Jay_G

A good friend of mine and his dad are on the Rio ***** right now. I can't wait to talk to him when he gets back. Hope you have low water and a great trip!

11.0 El Salto 2005 10.8 El Salto 2005 10.0 El Salto 2004

Interesting topic Muddy. Here is some food for thought and it will lead you to a problem. Why are companies outsourcing to other countries. Too expensive to do business here? What or who is the cause of that? Just curious what people think. Take Bandit Lures. Where are they made...China

Mattlures makes the best Baby Bass swimbait i've seen.

Thanks for the compliments. This is the only place where I observed a majority of the fish actually clear water and attack the topwater with the tail in the air and mouth down to the water. Most places, you would just get a toilet flush from bass sucking the lure in. I think my heart stopped at least three times watching 6lb + bass doing sky dives onto my bait.

The Peacock Bass in FL is a different species. The Butterfly peacock just does not get as large as it's cousins from the south. If you want big, you still need to go where "big" live. I also have fished in Miami for these little fighters and it was a blast.

I took 9 other fisherman with me to Comedero 2/26-03/01. 2 guys are still there until the 4th. 7 out of 10 caught their personal best. Noone broke the double digit mark, but got close. My best on this trip was a 9.6 on a Rio Rico. Caught many in the 6lb range. The best on this trip was a 9.9 caught by a fella from Boston on a Pop-R. Topwater bite was excellent. I tested some of my plastics with good success and got some good pics. Comedero is a nice fishery. Clear water and little pressure. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of fish. I plan on hitting Baccarac in 3 months and try and nail some big fish on swimbaits. Anyone care to tag along, let me know. Picture of 9.6 attached

Hate to say it, but I will be in sunny Mexico tomorrow to fish Comedero. I sure hate leaving this wonderful weather we are having. 2 guys joining me from Chicago are going to have a tough time getting out. May have to leave today to beat the winter storm.

Nothing but hand pours for me. Either my own or from others in the biz, but that's like comparing apples to oranges IMO.

I am actually sponsoring an outdoors show in S. Indiana next month. Mostly local guys from about a 150 mile radius. I am personally tired of the Indy show. The poor vendors pay so much for the booth space, they cannnot begin to offer any "bargains". Some have told me they raise prices for that show just to come out ahead. You used to go through tackle town and buy plastics by the pound, but not anymore. I only saw one vendor last year with a new crankbait they were making.

I understand what your point is. I agree, some are sales gimmicks.

That is not a pro-staff or field staff offer. That is a sales pitch imo. It seems like a lot of people are becoming suckers to this "buy in" thing that is happening more and more. How is buying a 5 rods, working a couple of weekends at a fishing shows, in order to get a discount or a few free products that doesnt cost much to make a good deal for me? It isn't! Most will do anything to say "I'm sponsered" or wear a patch or hat of their sponsered company. : First, if you have ever handled an Esox Carbon Fiber Rod, you would love to have the discount. Secondly, I fully understand a company wanting a commitment from a possible rep. Throwing money and product at just anyone is a poor business plan and a recipe for failure. I personally feel the Esox approach is right on. I use their product because "I" think it's a good product, not because I get to wear their hat, which I don't. I would really like to hear why this is a bad plan by Esox. I have been approached by guys wanting a sponsorship from El Grande Lures. My first question is; "Have you used any of my lures, and what do you think of them" I keep a customer list, so I am pretty sure I know who has bought from me as I don't sell retail. Why would I want anyone representing my company who has never used my product?

If your working with your two piece mold....pour your bottom color first, put the molds together and then pour you second color through the pour spout. Very easy to do. Log onto tackle underground and do a search for any questions you may have.

Once again, this will either encourage or discourage someone wanting to pour for profit. I just got an order for 350 packs (1700 baits). That's over 30 hours minimum for me alone to do. I have to have help, which will eat profit. I do not have enough molds to do this in a timely manner, Therefore in the last 30 minutes, I ordered 7 more aluminum molds at $80 each to be delivered tomorrow just to make sure I make this person happy by getting him the baits in a timely manner. My profit went into new molds which isn't a bad thing, but I am trying to open the eyes for anyone thinking they will make an easy buck doing this. That is very hard to do. My cousin, a patent attorney quoted me 10-20k for a patent on one of my designs! I had planned on no less than 4. Now you know why designers who patent their work have a reason to pursue legal action. There is much cost involved.

Langostino (Long Claw River Prawn) 13inches in length for Mexico Bass Fishing

That is one of the better Tilapia patterns I have seen. There are many color phases of Tilapia, and this one is pretty standard.

That's net and I am only using the stick bait as an example. Gross for 50 baits is $44.50 and I have app. $15 into cost to make those 50 baits. The hourly wage thing is just something I do to convince myself that it is worth a couple extra hours a day to make these for people other than myself.

GMAN bought the Fluke mold. Most of my stuff is custom molds with the exception of one. I do not pour flukes. As far as CPB (Cost per bait) that varies according to what your pouring. The 6" stick bait I pour requires about 1 cup of plastic to eight baits. I figured I get app. 640 baits per 5 gallons. I pour a triple laminate, so they require a little more time. It takes me about 2 hours to pour 50 good baits. I say good baits, because for every 15 I pour, I usually recycle one or two because of dents, etc.. On just the stick baits, by the time I take my net cost, I am averaging about $15 per hour. My numbers may be just a little off, but they are pretty close.

You are exactly right about the reason we pour. I actually just wanted to make baits for myself, but people saw what I was doing......now a website and google ads, etc. I am pouring about 2 hours in the evenings and about 6 hours on the weekend (5 GALLONS a week). For those wanting to get into it seriously and have their own molds made, my cost to run the business last year was app 13k. This month alone I will be over 1k. So, unless you have a good day job, just pour for you and a few buddies, as this is a very enjoyable hobby.

Merry Christmas Nice place to hang out when there is hard water

If your only two choices are April or May, choose May. The lower the water, the better your chance at El Grande!

Is this a joke? Camel spider? If those are real, I will never sleep again! Hope they don't run out of camels. I looked up on the web and found this: THE FACTS 1. Camel spiders top speed - 10 mph. 2. Size: Up to 6 inches 3. They have no venom. 4. They don't jump. 5. Called camel spiders because they live in the desert. They actually aren't spiders at all, they're solpugids.. Along with spiders, they are members of the class Arachnida

Spiders of any size are the spawn of EVIL! Most people talk about snakes getting in the boat, but if I see a spider crawling around, all fishing stops and the smackdown begins.

What lodge did you fish with? My friend returned last week and did pretty well. I never have caught many big fish this time of year in Mexico. My bigger bass have always been June and July.

They allowed me to upgrade for the difference in cost. 20% off was a good offer also.