Senkosam Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Recently I went to a NYBASS.com seminar and took notice of some new super size tubes that EW had for sale. I couldn't believe a fish wouldn't choke on some of the fat monsters displayed, but bass anglers were excited about them enough to buy them. The baits were dipped eight times and they resembled the Big Boy Atom bomb of WW2. Year before last, I decided to cut a small tube in half and push it on to the front of a common 3" curly tail grub (try it.) I immediately noticed that: 1. since it was heavier, it cast easier and further on a light jig head. 2. since the weight was behind the jighead, it had a better horizontal glide (swim). 3. and most important, the grubs now had a head - an easier target to go for and a more-meat-trigger. Every species responded with more bites, especially when the bite was tough! As far as thicker sticks are concerned, sometimes slim is nice, but thicker is better, as long as softness is maintained. The Ika is a thick short bait, but the bulk of it allows 2 & 3. I'm not fond of LC molded, flat sided, dull surface lures. A round shape has different hydrodynamic motions than a lure with one flat surface (except for use as jerk sticks) and to me, is more appealing to the eye (my eye, the fish could care less). So, dipping can be used to : 1. accent the surface of a lure with different colored glitter and plastic. I tried clear plastic with glitter over a darker plastic to emphasize the color in the plastic.(Glitter is subdued in dark or salted plastic.) I dipped light colored lures in light colored plastic with dark and light glitter - totally different appearence. 2. make an LC molded bait into a super shiny/ smooth lure that is totally round. To maintain tail-taper, the plastic must be hot and the lure must be pulled out fast and placed in cold water once it almost stops dripping hot plastic. 3. make thin tubes, worms or grub bodies as thick as you want them, with a little more added weight. I've always like Kalin Grubs because of their round bodies (vs. Mr. Twister's liner bodies and tail that doesn't match. This will also alter the appearence of grubs and worms with one flat surface and give a trailer a fatter meat portion. 4. to alter, enhance or add color contrast. Clear coat with glitter, almost gives a 3d affect due to it's slight depth. The process is fast and easy. Heat-it, dip it, cool it. Sam The picture show pairs of before-&-after baits and a prototype bait that were benefited by dipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj_bill Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Hey Sam do you heat the target bait as well or do you just dip the cold bait into heated plastic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigZ Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Hey, that's a great idea SenkoSam! Gonna have to try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted February 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Dip the cold lure in plastic that had the consistency of thin cough medicine; It'll drain easier back into the pot. For sticks, I hold one end - dip 3/4, cool in cold water - grasp the other end and dip the last 1/4. I started looking at a few of my old manufactured tubes, worms and grubs and noticed that there was sometimes a fine clear coat containing fine glitter, that was probabley injection-poured in two stages, with the surface coat molded in first and then the core injected second. Our process is reversed. The clear or lightly colored coat magnifies the glitter beneath and makes it brighter due to magnification. It was a nice discovery and applicable to any soft lure. It sure has improved the appearence of LC sticks, plus the slimmer baits of plastic molds (due to shrinkage) is a plus since they can be enlarged from end to end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskat Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 This is another reason I frequent this site. Always new ideas! I have a flat sided grub mold that I don't use. I'll give it a shot now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj_bill Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Thanks Sam! I will give it a shot this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJFishRGuy Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Frank, You are DA MAN! Great ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted February 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I came up with 6 new designs, which I'll post tomorrow with pics. One is in the shape of a 5" fat Tiki Stick and completely hollow, except for the ends. The walls are thinner than a Snag Proof lure. Anyone figure out how I did it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJFishRGuy Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I'm guessing that you poured about 1/4 to 1/3 the amount of plastic usually used for a stick into a 2 piece stick mold and turned the mold constantly while the plastic was setting up. This would coat the outside of the cavities, which would set up first, while the liquid plastic was evenly redistributed on the inside by the constant turning as it hardened. Free sample to the first one to get it right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sj_bill Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Sam, Did you coat something solid then remove it after the first coat???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted February 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Nope, but NJguy is close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJFishRGuy Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Forgot to mention that you would have to block the pouring hole with something, like the scrap plastic you cut off a stick after de-molding it. You could either coat it with something to prevent the fresh plastic from sticking, or simply cut it off after the fresh plastic is dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted February 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Getting hotter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badfish03 Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Dipping a balloon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe S. Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 If the ends are sealed I would say you put something in the mold that had a covering of some sort on it as a release agent, then once you poured the plastic in and the shell was formed, you sliced the bait open, pulled out the insert then redipped the hollow bait to seal the slice??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senkosam Posted February 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Nah! NJguy wins half the prize money. Answer: 1. I pour the 5" Tiki stick mold 3/4 of the way. 2. I turn the mold upside down so that most of the plastic pours out back into the pyrex container. 3. Before all the plastic is out, I take a flat piece of cardboard and cap the pour hole, allowing the remaining plastic to form a solid end while the mold is still upside down. The ends are solid and 3/4s of the core is air filled, resulting in a bait that is more compressible than a Snag Proof Worm. It will not float a 4/0 hook, but falls very slowly. Pic to follow. Thanks for trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamdiarrhea Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Sweet ideas. Just went out and dipped a couple of grubs real quick, awesome. Can't believe I haven't thought of it myself What I used to do with tubes is throw a layer of salt out on the counter - after you dip and while the plastic is still semi-soft throw it in salt and roll it back and forth. The salt will stick in the plastic and leave a zillion small holes behind after it dissolves. The holes will trap small bubbles and give your bait a different look. TD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
