fats69

Pretty pricey for 5 jigs!! I don't know all the guys here on the site who pour and have their own business's yet so hopefully they'll post in and let you know how they can help you out. You can also check under the Fishing Flea Market tab and search through post's on jigs to find someone. If no one posts in and you can't find anything in the flea market check over at www.tackleunderground.com (you'll have to register) and post the same question in the Lure Making section and then under Wire Baits and someone will get to ya. Fatman

Sweet looking tube!!!!!!! I've always thought about trying it but I really don't need another hobby. Fatman

Grimlin Nice looking spinner but I agree with Islandbass the shaft needs to be a little shorter. Also make sure your blade is the right size for the size wire your using I've been making in-lines since I was in High School and still do, I probably have enough for 50 people and still I make them. If you want to get into the Shyster style you can order the Mold from Do-It to make the bodies and save yourself some cash. Nothing wrong with extra wraps in the wire or using split rings, but do make sure when you make the eye it's centered on the shaft of the spinner so it runs true. I order 1/4 lb coils of American wire from Jann's and the bodies if you order them in Bulk from Stamina NOTE: If you go through them call your order in and make sure they have everything you want in the order!!! Otherwise spend the few extra bits at Janns and buy your bodies there. Get your trebles through Capt Hook website. Can't tell from the photo but are you using folded or stirrup clevis for the blade?? I have both but like the folded way better as there are no corners to catch any debris. I don't know if anyone remembers the old Weller company?? They had some really cool blades that had a deep raised center on them and kind of look like a Indiana blade, well several months ago I made a hugh score on Ebay from a woman whose husband used to work there. I got over a 1500 of the old blades in several size's and in copper (love it), silver, brass and a few golds. Needless to say I don't make many with those blades except for my own use. There's also a guy on ebay that sells the bodies, search on LURE MAKING BODIES or spinner bodies and look. And check out all the different catalouges. Enjoy and keep making them up. Fatman

The only time you MIGHT run into problems with tire weight lead is on really small jig heads. I can pour down to 1/16oz on several of my molds using tire weight lead. Make sure to smelt all your tire weights down outside or have a really good ventelation system when you do it cause the fumes can really get to you. After you get most of the dirty stuff and steel clips out make sure you flux the lead to really clean it. This is no more than putting some candle wax in the molten lead and stiring it in and if you have to light it with a grill lighter but be careful. This will really help clean your lead out. While your smelting your lead if you get any weights that just don't want to melt DON"T turn the heat up get them out, most likely they're zinc. The only time I really use pure lead anymore is when I do really small panfish jigs, and especially on my pony head jigs. Make up a sheet with what lead you use for each of your molds and use only that mix in it and you won't have any problems. On the shakey head jigs most of the guys I know who pour them make their own screw attachment and fit it to their molds. For the screw locks and making your own check out all the threads here and see if you find anything and if you can't go to www.tackleunderground.com and I know you'll find something. If you run into any problems molding let us know and we'll help you out. Fatman

Sweet Smallie!!!!!! Nice catch!!! Fatman

Sweet!!!!!!! Get em hooked early Fatman

A fishing reel is no damned different than any other product with parts. How many here have bought a car, VCR, DVD recorder and something happened within a few days. Would you say the hell with it and not take care of it cause it's new and you don't want to use warranty work on it!!!! Hey it's your hard earned dollar protect it!!! If the reel is giving you a fit call the STORE MANAGER and no one else and explain what happened. If it works out for you take the reel back and even if you only get an exchange it would be worth it. If they won't take it back, call Shimano first and explain what was going on with it and that the box store (Tell exactly which store it was) wouldn't help you). If they Ok it for return, sometimes they'll send you a pre-paid mailer and send the reel back to them. Irvine office Shimano American Corp. 1 Holland Irvine, CA 92618 On site customer support - Irvine office 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Pacific Standard Time Customer Service: 877-577-0600 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Pacific Standard Time I sent a TX-120Q reels back to Shimano with a broken frame and explained that I DID IT and just want to pay to repair it. They didn't charge me for it and sent me a brand new reel. Sounds like pretty d**n good customer service to me. On the grease I'll disagree, I use Zebco reel grease on my Shimano's and have never had a problem, it was more of a problem to tray and get their permalube than it was worth. If it works out either way let us know Fatman

