soon. Being a hobbyist I might as well just send you one. It most likely will be just before spring if then. Take care and thanks. Dale

I have to add a addendum to my above post. I'm making a swimbait that is similar to a Thunderstick by Storm. The tail of the bait is so thin and short that it's not practical to put in twisted eyes. I'm cutting it with a blade that's just smaller then a 1/32". I'm putting in a through wire hinge in it. I would not use this normally. I have to use this technique or change the design. That I won't do. To me it's depends on the design of the bait. Dale

Never used any screw eyes to this point. I've caught quiet a few really nice Smallies this summer and a few Bucketmouths of 4-7 lbs. No problems with twisted ss eyes w/super glue. But I don't use balsa much for my material either. I made a few for Musky (hard wood) but the guys didn't get any, however they did pick up some 30+" walleyes on the baits. No problems. I want to catch a 20+ lb striper in fast water or one of the guys gets a Musky, then I'll truly know about freshwater fishing. Point is glue/epoxy w/screw eyes or twisted wire would be fine in my opinion. I've tested wire eyes by having 55 lbs on the eye for days and a test up to 780 lb sudden impact, the pull was straight against the connection using super glue. No problems, other then the wire breaking and my bucket collapsing under the weight of the lead in it. Have a great day, Dale

Glade you figured it out. My duplicator uses a router with a cutter shaped like the follower. More I think about I start at the nose and move my way back to the tail and I'll keep doing this until I get it the way I want it. I keep looking down the centerline and marks to stay symmetrical. If I'm copying a bait I will use the profile gauge to check the work every now and again. Dale

I will state this opinion that I have stated many times, + one more. These baits that sell cheaper then the above mentioned, if you buy these you have a outstanding chance of getting just that.....cheap!! The above mentioned suppliers fish what they sell. That to me makes up the difference plus some in price. I have bought from some of them. I have never had a issue. I have bought from other suppliers and got frustrated. Frustrated...no issues...you know where I go. JMO Yep you may get lucky, but the odds will catch up with you. It got me. Dale

I was like wow, then realized that it had some age to the thread. Bad habit of mine. A few weeks ago I started on a bait that would have a round body and shorter then anything that I have done to this point. I was pleased that what these people stated to do, I was very similar. I'm now making one after another that are very similar. A profile gauge is very helpful to. I believe that a train eye is the ticket tho. Evidently paying attention to the people here will get you there better and quicker. Yes it's a very good thread. Dale

I had time to really look at your work bench. I thought I had some molds but dang. You got me by a few + a few. LOL I really got to make some room for painting bench with a booth. Dale

Mine is a smorgasbord of boards, I'm ashamed now. Very nice

I would say that one of the current experts on PVC is the one above ^^^^, Mark. Most likely the first to use it, if not its close enough. He has been the advocate for this type of material.

I like that bait Townie. Looking to hinge it in the tail mainly, maybe in 3-4 places. Mr. T your on the other end of the state. I misspelled the lake it is the Norris. About forty miles northeast of Knoxville. I travel there and few other place each spring. Beautiful area especially back off the main roads. Thanks

I saw that about a month ago and my helper and myself have done a couple. We have been doing it with tiger stripes. We put one color down (sunburst or whatever) then we move the stencil up just inside of the outline, then we go back over that with a light dusting of brown on a few baits. This stencil is a jagget outline. Solar called it a ghost effect we were calling it inlaying. Gotta change my terminology. Either way a really cool technique. He is always coming up with something.