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I was thinking something like: Shaditaliano stinky sardine italian stallion Mussolini shad

:Disclaimer: I know these are overly simplistic....and I am not overly proud of them. I consider it a work in progress. However....I need feedback...and I can take it..LOL! This spring I began throwing a lot of swimbaits. I started using them after I picked up a set of Strike King shadalicous on sale. These are normally about 7 dollars for a pack of 5. It took me forever to actually use them. But when I did...I started picking up fish. Lots of them. The strike was UNBELIEVABLE! I would actually get "slack in the line" when they would hit. The hookup rate was nearly 100%. Sometimes I would catch 10 inch fish who would fit the entire 5 inch bait in their mouths. However, after one fish, these baits were toast. Also, the 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 inch versions all swam well at different speeds, which was very aggravating. As it normally goes, I found that the more expensive baits worked just a little better. Enter the Yum Money Minnow. It is more beefy, checking in at 6 inches. Unlike the Strike King bait, the Yum swam well at any speed. The yum would normally survive several fish attacks as well, sometimes as many as 20. But, at 9 dollars for 4, a day of swim baiting became costly....sometimes as much as 30-40 dollars a trip (not counting swim bait hooks, which are about $4.29 for 5). So, I started pondering....if I can make rods...why can't I make baits? A quick search led me to Lure Craft. I quickly ordered enough supplies to make 5.25'' swimbaits. Just like my first 3 rods, the lessons came very quick. No, Testors paint doesn't work on plastic. Hot plastic and skin don't go well together. Super glue doesn't hold eyes on......Etc etc. But, after 15-20 bunk swimbaits...I finally started casting some "decent" swimbaits. I made a total of 12...6 "clear" and 6 "garlic" swimbaits. The difference being, of course, the garlic have garlic cast into the mold. Of course, I had used all my new plastic..... Now, keep in mind that these are overly simple....permanet marker gills, etc etc. I now have real paint to use on them. I will also make more detailed ones. Saturday, I took them out. I knew from the get-go that my new swimbaits wouldn't do as well, since I only had a 4/0 spring lock hook...which is fine for most swimbaits. But mine are thicker and do not have a hook slot. I tied on a garlic one, since I thought...if they hit this smelly thing, they would deff hit the unscented clear. On the first cast, I had a solid hit...but I missed him. For the next 3 consecutive casts, I had hits. Sometimes I would haul the fish halfway to the boat before they miraculously swam away. Why? Well, I was getting hits from the smaller fish, but the bait was so thick that they couldn't compress the plastic enough to get hooked. The good news was that they were holding onto the bait far longer than any I had on store bought brands. I also noticed that these baits swam FANTASTIC at any speed. Even at a dead crawl, the tail action was unbelievable. The only downside was, at faster speeds, the bait acted as a "wake bait"...skimming just below the surface, creating a wake. This isn't a bad thing. Wake baits are awesome, but have their place. So...I need a little more wait. Not a problem, as 4/0 weighted hooks..like the one I was using, have a 3/16 weight. The bigger ones, like you would use, have 1/4 to 5/16 weights. Eventually I did catch fish on my own bait, which was a terrific feeling. However, this morning I decided to cure this. I ordered several packs of 6/0 and 7/0 hooks, and another mold for 4.5'' baits with a hook slot. I also ordered an 8'' lizard mold. Whoot! I am looking for names for these two....so post ideas!

I did some research, but can anyone tell me from experience, what will work and what won't work? I guess the real question is...what sticks and what doesn't...to #502 plastic?

Those make mine look soo ugly.

That's it? LOL! I go through 3 packs a DAY! On topic, i ordered through Lurecraft. I also found the gallon to be the way to go.

This. Win.

Thanks for the responses. Looks like this is just going to be something to live with. I can certainly improve my odds with a little more caution. I respool very often since i fish so much (every two weeks). But, fishing the Big G is hard on the line ,between the cover, the lilly pads, and grass, the line gets nicked and stretched alot.

