Celticav

I use Testors acyrlics on my jig heads with a 2-ton overcoat also, works fine for me, JIM

I just recieved an email from someone who wants the spinnerbait that is the top-rated pic in our gallery here... I didn't even know what he meant and had to check it myself to see what he was talking about. I just made that one as an experiment and would like to thank all those who voted on it. I want to say that it runs straight has netted many keepers since I posted it, thanks again everyone for your votes and I am glad you liked it, JIM

Thanks Maze, this little lure has become part of my regular arsenal now. I fish it on a 7 ft light action Berkley spinning rod with a Shimano Spirex 2000 and Berkley FireLine. It has caught fish for me when nothing else would work, it may not be a tournement go-to bait but rain or shine, clear or muddy it always produces. I got more pics of them in the gallery, JIM

A hot air gun blows superheated air that can melt vinyl and soft plastics, you can get one at ACE Hardware for around $20.

I like them too, deadly on a mojo rig. I have only tried their pumpkin seed and it seems to work everywhere I go, JIM

Fat Ratz makes great baits, I am lucky enuf to own a few and highly recommend them to all.

tons of baking soda and a hack saw, hammer, and a big screwdriver. Got a few pounds from each battery but as I said there are other ways to get hard lead that are safer and much more fun.

Riverman, I highly recommend a hot-air gun when using powder paints. Makes for a nice smooth surface nearly everytime, JIM

I got a good bit of lead from some batteries that were used in a couple of 18 wheelers. I like to use battery lead for jig heads, much harder than normal lead and really makes a jig last on those rocky bottoms. Overall they are not worth it though, the process is messy and not as productive as other sources, and there are other ways to make your lead harder.

I love to target big Spotted Bass and keep a suspending jerkbait tied on all summer and fall. Bass become really shad oreinted in our southern lakes during these times. I like to make really long casts to get the bait as deep as I can and let the fish tell me how long to pause it. A baitcaster is better for these than a spinning rod to me, the best rod I ever saw for jerkbaits was a 6 1/2 ft custom rod with a trigger handle that had a medium-light St. Criox spinning rod blank. There is an article on the bass fishing home page titled Power-fishing that will change your outlook with these baits.

No the mount looks great, I had one done in febuary and got my second back last month, just hate to take another lunker outta the breeding stock. Alot of the local lakes here have had the largemouth populations over-fished allowing the white bass and spotted bass to take over and compound the problem. The taxidermist I took it too said he hadn't seen a largemouth come outta the lake over 10 lbs in two years. Fiberglass mounts look completely fake to me. I am going to try one of these, they look just as real as any fiberglass mount I have seen.

Hey all, I saw this guys work on ebay and am going to have him do some custom work for me and wanted to show off what will soon be in my den. I had a skin mount done earlier this year on an 11.3 pound largemouth and although I love to see her on my wall I will never again take another giant fish to a taxidermist. Its replicas for me from here on out and these are better than fiberglass to me. http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=wnw123&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=25

I love the Death Trap treble hooks, have you sent some with the red scratched off to Diachi yet? Chirmy, that Matzuo lure you had had Matzuo hooks on it, I have started using thier hooks this year and their sickle hooks have replaced about everything else in my soft plastic hook box, once you stick them with that hook they are as good as in the boat.

Hey Kid, the guys that hang around the local tackle shop here refer to the senko as the best thing in soft plastics since the Zoom lizard. I don't fish them as often as I should, but have had some amazing success with them last winter, me and SouthStatesFishin were out and they wouldn't hit anything until we tied on his senko handpours. My vote is yes, add them to your line-up, it is one bait that will be a mainstay in soft plastics for a while.

Cheaper... better... these are relative, I would always say try your ideas at least once on a small scale, the best way to do anything is the way that is right for you. I like to use a $29.00 HotPot to melt mine with, then pour the lead into 1 and 2 lb ingots for production, I have tried several ways but this works for me. I have used a fish fryer that runs off a tank for a gas grill, melted the lead in a basic cast iron pot, worked great for a long time. The HotPot is nice, holds about 4 lbs and has a nice open top on it for scraping off the slag and melts the medium very quickly once its warmed up, but always try new ideas, at least half of our "hairbrained" schemes work out one way or the other, JIM

I would still go with a HotPot II unless your going to be melting 20 lbs or more at a time. Cheap and easy.

OK, I have never done this so I am just speaking from my opinion and not any experience. I wouldn't do this, it would work if you have a good gas range and a cast iron pot, but I prefer the outdoors to do this. Don't have to worry about enough ventilation, spills, damage to the kitchen, etc This might work for you though, but I would recommend a good HotPot in the garage, shop, or backyard. JIM

The Seeker Shad is my creation, I thought I had a pic of one in the gallery, but you gotta couple on the way regardless, JIM

Hey Lurehead03, I still want to do that trade if your intrested.... JIM

We will be sending you a couple to throw soon Chirmy.

I don't know if they are as durable or not, the Devcon 2ton makes them pretty hard though, LOL

Welcome aboard, nice to have another rod and reel enthusiast here, do you make custom rods as well? Would love to see some pics in our gallery and I am sure Red G8r would love to talk to you about any tutorials, etc you would be intrested in submitting, Glad to have you here, JIM

When I use a trailer hook, I like to use one that is a one size smaller than the main hook. Most trailers come with some surgical tubing to help secure them on the main hook, I like to put the hook on without this tubing and use a piece of plastic cut off a six-pack ring with a paper punch to secure mine, it allows more freedom for the trailer to swing.

I am sorry but have to give my opinion on that one by Livingston. I got the LureMaking book a long time ago and was utterly disappointed with it. I am not trying to be a #@$%! but I just really think the "art and science" subtitle for this book is an outright lie, it should have read "The most basic of information about these baits and ponderings of the author and other leadheads"

You drill the holes in the flat part, the cupped part is what makes the blade ride the surface, you can drill as many or as few as you like as big as you want them.