CoreyH Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 TU Member 36 110 posts Report post Posted 4 hours ago (edited) I'm looking at making some buzzbaits for bass fishing. What gauge wire is going to be best for bass fishing applications? I'd be making 3/8 - 1/2 oz baits. Also, in order to make clean looking R bends and other bends (like the downward bend in a Cavitron-type buzzbait), should I be able to do that with just a pair of round nose pliers, or am I going to want to have a wire bending/forming tool of some kind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 I use the heavier wire forms. They’re .045 however they also come in .035. You can bend these with round nose pliers but at .08 cents a piece not sure it’s worth the time unless you had something custom in mind. 50 of them are 4 bucks and change from Barlows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 I like making my own wire forms but buzzbaits are a different story, at least for me. For 3/8oz I'm with Apdriver in that I like .045" but for 1/2oz I prefer .052". The .045" wire you can bend on a wire former depending on what you use but .052" requires a heavy duty option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyH Posted May 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 Thanks for the help and advice. I think I'll do what Apdriver suggested and buy the forms already pre-formed from Barlows. However, the Do-It mold I'm looking at getting shows a wire size of .050 for the 3/8 and 1/2 oz mold size. I've never used lead molds before, so I'm not sure if I have to use the .050 wire size or can I use the .045 with that mold? Same goes for hook size. They have a 3/0 size hook for the 3/8 oz cavity and a 4/0 for the 1/2 oz cavity. Can I upsize the hooks to a 4/0 for the 3/8 and 5/0 for the 1/2 oz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted May 11, 2020 Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 Usually you can upsize the hook by one size. On that mold for sure because the eye goes in the cavity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyH Posted May 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2020 So I can upsize the hook, which is good. Am I able to go down slightly in wire size from the .050 to the .045 or will that not work? If I have to stick with the .050 I will, but I feel like I'd prefer to go with the .045 if I can. Or build some with the .045 and some with the .050 to see which work best. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskat Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 .045 works in that mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyH Posted May 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 Thanks for the info...glad to know I can use the smaller wire with this mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
