ominousone

I fish almost all the time with my friend that taught me almost everything that I know about bass fishing and he's a great partner assuming he's sober, add alcohol and he gets sloppy.

Bob's tackle shack or del-mart are really the only two people to go for this and what I would do is to call each one and check for availability or place your order atleast a month before you want to start pouring because these guys that make aluminum molds are very busy and make a spectacular product.

crawchuck, I'll give anyone props who puts out such nice stuff.

You will not beat the mold made by a fellow who's screen name is crawchuck. He's on tackleunderground.com's message board. I'll see if he has a website and get back to you. I know that this guy takes real crayfish and makes molds out of them. They are real nice.

I like the mold trade idea. I have to wonder however if a lot of us don't have the same molds. I know that I have molds that are pretty popular. Like for instance, a senko alum mold, one sided beaver, one sided jig trailer for spinnerbaits and a chunk, buzz frog, I believe those are all popular molds due to that that those are all popular baits. The only odd ball I have right now is a fat ika mold, and that's only odd due to the fact that it's brand new (and right now I couldn't see parting with it even for a short time).

I will say that you absolutely can't lose if you start making aluminum molds. It's always a big run around to get molds, there's always a wait, and the product is something that is top notch. Please do this. I have been looking for someone with this ability on a local level due to the afformentioned problems. And as far as the lead goes, what I wouldn't give for a jig mold that fits an ewg hook. Specifically a worm weight w/ewg hook slot or even w/worm hook slot. The do-it molds are so old school, we need someone on the cusp of what's going on to bust out some molds. Also, let's see some pics... and if you don't have the time to test your product, I'd be happy to be a "product tester" for you ;D

as far as tu, I know that I had to change my bookmark for them due to the fact that the changes on the message board changed the link.

my setup is: sparkie jig mold eaker shaker style blade (rounded) a ton of different types of skirts, still trying to figure out what I like (soft plastic was the latest) and so far my favorite trailer has been a twister tail grub, kills both the largemouth's and really kills the smallies.

o.k. the lms seems like a very nice unit and at 6bills that's not that bad and may leave me with 100 extra to pick up the ifinder(or whatever lowrance's handheld is called) for when I'm not on my boat. That site flechero recommended is pretty nice, thanks. One more question, do any of you know if that lms will allow another monitor to be hooked up to it? I could really use a unit for the bow and one for driving, and if I could obtain that capability w/o spending a ton(much more than 7-800 total) I may consider.

the casting rod is one of the berkley lightning rods I can't remember what the spinning rod was right now, I'll have to dig it out. The spinning rod was a fairly decent rod if I remember right (at least in comparison w/ the lightning rod) If I remember right if the guides are fuji, they will say so once I remove them right???

so basically, there's absolutely no reason not to keep the guides. The reel seat is questionable and I'd have to boil it to get it off the blank, and the cork is very questionable. I think I'll go with just getting the guides off and toss the rest.

O.k. I really think that I want to upgrade to a decent lowrance fish finder and cabela's has them on sale. Do any of you have a wealth of knowledge to help me differenciate between several that are in the same (kinda) price range. Also I really think that I want one w/gps so that narrows it down a bit. #1-lms series (either the 332cw/gps,334c/gps, or 339c DF w/gps) $699 #2-x-15mt w/gps $549 w/speed and temp sensors (actually the one w/speed and temp has cones that are 12degrees and 36degrees not 21, that makes me a bit iffy, or I could get one that has temp only with a 21 (and I have another unit that does speed)> #3-lcx 20c $639 w/gps I'm leaning towards the 20c right now. Maybe I'm wrong that's why I'm asking for advice. Thank you to anyone who helps and if more descriptions are necessary let me know and I'll type of the description of each machine. Thanks again.

O.k. rod builders. I am considering rod building as a furthering of the tacklemaking that I have been doing this coming winter. I now have two rods, a spinning and a casting rod that are broken. Neither of the rods have any broken guides or seating, they are broken on the blank part of the rod. Is the cork good? I would assume the guides would still be good. How about the reel seats? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

for books, the book "the complete guide totacklemaking" by c. Boyd Pfeiffer is good, not great but good. It'll provide you with a number of beginning hints with a number of topics for making just about any kind of lure you can imagine, and also info about some tools and what not. perty good buy.

bassmasta, i'd love to see your results (pics please). Also what type of sealant did you use? I want to start making the trailers that come with the chatterbaits, and haven't found the right mold yet so I guess I'll make it.

I did find one, and I do believe it was hiltz but they wanted like 35 bucks for their molds plus shipping. That's a ton of loot for one mold, so I have been scouring ebay looking for one in my price range.

two part molds are also possible with plaster of paris. there is a wonderful tutorial on tackleunderground.com If you go under user submitted tutorials you will find this. It explains how to do this, I have tried to make my own molds w/limited success. I will tell you this, if you can spring for epoxy to seal your mold you will be much happier in the long run.

j-bass, just for the sake of arguement, firetiger looks a lot like a perch to me. I get your point however. Hatch-matching is like anything else, it is A way. let the fish tell you what they want.

I know it's not a brick and mortor store, but lurecraft is almost as good. Any molds that they have usually arrive two days or so after you order. They are excellent with shipping.

Can anyone tell me where I can find a bullet weight mold? I don't think that do-it makes one and if they do, it's not concave at the bottom? I want one for t-rigging and c-rigging. Any help, advice, or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

zoomer, I was foolish, but fortunate today. I melted down an entire 5 gallon pail of wheel weights. The only caution I used was keeping a distance after gently placing the wheel weights in. I didn't have a good ladle so I ended up with a massive melted block in my pan in which I will pour into ingots tomorrow after I make my way to a restaurant supply store. I think when I make my way out of the woods, and to the closest city I will at least pick up a nice pair of leather gloves to match up with my ladle for pouring ingots tommorrow.

I was thinking of fixing up an old aluminum some day and I picked up a how to guide from www.myjonboat.com It seems pretty informative and may give you some ideas or hints to ease that you hadn't thought of yourself. good luck, and please post pics as you go

how about rhino lining the bottom of the boat so that way if you scrape up against rocks, stumps, or whathaveyou you won't hurt the bottom more.

thomas, once the plastic is cooled you will be able to peel whatever plastic is left in the contain out if you wish in one false swoop. It's not difficult cleanup.

imo, split ring's are always a pain.