Nice stick!!!!! Wish I had the guts to try it. I can make spinners, jigs and spinnerbaits but man that's like out of my range LOL and I'm not afraid to admit it. Fatman

Man Sweet baits!!! Fatman

Go to www.crappie.com and go to the State Forums, the guys there should be able to give you recent updates of what they're hitting on. Good bunch of guys. Fatman

Smallmouth hands down!!!!!!! Fatman

Welcome from Vermont!! Fatman

CYA and stay safe fatman

Why Super glue???? All I can see is it soaking into the hair and making it too hard. If and when I use it, I use regular fly tying head cement and it works fine. If you tie them right you don't need it. When doing large bucktail jigs make sure to get jig head tying thread or you can use rod winding thread. Another option is GSP Gel Spun thread which is very strong. I've tried Kevlar thread and don't like it for bucktails depending on what hair you're using it can cut right through it if you pull too hard. Small panfish jigs I use regular fly tying thread 6/0, 8/0 or 3/0. Fatman

Like Kalins, Mister Twister and even grubs from Janns Netcraft, usually using a 1/8, 1/4 or heavier head depending on weight ball head jig or a pony head for some added flash. I like smoke, white, charteuse pepper and even fire tiger in the grubs. Fatman

Dam I wish I could paint like that!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice baits bud Fatman

Good luck trying to find the mold. The only advice I can give you is check on ebay but watch out for th sh/handling costs they can be really ridiculous. Try calling DO-IT or email them with what you're looking for, they might have one laying around, I've gotten several discontinues this way. This was a tip from a guy at Tackly Underground. If all else fails order the regular mold and customize it yourself. Blades all I can say is keep an eye on ebay : I picked up 2 thousand old Weller deep cup indianna blades in gold, silver and brass and copper. Womans husband used to work there. Search the blade on the web. Go to antique lure sites and join the boards and post what you're looking for. Someone may have seen them somewhere. It takes time but things can be found not always cheaply but they can be found. Good Luck Fatman

Nice cranks!!!!! Always thought about making some but I'll stick with making jigs. Can't paint like that. Fatman

A slip bobber is not the correct bobber to use for Float and Fly. Go to Punisher Jigs on the web and they have the F/F bobber there. Best jig is one I tie myself orange head, hot pink craft hair and mallard flank with a small bunch of crystal flash in the middle. Fatman

I probably have all the cranks as I bought an old Umco at a flea market and it had everything still in box's. The only thing missing were the Hellbenders and Mudbugs. I love those two old plugs for smallies. Fatman

I use an old pair of needle nose, the inside of them is smooth and I just put the eye in between and pull, usually takes off any extra on the eyelet and you can use an old jig de-barbed as added insurance. This is all I've ever used with powder. Fluid bed might help as it's less powder going on, but for those of us who've been doing it a while have our methods down. Practice makes perfect. Fatman

I think they look good and I'm gonna throw in a BIG BUT here on the skirt length, they're laying flat on a table which is gonna compress them which would make them look longer. I think if you post a picture of them in a fly tying vise or being held up with pliers the skirts may not be looking too long. Just my 2cents Fatman

Okay maybe I know it by another name but have you got a photo of a spotremover??? To find older molds on ebay search DO - IT molds, and the other one is Lead Molds. This should bring up all of them. You can still get Hilts molds!! They are now being sold by Dolphin Sports Inc. If you can't find them on the web IM me and I'll give you the web addy as I can't post any here yet. Fatman

I still use Mann's worms and grubs. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Fatman

Depends on what you want to make. Sometimes you can get old cast iron molds on ebay from Palmer and Advante (sp) and with a little trimming for flash (extra thin lead along sides) you get a jig or sinker every bit as good as DO IT. Search ebay under Lead Molds and you'll find them. Now if you want to get fancy and design a jig yourself you can check with Shawn Collins and Dragon Fly lures. You need casting equipment, you can get an old campstove and old cast iron pot and long handled ladels or get Lee Production pots, or Hot Pots. Depending on what state you're in you might have to go with with non-lead which is REAL expensive. If you need more info let us know. Fatman