custom spinnerbait

[george12182]

I am trying to make a spinnerbait similar to the strike king rocket shad. I posted some pics for those that aren't familiar with this bait. It's basically the frame size of an 1/8 oz crappie spin with a weight up to a 1/2 oz. They also use a double hook that just slides on a loop that is in place of where the hook is.

I never poured any spinnerbait heads before. I have made some with premade heads before. I just ordered a style h do it mold off some one from this site and am waiting for it to arrive. I now am trying to come up with a way to make this bait. Here's some stuff I thought of.

1) Just order some premade spinnerbait frames for an 1/8 oz spinnerbait. However these use .029 diameter wire. Will this have trouble fitting in a mold that calls for .035 diameter wire? This way I wouldn't be able to use the double hooks though.

2) Order .035 diamter wire and one of those little blue benders and make my own smaller frames. Will any size frame fit in the mold? Also do you think it would be possible to make that loop and don't put any hook in the mold so I could use a double hook.

[braveviper]

I can see trouble getting the frog hook to fit in a mold. I like your idea though and I hope you figure it out. The little blue bender is a great investment for under 30 dollars.

[george12182]

If I use the double hook, it wouldn't go in the mold. It has an open shank. So it would slip on the loop afterwords.

[reeves]

George,

It's not as complicated as it appears to you. If you are going to order the pre-made wireform, they come in different diameters. I think I am reading that you want to use a .029 dia. wire in a mold that calls for .035. Not a problem as the worst thing that will happen is you will get a little flashing of lead where the wire leaves the head, very easy to clean off.

You can replace the hook with a wireform that you can make easily on the little blue bender. I would recommend at least .035 wire for this, better if you went up to a .040. Just make a hook "J" on one end in the horizontal position to attach to the safety pin wireform and a loop on the other end in the vertical position to attach your hook. I may have made it sound complicated, but really it isn't.

You asked if any size form will fit in the mold - YES up to the size wire recommended by Do-it, after that you may have to get out the dremel and open it to the desired size you need.

By doing what I described above, you can thus eliminate the hook and replace it with the wire.

Keep us posted on your progress, and good luck with the project.

[Howard Capone]

george12182, I have worked with frog hooks and I don't see why you wouldn't build the lead head with a closed loop and modify the mold with a dremel as stated by reeves. you can install the frog hook after. I also wanted to suggest you try a split ring and a 2/0 stinger style hook used on spinner baits. With the split ring you can add a small willow for sound and added flash like a sweedish pimple. With the split ring design a twister tail on the single hook, will give the tail a back and forth motion as it travels through the water and still be semi weedless like the frog hook. Good luck.

Howard Capone

[Ogajiga]

The existing wire tail loop might have to be rotated to a horizontal rather than vertical alignment to accomodate split ring attachment of certain hardware.

[george12182]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone. I got my mold in and am going to be buying the rest of the supplies soon. I'll be sure to keep everyone up to date when I start getting some finished products together.