River jigin Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hi , Well before I say anything i want to say thanks for all the help though havent been asking questions I still have learned everything I know form yall. I caught my personal best bass(10-12 lbs what do ya think)today on my own hand pour beaver in watermellon red. We were fishing on my first high school fishing club trip out on a members ranch with some really nice stock tanks and the other cool thing was that I was outfishing about everybody two to one with my lures. I have only been pouring for about a month now and I am addicted already. Now I have to spend more money plus my other hobby yall got me into , jig making. I dont know why but my past 4 batches of lures have been alot harder than the first ones i made. I am cooking with micro in pyrex with calhoun 1207. I used about the same amount of salt throughout so I dont know why it is harder. Thanks, Vincent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamSpartacus Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 I don't know about your question as I've never poured a bait in my life, but that bass is nice! Even if it wasn't on your own bait it would be impressive. Good Work Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redg8r Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 I dont know why but my past 4 batches of lures have been alot harder than the first ones i made. I am cooking with micro in pyrex with calhoun 1207. I used about the same amount of salt throughout so I dont know why it is harder. Nice hog, Bet you were proud. To you question, that is usually a symptom of not fully mixing the plastisol. The hardener settles to the bottom (easier to rectify with Calhouns) So I'm guessing your getting closer to the end of your batch & getting harder baits. If thats the case you could add softener for the remaining batch & make sure you stir the heck out of the new batch you buy, stir it well when you open it, stir it again each time you use it. Hope that helps & congrats on a nice catch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Awesome fish. Great job! My first bass on one of my own plastics was about 9 inches, but I was thrilled. There is nothing like fooling one on a home made lure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 I think you realy need to get a scale. That is a nice fish and definatly something to be proud of, However a 12 lber is MUCH larger than that fish. I would estimate it at 8- 8 1/2lbs I dont know why but bass weights have always been my pet pieve. It took me so long and I worked soo hard to get my first ten that it just bothers me when I see a fish overestimated. Do not take this the wrong way. An 8 is a big bass and a great catch. I just personaly could not count a 10 unless it was weighed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveh Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 nice bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipLip Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Nice bass. Being from NH the largest i've seen in reallife is a 8 and change. I need to travel for double digits. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maltrout Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Wow....Thats a hog to say the least. Biggest bass I ever caught was an 8 pound 1 ounce largemouth I caught last year on a Carolina rigged sweet beaver in GP that I made. In fact its the one I am holding in my avatar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TightLine Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Nice fish! And maltrout too. Remelting plastic can cause it to get harder. I know I observe that behavior with calhoun's tube plastic. - Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickemslew Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 leave it to matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallie Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Just like you don't know how quick your car is till you run it against a clock, you don't know how big your fish is till you hang it from a scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSC Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Good For You Good Lookin Fish .. and on your own bait makes it even better .... Frame that Picture ... that size fish you don't get every time out....... At least I don't ... JSC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 I'm with Matt...it is a great fish to catch and especially on a lure you made but not a 10 to 12. I don't mean to hurt feelings here but facts is facts. Matt is only telling the truth and he should not receive any negative comments for that. I thought the same thing when I saw the photo but didn't say anything. Great job on the catch and the bait making. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ifishutah Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I really think that's awesome that you smoked em on your own beaver. You guys questioning the weight take yourselves waaaay to seriously. He's not claiming a state record or even bf in a tournament, back off the guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDC Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Great fish Riverjiggin. It's always nice to have an audience too. I caught the biggest fish I've caught in the past 20 years (8.53lb) in January on one of my baits. 