Jaw1

C-rig = lizard Swinghead = x-cite raptor tail

You can open the eye on most jigs with a punch and lightly striking it with a hammer. Go slow and just open it enough for your blade. I poured and made abt 50 last winter then forgot about them and bought 10 duh.

I believe you learn more on the hard day's than the easy ones. When the fish are biting and your able to put a pattern together it's like connecting the dots, but when's it's tough it makes you think differently and concentrate more plus when it's tough I experiment with techniques that I don't usually fish so I don't waste time learning them when the bite is on.

This is the one that should have been quoted. I've been to Toledotackle and like it but I like most of the smaller shops.

Sorry wrong quote

I am guilty of never throwing a Texas rigged worm anymore just doesn't fit my fishing style anymore. I also never throw a spinnerbait of any kind anymore, just not productive for me. The most productive never talked about bait for me is the zoom big critter craw my most productive bait

BobP above is a tackle making gurue that really knows what he's talking about. He is the reason gave up the plexyglass and went to g-10. I'm relatively a newbie after about 6 yrs or so of tackle tinkering but I can say it's very interesting,challenging and fun. Great way to pass the winter which is when I do most of my tinkering. Give it a shot I think it's something you can enjoy however in-depth you take it. Warning though it is addictive

I use primarily balsa and have for a few years now. It's easy to work with as far as shaping and carving goes,although I don't consider it carving so much as shaping. It's easily obtainable from local hobby shops and you can seal it with runny superglue. I shape / carve my lure then seal with superglue,painting it on with a cheap craft brush. Sand the grain back down that the superglue raises then either prime or if you desire coat it with 2ton epoxy,then basecoat. Paint the lure then coat with epoxy again. Remember it's best to bucket test your lure in water once you've decided how much belly weight and hardware sizes you will require. I usually do this after sealing and before painting. I like to foil finish a lot of my baits so I add an extra coat of epoxy to hide the foil edges. This will all be trial and error for you until you have a design your happy with. I have used basswood,poplar,and cedar but prefer balsa. There are ways to add dowels to a balsa bait so you will not have to use a through wire construction but I don't use this method. You can find plenty of links to help you through the process,or go to tackleunderground very helpful people on this site. You may also want to try pvc trim board. It is waterproof,and machines like wood. My avatar is actually a bait I made out of pvc trimboard. Hope this helps. Good luck and have fun

I do look at the American made factor being a union member and local vice president I see the drastic decline of American industry first hand. I do buy American when applicable. I also know what feels better to me when it comes to rods and the zodias feels better hands down. This is just my opinion. I like aspects of both rods for different applications,it's the main reason I haven't purchased either yet. I like the jdm look but it doesn't dictate every rod purchase I make. I am glad you brought these points up though. It's food for thought. I think the e6x rod is g-loomises attempt to appeal to the everyday angler. Most average anglers will not pay 300 to $500 for a rod in my area. I myself included. I limit myself to around a $200 rod budget so an nrx is not in my future. They have to compete globally hence the lower price option. Well enough of the serious stuff. Crank bait rod e6x probably. Bottom contact goes to the zodias.

All the reels mentioned so far will do fine. I own or have owned tatulas,citicas,curado,lews,and I believe it comes down to personal preference, and the way the rod and reel combine to function and feel. I do stick by what I said previously. If I was starting over and knew what I do now, sticking to a budget it goes to lews and any of the $100 rods mentioned with me leaning towards ***. I have a rage rod and it does not balance out as well as the duckets, mojos, or the ***. That being said it's still a good rod and I actually owned 2 until recently. I think you will be happy with any combination of the rods and reels mentioned until you have to have the next one and the next just like most of us. My shop is a testimony to tackle addiction it gets us all

Strike king 1.5 are my favorite squarebill there not to expensive and produce. Bandits are great all around footloose to 300series, I've tried the river2sea and caught a lot of fish on them as well. Luckystrike squarebills are nonproductive for me as well as the arashi squarebills. I was a big luckycraft fan but had quite a few bills break and made the switch to strike king. Another disappointing squarebill for me was the xcaliburs. I love their one knockers but the squarebills a keychains to me

I like to remove the shirt and add a superfluke or similar bait. Throw I where I would normally use a spinnerbait. I will also add one of the spring type bait holders to the head so I can get a more weedless snag less presentation

I see a lot of references to smallmouth fishing with this type bait but how well do you guys do with largemouth on it? I don't regularly visit smallmouth fisheries in my state(arkansas) and no one I know fishes blade baits. I usually winter fish in the 14 foot range at a few local lakes using bigger bodied flat coffin billed crankbaits but wouldn't mind trying these out if you think they would be productive.

If memory serves me right the clear is clear no tint. I use to use all suffix and liked the camo but it got hard to find locally for me. Switched to p-line for everything other than seagar flouro

If your budget is around $200 why not get a lews lfs (best $100 reel in the industry imho) and one of the rods you mentioned(***). Now you have a really good setup within budget that will perform. The reel is not a clunker that will cause you constant aggravation it is an all around good solid reel that's easily adjusted and performs good. The rod depending on the model you choose gets rave reviews from most ( I just picked up one for my new chatterbait/ swim jig rod and fished it this weekend no complaints) and they look good. This setup when maintained properly should last and as you build your arsenal will probably always have a spot in rotation. I know this setup isn't a tackle enthusiasts dream setup but it is a very respectable angling tool to me and should be great to fish with

The lfs reels are the best $100 reels in the industry so it's safe to assume that the quality only gets better as you go up in lews lineup. I have 6 of them and 2 of the tourney mgs and they are all good.

You can shim the pawl with shim stock by taking the cap off and placing a small shim in it them replacing the cap. I have had to do this before in a pinch also used thin plastic to cut a shim out of. This works until you can replace the pawl. It just adds more pressure so the pale rides on the gear again. I know guys that never replace the parts they just shim and go.

P-line is all I use anymore,but I like the yozuri hybrid also both serve me well

This !

Used to throw pink x-raps and bandit crankbaits at a local lake and caught quite a few fish with them so rattle traps are no suprise.

Most used zoom and roboworm Also like berkley pb and bruiser

Hydro gorilla 3/8 white or white/ chartreuse for my with a buggerman in the same colors running a close second. I'm not sure they are made anymore haven't bought one in a few years and haven't looked, but the chatterbuzz baits are about the same. These are very loud clacking buzzbaits that I've had a lot of success on.

I catch more on a craw type soft plastic so to me it's. 1. Craw 2. Fluke 2. Worm

Just picked up a new *** with full cork, really like it so far. I was not a fan of the original *** split grip, reel seat that rod sits in the wall rack but I own a few ghosts also and agree that the Eva/ tat reel size may be something u should check out first before buying one