Jigfishn10

My house was built in the 1950's. the brand new house I was born in was built in the 1960's. All the plumbing joints was copper that was soldered with a lead alloy solder. Before then, all plumbing joints were soldered with a lead alloy solder. It was only until the mid-80's that they found some cases attributed to kids with neurological problems with lead based paints. That was attributed to kids biting on things like window sills. They continued to solder plumbing joints with lead based solder. Last weekend I had to so a repair to my home and went to my local hardware store for solder and they still sell a 80-20% lead based solder. The paint in use today is NOT lead based paint which caused the uproar back 20 years ago, but yet we can make plumbing repairs to our home with lead based products? So now where back to fishing and the wildlife. Yes they found that lead sinkers have an adverse affect on water fowl and we are trying to go from lead sinkers to alternative sources, but is ALL lead products that bad? I think we need to analyze this a bit more. Just MHO.

I wouldn't have a problem with banning only lead sinkers as ME & NH do, but to ban jigs with an open ended definition is completely another thing. The MA CMR definition of a lead jig can be interpreted to mean that you can't use spinnerbaits and buzzbaits as well. Then again, last year they wanted to ban ALL lead, at least this year they whittled it down a bit. Who knows what really will be implemented.

It's pretty sad that the Supreme price is quickly taking over the Regular price...

Thanks for the information TRYTOFISH.

LMAO

Hey guys, I'm sure there are a few threads regarding this, but I was wondering about crappie seasonal movements. From what I've read they appear to be a bit like bass: spawn early spring (I'm assuming before bass), make their way to deeper water as summer approaches yet still relating to cover and by fall??? I have no idea, if they come in to feed or stay out in deeper water. Any help or advice on fishing for these guys would be much appreciated and helpful. Thanks

WOW! That's one awesome looking jig.

Sorry to hear that lynardsky1. At least you made back to TN from Boston without any mishaps. Like the old saying goes: If you didn't have bad luck, you wouldn't have any... ;D Keep your chin up, it'll come around for ya.

Grundle, your questions are good questions that have been debated too many times over. MA is borderline or at least at the outer reaches for loon migration, but the argument is for other waterfowl as well. This issue isn't just a regional issue, last year it was on a nation level, we just so happen to be one of the few states that have implemented the ban. CT wanted to propose a lead ban this year and has since been retracted, for this season anyway. Time will tell, but my guess is that all 50 states will be implementing some sort of ban in the not to distant future. 1 prediction I will make that will be debated in the next few years and that will be for soft plastic baits. There have been studies made on fish kills due to soft plastics. You watch.

The lead ban for 2012 will be for jigs 1oz and less and sinkers. I'm glad you asked about spinnerbaits it sort of fits into the CMR definition of a jig: Lead Jig means any lead-weighted hook which has a mass of less than one ounce. NH & ME have similar lead bans which, I believe, do not include jigs. NH inplemented the use of lead back in and around 2000 and ME followed a few years after that. I'm sure some of BR's NH & ME members could clarify that last statement.

The one thing you can try is your local plumbing supply. Some retro fit jobs plumbers do is to pack oakum around the drains and pour lead on top. It's not common practice now, but I still see it from time to time. The other thing you can try is Home Depot or Lowe's and go to the roofing supply aisle. Lead flashing is still used to flash roofs to masonry. I will say this is an expensive alternative. Then there is wheel weights from tire stores. These are not pure lead and need a little extra effort on your part, but they do work.

No trailer hook for this reason. I don't mind going thru cover with a spinnerbait. I do use trailers for certain conditions.

Thanks cadman. I had a feeling I was guessing wrong...LOL Great job!

Hey cadman, Can you tell me the size of those spinnerbaits: They all look like a 3/8 oz spinnerbaits. The first one looks like it has a #4.5 and a #3.5 blade The other 2 appear to be burners: #4 and & #3.5 blades Just curious

I second the Roto-metals idea. We're heading towards a lead ban on jigs here in 2012, and Roto-Metals was one of th few sources that I found that had a bismuth alloy for a reasonable price. I must qualify that I have not purchased there and maybe Cadman can comment on their service, but they are on top of my list so far heading into next season for bismuth. I plan on doing an extensive research soon for the bismuth alloy and most of these type of companies deal with lead, so if I find a better alternative source, I'll be sure to let you know John J and anyone else interested.

You can buy the molds from a number of sources, check out Do-it molds website and see if they have links to a tacklemaking supply company. I haven't been on their web in a long time. I got mine from Jannsnetcraft.com and at the time I think it was $32, If I'm not mistaken the molds (depending on what type of mold you want) generally run in the $38-$40 dollar range. The molds will tell you exactly what hook you'll need as well. Check around on the lead. Lead has gone through the roof lately. To get started, you can melt down some of those old bullet heads and lead weights you may have laying around. I get my lead from a local auto service station. It's not pure, you need to really heat it up and scrape off the impurities and other alloys, but for me, free is free. I generally get my skirt material from Janns as well, but, again there are a number of outlets that sells skirt material. If you happen to bump into a site that sells the mold, you'll find the skirt materials. Oh, and skirtmaking.com has a huge selection. If you go onto www.tacklemaking.com you read some helpful article. on the main page there is a tab that's called "and more", cruise around that tab and you'll find more links than you can shake a stick at. As far as being cheaper, IDK, I seriously doubt it, but where I'm making for myself and living here in New England, it makes for a long, cold winter a little more enjoyable. There are a number of people on this forum who make jigs and I'm sure will add a great deal to what I've just posted, but this will get you started in the right direction or at least surfing the web more...LOL Hope this helps. Good luck.

I like em both to be honest, do I really have ti pick? It's funny you posted these with painted blades, I had just finished up a few with painted blades last weekend. I'm really putting an effort into painted blades this year. Great job cadman.

I keep it simple for topwaters. Bone for clear days and black for overcast days and at night. Good luck, you gonna have some fun with that bait.

I personally would use Grey Wolf and Wanderlust's strategy and would use some type of search bait. For me it's a spinnerbait as well. Once I get the bite I would saturate the area with both a spinnerbait and a jig.

My congrats as well Rhino, please pass it along.

If I'm slow rolling or using some type of stop and go retrieve, then a 5.6:1 gets the nod. If I drop down a blade size I'll use my 6.3:1 for a faster retrieve.

I personally use rod builders thread in a Size D. I think anything smaller cuts into the skirt.

You get promoted by your post count. You start as a one star general and work your way to a five star general. On the road trip you must salute those with more stars whenever your paths cross. Good deal! I'll be heading over to the introduction's and typing Welcome till I get another star A year or two ago, a thread discussed the importance of BR members welcoming new members to make them feel at home. After that thread some of us started posting welcome messages on a consistent basis. I feel that since Glenn provides this resource for free it would seem to be the least I can do. Again, this has nothing to do with post count for most of us who "volunteer" for the welcoming committee. If I was worried about my post count I wouldn't disappear from the forum for two or three months at a time like I do every year. I'm glad you mentioned that senile1, I was going to post a comment about the intro issue and decided not to b/c I post in that forum all the time and thought I would be ridiculed for it. I don't care about post count and I post in there b/c a lot of people took time and welcomed me when I first joined. At the time I thought it was a very nice gesture and feel that I should return the favor to someone else. Anyway, for what it's worth, that's just my 2 cents.

Hokie Smokes, are there any left in the water! You must have had a great day, congrats.