cadman

Wow that looks beautiful. When I had an aluminum, mine never looked like that. Beautiful, top notch work.

Fishing was very slow. First couple hours of the day we didn't get any bass. The 5lber came at around 10:15. Then as we moved around, from spot to spot we picked up the pike. Towards the end of the day when we fished in front of the island, that is when we got the remainder of the three bass in an hour. After that again nothing. We fished that island for about 2 -1/2 hours hoping they would be stacked there. No such luck. I didn't see a black Bass Cat out there limping around. I will probably go to Delavan again Saturday or Sunday if I don't go this Thursday. Thursday plan on going to Beulah, Powers, Delavan or Geneva. Maybe I'll see you there on Sunday.

Went out to Delavan yesterday 11-10-2014. Got on the water at 8:00 am and left at 2:30 pm. Started out fishing the beach, nothing. Went to the hump and worked that shoreline nothing. Went to the point by the hump, got a largemouth 5lbs even. Went to the side by the Pagoda got a pike about 24". Fished further down got another pike about 24". Shot to the other side again, got another pike about 18". Went to fish in front of the island. Got 3 more bass. (1) was 4 lbs 15 oz, (1) was about 4 lbs and the other was 3 lbs 8 oz. All fish caught in about 11 feet of water and on black and blue jigs. Beautiful day on the water.

warrior 1 My first boat was an aluminum and I had it for 17 years. I never got tired of that boat. Actually at the time, I used to fish multi-species, and the boat was great for what I needed it for. It was also easier to tow and to handle launching the boat with one person. Also aluminum boats can take more nicks, bumps and scratches than a fiberglass boat can. I used to fish the Illinois and Wisconsin River with my aluminum. I wouldn't dare take my fiberglass boat there. I'm sure you will enjoy your new boat.

I store my boat in an enclosed rental place all year long. During the summer when I use my boat I naturally leave all my tackle in their. In winter, I take all my tackle, rods and reels included, out of the boat. I then loosen all my drags and take the reels off the rod, and put the rods in a rod rack. They stay that way until Spring. I just like to keep the rods standing up with no stress on them. I don't think it matters, but this is the way I do it for piece of mind. I would like to hear other guys input as well.

Choporoz beat me to it but the two videos posted are excellent. If you are going to use wire than you can hand tie, if you are going to use thread, it is a lot easier to use a fly tying vice and hand tie. Learn to tie with the weedguard in, as many store bought skirts are put on with rubber collars, and they will eventually fall off if you don't lose the jigs first. Both wire and thread can be used to tie skirts with the weedguard in place. Good Luck.

I still have one somewhere, never caught a fish on it.

Fished Delavan yesterday, beautiful day to be on the water however we caught all small fish. (12 bass) in 9 hours. Biggest was 16-1/2 ", all others were 14" to 15-1/2". Fish were in shallower water on outside weed edges on 1/8 oz jigs. No particular one place, just fished long stretches of weeds.

No it is not feasible or even practical. How are you going to consistently bend the wire, then harden the hook and finally sharpen the hook point????

I am originally from Belmont and Central area. I believe that is the "Cragin" neighborhood. Also know a few tourney partners that live in Arlington Heights. I mainly fish S.E. Wisconsin lakes. Lake Geneva, Lake Delavan, Browns, Eagle, Como, Powers, Tichigan, Wind, Little Muskego, Beulah, Pewaukee, Okauchee, Madison Chain, Rock, Whitwater, Twin Lakes, Silver Lake, Camp Lake and a few more. Local lakes, from shore are Banana lake for trout in fall, Little bear and Big Bear, Independence Grove, Lake Carina, Butler Lake. From boat in IL are Bangs, "The Chain", Diamond Lake, East and West Loon, Lake Minear, Deep Lake and lake Zurich When I lived in Chicago, I used to fish Axehead, Belleau, Riis Park, Schiller Woods, Dam #5, Big Bend, Beck, Banana lake

I'm originally from Chicago what area? Welcome to the IL forum.

I have never heard of it. Need to know more. Where is it located, and boat access? I will try to call you tomorrow, I have a few more questions I would like to ask you.

