Skeeterman225

Pay more attention to the diameter of the fibers instead of the fiber count. That determines the stiffness of the weedguard. Of those you listed, the 31 is probably the finest, and the 20 count being the stiffest. Just pick the one that suits your application. Heavy brush--heavy guard, football deep---light to medium guard....

Just to back up the "color" theory, go buy 10 crankbaits, same brand, same size, same color. ONE of those ten will outfish ALL the other nine.....

I pour without the weedguard, plug the hole with a short piece of 1/8 round dowell round. Heat, dip, pull out dowell, before setting up and hole is clean and ready to go for baking then gluing. Am still on 5 first fives sticks from local hardware at .18 cents each. Just cut up in 1 o 2 inch pieces with razor knife. I've painted at least 2000 pieces with just those 5.

I've seen some on ebay before for around 1.50lb plus shipping. Think they were shipping 50lbs in a 10 dollar flat rate box.

I use coated copper wire. 24 gauge. Buy it from parawire. Little more than the hobby wire, but seems to be quite a bit stronger.

I agree. I have several in my box, but believe or not, not one of the larger volume colors this year for me. Most of my stuff in local though and we have several clear lakes around here, so the natural colors have taken over. I throw it clear to muddy. works everywhere.

Nothing special. Just some Old Faithfull Black N Blues. Just thought this was funny the way I laid them when I was done. Looked down and thought that it looked like an army unit ready to to battle....lol

I wouldn't show it so any of the big companies unless you want it copied. First company may or may not give you royalties out of it, or may just pay you for the design. IF you can get one to do that go for it. If not sit on it do your homework and find a way to produce it yourself. Just do not put it out until you are ready for an all out go. If it catches on, you'll have about 1 year exclusive to it, then all the copies will hit.

I use them for personal use a lot. They are not tempered so they do bend/dull easier. I don't mind sharpening hooks though, I check them many times throughout the day no matter the brand. Eagle claws do have the biggest barbs on the market. All the others are smaller. That being said. In my business I use all mustads or gammies if requested. Gammie gets a lot of hype and publicity, but I believe the Mustad is just as good of a hook and might be more durable than the gammie. I've broke a lot more gammies than mustads. The mustads will dull just as any hook, but will hold up better than eagle claws. I feel cofortable grabbing a jig, buzzbait, spinnerbait or whatever has a mustad it and throwing it without checking. They are to me the "best" hook for the price.

dang, them look good enough to fillet!!

I assume you are referring to this type cut. If so, take a close look under the outside band. I tried to get it big enough to see. But you will notice there is a band under the band. I cut a regular spinnerbait band in half, sometimes thirds depending on the size of the band and place on the jig after finishing the skirt. That skirt is wired on under the top band. I leave the outer band on to help keep everything pressed against the top in order to get a good flare up top as well.

That is a 5/8ths. Prob could get by with a half but anything less would need to drop a size or two

the top blade is a 4 1/2 and second blade is 5.

Thanks guys. So far I've made a jig, buzzbait, and spinnerbait with that pattern. ALL of them look good. Just one of those universal patterns. Next up is a chatterbait type. As for the skirt material, it's all silicone. Made Skirt and then tied it on. Just a mix of candies, pumkins, blues, and oranges.

Several liked the sunfish buzzbait I posted a while back. Just made a spinnerbiat up with one, thought I would post it. Believe I'm gonna have to put a few of these in my box!

I got mine from tjs's tackle form around 50 bucks.

sent you some eye candy.

Thank you. It looks good on a jig too. That's what I made it for first, but just couldn't resist putting it on the buzzbait.

I know exactly what you mean. Been off here too. Frog Bite as well. But like you said, other topwaters have worked. I just hate the though of having to boat solid in a T on those little treble hooks....lol Scares me everytime they jump.

Here's one I made for the clear rocky lakes around here that I fish rocks with sunfish on a lot. Haven't got to try it yet, but I think it's gonna rip some heads...... Sunfish

Sounds like a neat trick. I try to make some as quite as possible too. Seems like on some of the lakes around here that a really quite one will catch fish that the louder ones want. They see a lot of bb's in this area.

Thanks every one. Jig---Probably more of a personal preference on the crimping than anything. My thoughts on it were to give another solid non moving surface for the blade to turn on, trying to increase friction in other words. I have not put two side by side, but have tried all the blades, alum., nickel, black nickel, and gold. They are pretty much loudest to quitest in that order.

Here's a few Buzz Baits I made up recently. Just thought I would show em off a little. Bleeding Gizzard Shad Flatline Black Living Rubber White

I don't know if the pic in the message showed up very good, so here it is.