Wire bender

If you are concerned that the final product will work as well and look as good as those found in stores, then yes, I can tie tight wire loops and knots. All it takes is a little practice and hand strength. Since I'm close to my 74th birthday I guess I have both. Now, I'm usually using 26 or 28 gage wire. If you are going to go into tackle for musky then I don't think it can be done by hand with a Worth tool. Buy one and try it. They are quite inexpensive.

Good morning. For quite a few years I keep wondering the same thing, Am I using the "best", isn't there something newer? Well, for many years I've used the Worth tool and must admit that it the best for my purposes. Phil

The end of November I had an aneuriam on my aorta burst. Apparently people don't survive this but for some reason the good Lord threw me back. At age 73 I wasn't ready. After spending a month on my back in the hospital, four surgeries, then two weeks in a nursing home for PT so I could walk again I'm now builting up strength at home. There are many things I won't be able to do for a long time, if at all, and one of them is to get into a boat. So my fishing from now on willl be restricted to docks and from a bank. I'll just train the fish to come to me rather than chasing them all over a lake. It will be a few months before I can wet a line, but I'm starting to make lures again. Good strengh therapy for the hands. Now I know the reason for the handicaped fishing docks. Thanks to all who have devoted time to building them. Phil

Thank you. Phil

For the past couple years I've been using a couple Quantum Catalyst PTi. They are smooth and I enjoy them very much. Phil

Mojo - good point. Also add a few pictures with a datstamp on them. It's called CYA. Phil

Thanks for the advice guys. I have a good system I use on the northern lakes that works well for me. We're leaving the 18th for two weeks on the Eagle River Chain in northern Wisconsin and we're planning on having a ball. My Bride and I both practice catch and release so we know that those we returned to the water in the past will be bigger and just waiting for our arrival. Phil

Richoc, I've thought about making harnesses, but all of the lakes I fish on don't allow motor trolling. I'm at an age when the thought of rowing is too much like work. Fishing should be fun, not work. The lakes are usually up north, usually spoken as upnorth, a.k.a. God's Country where the eagles fly. Phil

Many years ago I was working in food marketing and a supplier and I developed a wire rack for grocery stores to hold our new line of envelope food items. The company I was with spent the money to send me to their corporate patent attorney. The attorney was a very honest man. He said the idea probably could receive a patent BUT then showed me how a clever cheater could get around the patent and make a similar product. He went on to say that my ego might be happy with a patent. Ego lost. I never filed. Phil

I've tried to use the Dakota blades 10 different ways to Sunday with only so-so to bad results. They just don't spin as quickly nor as easily as the Colorado or French blades that I have been using on small inline spinners. I know Jerry used them on a lure that is in the trophy room and had suggested using a large bead behind the blade to another member. I've spent too much time in R&D on what was advertised a couple years ago as the wonder blade. Wonder alright, I wonder why I wasted so much time. If anyone has had great results I'd love to hear about it as I have quite a few blades in invenory. Phil

Chip, that one nice fish. Phil

A few years ago I too though about buying one of the machines I kept reading about. But since I mostly bend smaller wire (26) and get along very well with the hand tool made by the Worth Company I decided to save my money. If I ever decide to bend larger wire I'll have to switch as the hands can only take so much. Phil

My friend, may God hold you close. He loves you. Phil

Sean, thank you for sharing and may God bless you. Phil

I know they make it but not sure that I'd use it. I bought a new Mixmaster mixer for my Bride. The person on the phone told me that at one time she had worked in the factory where they added the chrome powder. When we got the mixer it was "chrome" but not a with a bright shine to it. In my opion it dull. So if all chrome powders are like this I'd go to the tape. Phil