Dave A

I looked at the color and think maybe roadkill would work? Or not- Here's a pic.

Here are a couple pics showing where I like to bend the blade. I put it in a vise and bend it with a bar. Hope this helps, Dave BTW, this is one of the heads poured using the modified poison tail mold I showed in another posting. I use 0.051 stainless wire to make the loop.

Nice work- I like to bend the blade backward a few degrees at the level of the snap to modify the action.

Nice-

Thanks Buzz!

at that price point, I like the Cherrywood over the Stimula. It is lighter and has more sensitivity

please let me know how it works out-

Hi Munkin, There is usually enough room in the hookslot to place a wire parallel to the hook shaft. Here is an example using the bullet shaped jig mold. if there isn't enough space, then you can file down the channel a bit to provide the space needed. Hope this helps, Dave Here's another example showing the wire before bending it. This was using the tip up mold when I was experimenting with Ned rig heads.

Here is another mold and the resulting bait- a 4.5" jerkbait.

I used to pour alot more than i do now, but I developed lung issues so I have slowed way down. I began making molds insted. Here is a 6" ribbed swimbait

Try village tackle baits. He does good work.

Here is a picture of a poison tail jig mold that was modified to accomodate a flat eye jig hook or wire for spinnerbaits or chatterbaits. Go nice and steady with a drill press, checking your alignment often. I used a larger diameter bit to start and then a finer gauge bit to finish the channel.

I use braid or Nanofil on all of my spinning outfits with a fluoro leader because I like the greater casting distance I can get with the thiner, slicker lines and the braid allows me to feel alot more. Just my opinion. +2 on the Berkely lightning rods- excellent rods for the money. Casts a mile and good backbone.

I was thinking about lead alternatives and I am going to try molding Worm Nose jigheads using hot glue with BBs. I have not figured out how many BBs to use for 1/16, 3/32, etc, nor have I figured out how to paint the jig heads, but I thought I'd put the idea out there for someone with more time to try. I got the idea for hot glue jig heads from TU and made a few jigheads but haven't tried them yet. Here's a pic of a poison tail jighead made by injecting hot glue from a regular hot glue gun.

Nice! Gourdneck has alot of steep dropoffs right? Did you have to launch on Hogsett? Long does have great Pike fishing, especially late summer early fall. I like to fish large black spinnerbaits in about 6-8 feet of water. Chatterbaits work well also. The biggest bass I have caught were 20+ inches- One on a black jitterbug, another on a black buzzbait (both in the cove) and the thrid on a GP senko near the commune

I agree on the Siennas and the Cherrywood rods- While you are at wally world you can pick up some Spiderwire braid and have a really nice setup.

Thanks guys- My buddy Travis was also using the flashing with JB weld but needed something that he could reheat in the microwave, so I reached out to a local glassblower to see if he could make this divided cup. not the best looking, but functional.

The north end has been more productive this year for some reason. The spraying has been clearing out alot of the pads which may be why. I have a place in the cove near the beach that has all the channels dug out- used to be great fishing until the invasives came in and they had to spray. Buzzbaits were my favorite baits. Now I have been using small swimbaits on jigheads, and of course senkos

Thanks guys- Yes it track well in the water. I wanted a bait with wires that did not interfer with the strike.

Yep- Alberto Knot. The only issue I have had so far is when I try tying 12 lb invizx to 8 lb nanofil. THe fluoro keeps breaking. not a problem with power pro or spiderwire or even 10 lb nanofil, just the 8 lb nanofil. Any thoughts?

Here is a double bladed spinnerbait that I made using the modified poison tail jig mold. I used the brush guard hole to mold in the wires for the blades.

I am in the Kalamazoo area. I fish Long and West lake. Fishing has been slow this year, prob due to the crazy temps. It was just starting to pick up, then they sprayed the lakes for weed control- That always throws off the bite.

I Agree with Crestliner- it all depends. On the bottom, on top of the grass, along the weedline- a slow steady retrieve to start, modify if you aren't getting bit.

I like to powder coat size 6 split rings with transparent candy red powder paint and slip it onto the senko. Setting the hook up between the ring and the senko and not piercing the bait with the hook helps to prolong the life of the bait. When the bait is rigged this way, both ends wiggle on the fall as Crestliner has said. But you can also wiggle the senko by flicking your rod tip. I also like the way the wacky rigged bait vibrates in the water as you reel it in.

When I am not getting bit using small swimbaits, I slow it down with a wacky rigged senko.