20 years ago I caught an 11.8 Both on scales. I don't always agree with Matt, but he's got this one right. I don't think he meant any harm nor do I, but my first thought was 8lbs. too. Nobody's taking it that serious. There's just a large difference in a 8 and 12 lb fish. I'd take fish like Riverjiggin's all day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr316 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 you smoked em on your own beaver. Now thats funny... I don't care who ya are:lol: Thats a hog, I have no Idea on the weight, they don't grow em that big up here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mradamh Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 There' not one person on this site that hasn't caught a fish and over estimated its weight. Or told a tale about the big mama that got away when you really pulled the hook outta his mouth trying to yank 'em in the boat. My grandpa always told me that all fisherman are liars...I've personally never caught a fish that big and I applaud that hawg whether it's 6-1/2 or 10. That's a beauty...I bet I would've said 10 too. Simply because I've never been close to 10...heck 7. Something that big would make me overrate it just due to not being close to that before. You've got a pass from me fella...that's a pig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Also keep in mind he said "10 to 12 pounds". 8 pounds is not too far from that for a youngster who's excited about a BIG fish he just caught on one of his own baits. I honestly thought the fish was smaller than 10, but what the heck.........I'da posted that picture on here too. It's hard to catch one that size ANYWHERE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinamike Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 C'mon guys, this is the kid's biggest fish ever. Sit back and recall that same moment for yourself. I know when I was 15 years old that poor 6lb largemouth that was laying on that bed when I chunked that 5" bream on a 6/0 or 7/0 hook, 50lb test line on an ocean rod that suddenly got dragged up through the cow pasture not reeled, mind you, dragged, sure did look like 10lbs to me. River Jigin, if it looked 10lbs to you brother, then it looked 10lbs to me too. Son, you keep fishing and keep making baits, that's a great fish and you did a great job! And for the rest of you guys, let's help keep them on the water and off the streets. That kid could be out vandalizing bass boats for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River jigin Posted April 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I still think it is over 8 pounds and more torwards 10 because my old personal best was a 7.14 on a scale and this was way bigger. Maybe 12 was a little but out of range but other people there have caught 8 pounders and they said that was the biggest fish they have ever seen, but we all have our own opinions. Thanks guys for all the replies but there was another question about the hardening of the plastic so is there any other ideas why. And for the softener, about how much do I put in the plastic and do I put it in before or after cooking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefaddiction Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Well boys this here is a 10.5lb from Auburn, Georgia on a fishing charter I went on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattlures Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 I didnt mean any harm. I cant help myself. A trophy fish means a lot to me. I wont count one unless I weigh it. To me it just seems to downgrade the accomplishment when somebody catches a 7 8 or 9 and calles it a 10. I see it all the time. I know most of them truely believe there fish is at least 10lbs. They always think somethings wrong with the scale and check it against weights etc.. The scale cant be right.... I myself did this many years ago in my quest for my first 10lber. I will never forget it. I caught an 8lb 10oz and I knew I finaly did it. I couldnt believe that when I finaly caught my 10 my stupid scale was off and reading 8.10. well guess what. the scale was right on. People just dont realize how huge a 10lber is. Out here in CAli nobody even is impressed with a 10 unless the actualy see the fish. Then they all think its a teener. A lot of this has to do with all the 10lbers that are realy 7's 8's and 9's. Again I mean no harm but to me its NOT ok to just call a fish ten. and its NOT ok to tell "fish stories" I have lied before about where I caught fish but not about the size. An 8 is a great fish and something to be proud of. Most bass fisherman have not caught one that big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallie Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Matt - what do you mean "Most bass fisherman have not caught one that big". A lot of people at work know I bass fish. Every summer I get told by half a dozen guys at work they caught a ten. LOL I am sensitive to it like you. My personal best is a 5.73 largemouth. Not 5.5, not 5.75 but 5.73 on the tournament scales. I hate it when guys at work say "what's your biggest?" and when I tell them, they say really, I caught an 10 pounder last summer. It was probably a 4 at best. I went fishing at Falls Lake several years ago and there as a tournament going on. I asked a boat where the weigh in was and went to watch. Winners had a 14.5 and if I didn't see it get weighed, I would have thought it was at least 20. You are right, people have a hard time judging a fishes weight, especially when they haven't see a lot of fish weighed or many good sized fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhorn Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Vincent, On your plastic question my guess is that the plastic wasn't mixed well enough...the hardener component of the plastic sinks so the later batches would have more hardener even if mixed well. Calhoun separates rather quickly so mix well before pouring. Also I meant you no harm...just giving my opinion since you asked us what we thought. I'm glad to see you interested in fishing. I used to live in San Antonio...I'll bet some on this site are wondering what the heck a stock tank is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastorshane Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Reguardless of the weight, great fish River Jigin. I'm certainly no judge of any thing even the weight of fish. But thats a nice fish, especially in these states like mine that actually have winters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
