Munkin

Like any other bait they have their time and place. I second Tom's recommendation of fishing crayfish colored cranks around dam RIP rap. In lakes with a lot of weeds I like a bait that runs just overtop of them. This can mean a 10' bait running over weeds 11' deep or a Mann's baby 1- running over 2' weeds. Allen

I would like to add the Zoom creepy crawler 3" twin tail grub for a finesse trailer. They only make a few colors but I only use GP. Allen

Chigger crawls and Super chunks have been my main two for years. Double tailed grubs for football jigs. The last two years though I have been using Prowler because of the colors like GP/Black swirl and this awesome blueish/black. Allen

That bottom one would make a good swimjig. Allen

Heat does that and the two manufacturers that are the worst for me is LC and SK. It doesn't happen with my older LC baits just the ones from the last 3 years. Allen

I did better this year with black/blue plastics than I have done in the past. A-Jay if you are looking for another full size Repoman I have one I can trade since you are such a great contributor to this site. Allen

Buy some 1.5 blanks and paint them yourself. They are like $1.50 each and rattlecan paint works for simple patterns. Besides it will give you something to do over the winter. Allen

I have been collecting up stuff for the Flea Market just need to start posting it. Allen

That will be harder because of the ribs by doable if you make an injection mold. Allen

It looks like one side is flat? Lurecraft will make a mold of those baits for you just contact them. It doesn't cost much something like $20? Otherwise you can make your own mold out of bondo or the silicone Lurecraft sells. Glue the baits down on a non-stick baking pan using casket sealer. Create a box out of lego's that is about 1" bigger around than the baits and about the same 1" for depth. Secure the box to the pan using the gasket sealer and you are good. Pour the bondo or silicone into the box but not directly onto the baits. Pour into a corner and just let it flow over the baits to keep from getting bubbles. Let it dry and you are done but the bondo may need some clean up. Allen

Look good but the pickerel at Deep Creek will steal them. Allen

That should not be that hard since there is nothing complicated about the bait. Make a mold using Lego's and bondo and you can make all you want. Here is a 2 piece mold I made for a Berkley 4" heavy sink worm that I wanted to copy for wacky rigging. Allen

Sent you a message. Allen

You must fish in an area that has virile crayfish. They have a brown/orange body with GP tails and claws. I have caught a lot of fish on a jig that had a GP head and trailer with brown/orange silicone skirt. Allen

Are you using the resin or aluminum ones? I have bought both but have not used them yet (Wife banned me from heating up plastic in the basement because of the smell). Allen

I thought they had a catalog you could get? The Erie Carter would be the one to start with. Anything with a curled tail just doesn't seem to work right for me. Allen

I would modify it to hold one of the wire inserts for the Trokar wire insert. These are longer than the regular wire insert. Allen

Regular Power baits seem stiffer to me than most other soft plastics. Depending on what you want this could be a good or bad thing. Allen

Kick over some rocks in a local stream and watch the way the crayfish swim react. Imitate what they do with your jig and you are set. Allen

That Jester bait looks like a fish catching machine. Allen

Salt makes a bait sink and without it a plastic bait will mostly float. Allen

I use the footballhead ones because they stand up better than most. When you see those flatbase shakeyheads advertised they are in a aquarium which is not the real world. Check out the MegaStrike ones and make sure you are using a bait without salt in order for them to stand up. Allen

Two baits I don't melt down are anything elaztech and Berkley power bait. The elaztech is made of who knows what and the Berkley stuff seems to scorch too easily. Besides those I do not care about the percentage of salt content for regular jig trailers as it is immaterial. Allen

Where specifically are you fishing in Merryland as I maybe able to help? I fish from the Lower Potomac out of Smallwood west to Deep Creek Lake and most places inbetween. If I had to recommend 2 baits it would be the KVD 1.5 silent in Gizzard shad and rattling in chart/black back to cover most of the state. Allen

You are pulling a metal swivel through a ceramic guide which isn't as strong. I did this years ago and the guide chipped and frayed the line which cost me a few lures and several nice fish before I noticed what was going on. Just figured I would pass on the words of wisdom so you won't make the same mistake I made. Allen