fishordie79

Hey TU Folks! So this is the first billed/lipped crank bait I have attempted and I’m not sure where I should put the line tie. I rarely use these types of baits so I really just haven’t gotten around to making one until now. I’m thinking I should put it at the spot where the lip meets the wood for this style of bait but I’m just not sure. What do you folks suggest?

@Big Epp @Anglinarcher I actually work on a US military installation in Germany and have a US address that can be shipped to there so most things you guys are able to get in the US I can still get here. The life of a US expat:)

Because you mentioned packaging, do you happen to know a good place online where one can order bulk packaging suited to packaging lures?

Hey TU Folks! Just wondering what you all use, if anything, to clean your paint brushes after applying epoxy? I usually just throw them away but I’m tired of being so wasteful. How do you all handle this?

One of my buddies and I have a standard practice when we fish. We start out using similar baits in profile and action but in colors that are in the opposite end of the spectrum. It is almost always the case that one or the other of us will start catching while the other is less successful. Once we find “the color” that is catching the other will switch to that color. We do this even if we are not in the same boat. A couple of months ago I was in the yak and he was in an inflatable and I got a message from him about an hour into the day, after myself having been unsuccessful, that simply said “green is the color”. I switched to green and it was off to the races:)

Awesome idea Alex!

I have a six gallon compressor with regulator and condensation chamber. It is loud but my shop is in its own building out behind my house so when it turns on the only person affected by the noise level is me. That said, I'll turn it on and let it fill to capacity and can then I can usually get about an hour of airbrushing in before having to turn the unit on to refill. So for me this has been a pretty good option. It's louder each time I fill it but it doesn't run constantly.

Yeah man these fish are nuts. You can see videos of them on YouTube hunting pigeons on the Ebro river in Spain. They swim up to the shore and wait for the birds to venture into the water for a quick bath and then with super speed they just suck them in. Nuts!

@Big EppThanks for the suggestions brother! I'll check out the Smithwick's stuff tonight! Also, nice big bait man! I need to order some hardware to make something like that. Those propellers would likely get 'em interested:) @4/0 Sure thing man if you'd like to send a picture of that thing I will gladly take a look at it and see if it may be something I could incorporate into my deign! @mark poulson That is for sure something that would get their attention. I'd even think about putting some rattles in there for added noise. These fish hunt mainly on vibration and smell so the louder/more wake the better. @eastman03 Sure thing man! Any info would be greatly appreciated. I'm definitely thinking of adding lot of rattles to whatever the final design is.

Hi everyone and thank you for the responses. I apologize for not getting back on here sooner but work has had me occupied hardcore for the last three weeks or so. I'll respond to you all today at some point.

Hey TU Folks! Last year I was with a buddy out at a lake that has a good population of Wels catfish. We were out there for pike and I was throwing a Westin Freddy the Frog in American Bullfrog decor. I had removed the bottom treble and only had the single hook mounted to the ass end of the frog because I was throwing into some really thick lily pads and was trying to avoid too many hang ups. That lure kicks up a pretty good wake and moves a lot of water. So on one cast I was retrieving the lure and just as it cleared the edge of the pads heading back into open water there is this loud sucking noise and the lure is gone. After a short fight I had my first topwater Wels catfish, maybe a meter (40 inches or so) long. Not a big Wels by any standard but first one on topwater so special nonetheless. That got me thinking. I have exclusive access to a small shallow lake that is ruled by four or five Wels, a couple of which are pushing two meters (80 inches or so). I'd like to get out there this summer with the GoPros rolling and some big hand made poppers. I haven't made any poppers yet so I think this will be my next project. I saw Mikko from Solarfall Baits make a big pike/muskie popper the other day so I have somewhat of an idea of what I might do but was wondering if you all would care to share your experiences in making poppers with me. Ballast, body shape, type of wood, etc. I'll definitely have to do a through wire on these because I lost one of these giants last summer and I'm not about to take any chances next time. I'm looking for something that will move a lot of water and make a lot of noise. So what do you all think? How would you go about a project of this nature? As always thanks to everyone!

@Anglinarcher Thank you for your permission and thank you for all of your help!