does anybody else do this?

[rocknfish9001]

I have become fond of jerkbaits with a slimmer build and realistic shape, like the banjo minnow. They are just more natural looking than flukes, and are great finnesse baits. I have trouble fisnding baits like this, i have to drive an hour to get to the closest place that has them (mann's shadow) So I made my own. I got a piece of clay and made it into the shape of the lure. Next i mixed up a batch of plaster and put the clay in so half of the "lure was in the plaster. Then when that dried, i got vasaline and some foil and made the other half of the mold with more plaster. When that was dry, i took it out of the container and took the two pieces apart. And there is was, a perfect imitation of the lure. Then i melted down old lures, which i know is kind of a crappy way of going through things, then i poured the melted lures into a hole that i made going into the mold. The outcome is kind of shaggy, but for a single lure it costs me only a couple cents if that!

[flechero]

What you went through is one of the ways all the great soft plastics were invented.  I congratulate you for having the patients to do it.  You may be onto the next great bait... or maybe just another bait, you won't know until you try it out.  I hope it catches your next personal best!!

Just be sure to factor your time into the making of the molds to get a true representation of the "cost to you"... a few cents worth of plastic and $xx.xx per hour for your time.

[SENKOSAM]

The time and cost to make a plaster mold is minimal. Even a two part mold takes no more than 2 hours tops, but what you have is a mold that will be ready for pouring dozens of baits in less than a few minutes without having to worry if they're in stock someplace or in colors you like. Just the s/h, tax, gas mileage and order screw ups saves you time and money.

I like the short Shadow and fish it like a Reaper, so I've made one-part molds successfully. To git a plumper head end, I tilt the mold towards the head, thus ensuring a nice thin tail and a thicker head. If the body and head need a little more thickness towards the end cooling stage, I pour some more to cause a hump to form. I do the same for Zoom Chunk copies and Beavers.

Good to see you used the aluminum/vaseline trick for two-part molds I wrote about in the tutorial. It really aids in getting the two halves apart. I'd like to see a pic of you baits if it's not too much trouble. For a nice shiny lure finish, I hope you coated the cavities with a sealer and also brush some oil into them before pouring. (I use Original Fish Formula or Walmart's Bait Mait, but any pure oil does fine.)

(Tip: make them in clear or light smoke with .015 silver hologram. Fan-tas-tic when rigged flat (like a Reaper) on a 1/16 oz. ballhead jig. Smallies clobber this lure and forget about the live forage nearby!)

[rocknfish9001]

I have made some funky but great looking lures with several old ones and a lighter. Including my monster swamper, which is pieces of every torn lure i have. So far 15inches and growing.

[rocknfish9001]

I havent poured any lures yet because i accidently broke a peice of the mold on the opposite end of where i made the hole, so nothing would stay in. Im now kicking myself for ruining the clay figure i used to make the mold. By the way, do you fish your reaper like a tube or grub or something like that, and do you rig it with a plain jighead, or t-rig it.