Swim Bait inserts??

[gunnie3035]

I've been making baby e knockoffs for some time now. I just got Del's chub e mold [thanks, Del]. The aluminum inserts look very neat, but they don't have enough weight and are too expensive. Even with salt and stiffer plastic the bait just isn't heavy enough. I've poured some with lead wire wrapped around the insert and it helps some.

The reason I knocked off the baby e in the first place was because the color selection isn't what I needed and the weight of the factory baits arent heavy enough to go down past five feet on a steady retrieve.

The Mojo weights will work, but they are very costly for a sinker and I haven't seen a do-it mold for a Mojo weight. I don't see a need to cut grooves in the weight. I'm sure it would work, but a couple of drops of super glue at each end will secure the weight.

Bullet Weight, Inc. makes lead wire that is hollow. It comes in 3/16 and 1/4 thickness. It comes in a coil and I don't remember what the total length is, but it is $2.99 a package. Trust me, you can make at least 100 baby e/chub e weights out of one package. I cut it off, grind the edge smooth, clean out the holes, and pour away. If I need more weight than the 1/4 offers, I simply make a few wraps with lead wire. I make a bait that wakes, a five footer, and a ten footer.

Now with the chub e mold it takes a little more modification to work. The rod used to hold the factory aluminum insert is too big for the lead wire sinker or Mojo weight for that matter. So take a Walmart exacto knife [same diameter as the factory rod] and cut if off to the poper size. Then drill a small hole and insert a small drill bit to hold the sinker in place while you pour. A couple of drops of super glue, some eyes, and your ready to whack'em.

I can pour eight chub e swimbaits with 2 cups of plastic. They are more durable than you think even with soft plastic. The chub e won't roll, no matter how fast you real it in. If I had one suggestion; I would like to see the section between the body and the tail thickened just a little bit. It is hard to pour with the harder plastic, you are always walking a fine line between burning the plastic and getting a smooth pour.

Now that I've provided the solution, perhaps someone could turn me on to a supplier for some swimbait eyes. I dont like the flat stick on eyes, any ideas??

[gunnie3035]

I forgot to mention; the baby e/chub e swimbaits are more weedless than you think. They will snag up a lot in tules/timber, but it is usually snagged on the nose, not the hook. If I'm in the thick stuff I will down size the hook from a 2 to a 3.

[borderbasser]

The coil sounds great. Where do you buy it? I checked the website and it doesn't look like you can order from them direct. Do you know off hand how much the 1/4" coil weights per inch? Thanks for the info.

TJ

[GB GONE]

Gunnie..... You can make your own eyes (there is a tutorial in the hard bait section. I'll link it when I find it.)

Here it is but the pictures are gone!!!

http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5879&highlight=epoxy+eyes

Or Stamina, Barlow's, Jann's all have the 3D eyes. They are more expensive of course....

Thanks for the info! I am going to be using some brass ones that were around a $1 a piece.

Jim

[bass4cache]

Here is the source for all your Eyeball needs. Minimum order isnt too bad and they have just about any configuration you could think of.

http://www.wtp-inc.com/

[GB GONE]

Here is the source for all your Eyeball needs. Minimum order isnt too bad and they have just about any configuration you could think of.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Jim

[bigbass14.3]

Jim ,

What kind of aluminum would you need for a insert , I work for a sheet metal company, and we have lots of scrap .

[GB GONE]

A machined (molded) piece that is rounded and has a hole. nothing you could find as scrap unfortunately!!!!

Jim

[gunnie3035]

I purchased the lead wire from Sportsman's Warehouse. I think they have a 100 or so stores, but I think most are in the Western U.S. I have seen Bullet Weight, Inc. products all over the U.S. They are the cheap sinkers that are usually on the peg boards at the local fishing store.

The 3/16 diameter wire is about 3/8 oz in the length that I cut it. The 1/4 diameter wire is about a 1/2 oz. I have also cut the end off a 1 oz Mojo weight and used them for the deep divers.

I have tried brass sinkers, copper pipe, plastic sprinkler parts, ice maker tubing, and they all work to some extent. But, the lead wire is the best solution that I have found so far. I wish someone [Del??] would make a lead mold specifically for these type of baits.

[Spin Casting]

I still say that we can build a custom spin cast mold to someone's specifications. Looks like there is a need for the inserts.

Chuck Vanover

Tight Line Anglers Products

Ph. 440-277-1511

Fax 440-277-9152

[gunnie3035]

I know I would buy one. They could be used on any type of swimbait that uses a belly hook.