Thursday 9-18-2014 Powers Lake. Got there at 6:00 a.m. Started with top water to the right of the dock along that shoreline. Had one blow up and that was it. Put on a jig about 8:00, and got a snakey northern. By 9: 00 I had two more snakey northerns. Went to the point, small bass hit jig at boat side and missed. About 10:00, got my first bass it was 16", 10:15 another bass 18", 10:30, got the final bass that was 19" weighed in at 3lbs 4 oz. Pic below. Went to the other side nothing. Went to the back bay nothing. Fished the two humps nothing. Went back to the ramp area, my wife and I got a rock bass each. Left lake at 1:00. Going to Beulah on Sunday

Went out to Delavan on Sunday. Cold, foggy morning. Started at 6:00 a.m. just past Lake Lawn Lodge. Buddy got a 18-1/2 " smallie (wacky worm) about the 3rd cast by a dock. I then got a 24" northern (jig). Then buddy got another northern about 22" (rattle trap). Move to the Hump, I got a 34" northern (top water). 7:00 a.m. moved to the beach, buddy got a 21" walleye on a (rattle trap). Moved down that shoreline for awhile nothing, ran across to the other side fished weed edges nothing, fished next two points nothing. Went to the clock tower it is now about 11:a.m I got a 17-1/2" smallie 2 feet from the shore(wacky worm). 12:00 noon shot across to the pagoda fished that stretch until 2:pm. I picked up 2 largemouth 13-1/2 and a 14" (wacky worm). My buddy got a largemouth about 14-1/2 (wacky worm.) We could not find any big largemouth, and also a very slow day on the water. Going to Powers Lake on Thursday and to Lake Beulah on Sunday. I will give follow up reports when the days arrive. BTW Browns lake at Fischer is closed from Sept 17th to Mid October for ramp and construction work.

Look down 5 threads and read all the posts there. Question has been asked before or here is the link. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/143498-where-to-get-lead-for-making-jigs/

On my 225 I have a transom saver, on my 9.9 I tow with it down.

3/16 or 1/4 oz jig with a 5304 Owner hook and a chunk trailer

Most of Do-It molds are designed for a specific hook size, and then you can safely either go up or down one size, without any problems. If you go up one size, and depending on the hook brand, you may be taking out the tolerance where the hook shank lies in the mold. This may be why you are getting bad pours, and gapping the mold is helping you relieve trapped air. You can open this area up with a small miniature round file. Now if you do this and then decide to go back down to a smaller hook, you will get some lead flash coming out by the collar. You can easily trim this off. I would rather have some lead flash on a perfectly poured jig, then waste time on a badly poured jig and have to re-melt and re-pour again. If you need more info or some pics let me know and I will e-mail them to you.

No problem always willing to help. If you think the business card is too thick, you can also use masking tape. The options are endless. Also if you want to eliminate the business cards altogether, you can cut reliefs in your mold to let the air escape. That would be the best of both worlds. Anyway, happy pouring.

All lead will melt and pour the harder lead should be mixed with the softer lead to achieve the hardness you want. I have poured straight hard lead and also straight soft. I don't have a problem with either, however some molds are more problem prone to hard lead than others. I use a 60/40 or 70/30 lead ratio. The bigger number being the softer lead.With that said If you are having problems getting good pours try this first. #1 Your Lee IV pot should pour any and all lead on #7. The higher the number you go #9 max the hotter the lead, the more fluid it is and the better it should pour. If you are at #9 with bad pours, first thing I would do Is have your t-stat repaired. The cost is very nominal, as Lee does a great repair job for minimal cost. #2 If that is not the problem, make sure your hooks are warm to very warm before you put them in the mold. Use a 100 watt bulb, that works well. #3 If that doesn't work, try this as well. Take a business card and tape it to one 1/2 side of the mold. This is called gapping the mold. What this does is eliminates any air that might get trapped in the mold as the lead flows. The closer you tape the card to the hinge, the bigger the gap. What you want, is to get the gapped mold to pour full without any flash. #4 Lastly and I stress this to everyone, get and use mold release. 95% of your problems will go away with bad pours. Lead bullets are fine for pouring they may be harder, but pose no real major problem. It seems like you know what you are doing and at least have some knowledge, so try some of the things I mentioned. Post back with your results. Also if you have anymore questions feel free to ask or PM me..

You can get scrap lead from a salvage yard, construction sites or this place. Soft lead is about $2.00 per pound. Start with soft lead, as it is easier to pour and you get more complete pours. http://www.rotometals.com/Lead-Products-s/20.htm If you have any more questions feel free to ask. One thing and that is please be safe. Pouring lead is safe as long as you follow rules and pay attention. There is more info on how to pour lead, coat molds and a lot more at tackleunderground.com. There are also a lot of good safety tips there. Please read them.

I can tell you that it is expensive for the bismuth. The pouring is easy, and the bismuth is very hard and sharp. Pm sent.

I'm originally from Chicago, and now live in the northern suburbs. I fish a lot of South Eastern Wisconsin lakes. Like papajoe said, check out 'Where are all the Illinois guys' thread, lot of us fish around here.

Went to Browns on Sunday. Got 4 bite offs from northern, missed two fish, and only ended up with a 15-1/2 and a 16" for 6 hours of fishing. This lake is definitely not a lake Delavan. More snakey northern in here than ever.

Wow nice skyline and a nice fish