I started throwing swimbaits alot lately, with ALOT of success. I had thrown the Storm brand. Awfull. Hate them. Tried Strikeking Shadalicious with gamakatsu screw in 5/0 in 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 versions. I found that they were all VERY speed dependant. You burn them too much, and they roll over. You slow them down, no tail action. However, after finding the rich speed, I consistantly caught fish on them. However, they would last through 3 fish, maximum. On a good day, I would go through 2 packs of them with ease. They aren't TOO expensive, but many times i would have to replace them without even catching fish. I picked up a single pack of Yum Money Minnows. Didn't like the price on them, but like the idea of trying new things. They swam well, despite the speed. They held up admirably to fish. In fact, I fished them all day yesterday. Caught over 20 fish with 10 over them over 4 on only 2 money minnows. In fact, the second one was torn up on the first fish, which was a monster. How do you rate them?

Swimbait. Yum Money Minnow. If you can't get them to hit, downsize to a Shadalicious in 3.5'

Like i said...its not getting hung up that is losing me lures. Its random breaks when working through grass, etc. Nothing I can help. I respool my crankin' rod once every 2 weeks, worst case. I have to admit, though, that I fish 3 days a week and use that rod about 40% of the time. I've been averaging about 25 fish a day with about 15 of them on cranks. My average fish is about 3.5lb. Yesterday I caught 10 fish over 4 pounds. I wonder if I should just accept it under "wear and tear". I do with my rod and line. Rod is on the jig now, ready for new guides. But I admit that I don't rety as often as I should. I can certainly do that. I'd say that 75% of my breaks are at the spool.

LOL. If it bothers you to lose...then go win. Do what it takes. Otherwise, to each his own.

This last spring, I threw alot of XR75s in Rayburn or Royal. In the last month, I have been killing them on XR75 1KR in Sexy. But I seem to lose them faster than I could buy more. Literally, I could go through them 2 a day. It is a rare day when I can bring the same lure home. Sure, I hang up alot. it's a rattle bait. I have learned that you either go big or go home, and so I throw them anywhere. I am fishing in guntersville and between the grass, lily pads, submerged logs, fallen trees, whereever the fish are. However, It isn't from getting stuck, per se. I retrieve them whenever I can. I get in after my lures. I seem to lose them to random reasons. Take the other day, got caught in a tree, pulled up on it, broke the line getting it out and the lure fell in the water. Or yesterday, random nick in the line....there it goes. I'm certainly not hard up for money, but 20 bucks a day in just one lure is getting ridiculous. I quit buying Lucky Craft stuff for that reason. But, I can't do without my XRs. How often do you lose lures?

I assume you are casting to the bank? If so, I would use a Spro Lil John. You can not beat the square bill to defelect off of rocks or the quick run-to-depth of those things.

I would ease up, cast way out and deadstick it.

Same situation here in Bama. I wouldn't bother.

You must have missed the link to DIGITAL maps on the hotspots site. There is also http://www.angling-technologies.com/, but that's free. : I didn't miss it. Just not what I am looking for. Nor did it have the lakes I was looking for.

Sweet. That's what I am talking about.

Sigh. I KNOW where to buy them. I want them online so that I can search them at work and LOOK like I working. Also, so that I can easily add notes, zoom in, etc etc. Also, so that I can add notes that aren't permanent and Ican delete easily. thanks guys. Really.

They make finger surgical gloves...they are like little condoms. I would try those...no water will get up there. I think I remember seeing them at CVS one time. Wait. those AREN'T condoms? Crap......

We are using Alex in early march. I don't buy into anything people say...so I will give you the lowdown. I am pretty hard to please.

I build my custom crankin' rods with Lamiglass originals. You can get either a 1/4-3/4 ounce rod or the big brother for heavier lures. however, that 1/4-3/4 ounce rod is awesome. I should add though, that it has trouble ripping XR75s free. I wouldn't use it for anything larger than that, or for really deep diving cranks.

And you can get them flippin' cheap!

Ok, I have searched and searched. Where can I get a contour map of, say, Guntersville? ADDED: I am looking for online versions..NOT paper versions.

LOL. I WISH I had your problem.

I know my neighbors think I am nuts. After I finished the last frog rod, I took it out and played with it in the yard. I have a sidelot that I own nex to me, so I can make 75 yard casts. They literally stand in their garage and watch me throwing it around.