Tally

Really?? the patent is that secure on attaching the blade to the hook? Soooooo the guys I see on youtube are illegal?

First let me say this will be for my personal use and not for "sale". After snooping thru the threads I still need help. Looking for a mold 3/8 and 1/2 ounce that will take a Gamakatsu 5/0 hook (non flat eye). I would like the mold to have recessed eyes. Is there a mold out there or am I going to have to modify the mold. I want to attach the blade directly to the eye and not use a split ring. I am not trying to duplicate the Zman jack hammer but get it damn close. Thanks in advance for chiming in Tally

You are welcome Dave..... I was not down playing your thoughts on mass production, but making everyone aware that there is more to that bait than just mass producing it. So many baits out there that you better have one that everyone talks about and uses. The Chatterbait is a great example of what "could" happen...........but for most, it is just a dream about their bait. I don't know how much Ronnie is getting off of each bait sold if any. Zman may have the sole rights. That bait is making them a lot of money. The Jack Hammer sells for 15-20 bucks depending on where you shop. Most stores require a 45% profit. Not to bad for a bait that probably has a cost factor for under $1.00............ The best thing about that bait is everyone is throwing it and if your not, you should be. It flat catches fish and that is what it takes to make money off of the next "great" bait.

Wow... this was a great subject and thread. First I would like to say that for the most part this is a hobby for guessing 75% of the people on here. When its a hobby it is fun. When people start talking about and buying your bait it is exciting...... when the orders come in faster than you can produce....... the fun is gone and now it is a job!!... This happened to me on a crankbait I was making and I got burnt out and filled the orders I had and never answered another email order. Someone brought up "Chatterbait"..... what a great example. RAD lures was Ronald Anthony Davis and he worked on this bait for years. Although some "pros" were using it, it really got it start when Brian Thrift won a Stren series event on Okeechobe in 2006. The orders poured in and that is when Z-man came into the picture. I am sure that Ronny Davis was excited he created a lure that brought so much recognition, but I don't think he was prepared or had the capability to fill the "gold rush". Vodkaman, your idea is interesting and intriguing to say the least, and it was a great thread to read. Maybe some will create that "special" bait and take you up on your suggestion. Here is a link to the Chatterbait story and if you want to build that next "great" bait, you need to read it. I promise it won't happen overnight!! https://www.bassmaster.com/gear/lets-chat-about-chatterbaits

those eyes have to be blood red LMAO......... i will have to re read the hunting thread. If I recall, not all types have the ability to hunt? If i were an engineer I might be really dangerous on baits lol

Skeeter, I am very thankful that you just did not show me how to make a crank. You encouraged me to try and wet my whistle. I learned more about a crank bait than I ever thought possible. Everyday it was trial and error. you told me what should happen but never how to get there which made me do my homework. From the daily questions, you knew I was experimenting and took me under your wing. Anyone can watch a youtube and build a bait, but they never really understand what is going on...... I have been accused of always saying use the search feature...... not to be mean, but to make people actually research what was here and retain the information. Thanks for the compliment on the baits........ between you and Blades, you brought me to a level I thought I would never see. When it became more than a hobby, the fun was taken away. For you "newbies", let your imagination run and try it. We have all had our share of failure but the information from a failed bait is priceless. This has been a GREAT thread and glad to see all the replies. I am sure that I am way behind in the changes but the mechanics of a bait will always be the base. wiggle... wobble... slow rise... tail twitch..... I learned so much. Hunting has still eluded me and probably always will now. Vodkaman had an interesting post on hunting, but I doubt I will ever get to that point to explore that. Time for Tally to fish and less time in the shop lol

JT ... I figured Skeeter would make an appearance. lol, just like you!!

colorful lol..... good choice of words!! There was a lot of memories made in that chatroom

Ha yourself JT!!! good to see you . As much as you hated the fact he would not tell you how to do it from A-Z, I hope you appreciate the fact he actually made you understand what you are doing. When I started, I had the same frustrations. I was fortunate that Skeeter took me under his wing. He never once said here is how to make a crankbait, but knew from my questions that I had in fact done my homework and by my trial and error he knew I was asking the right questions. I will be forever grateful he never said: here is how you build a bait. I learned more about a crankbait than I could have imagined. Struggles and frustration make your mind work and soon you start thinking of new ideas that you want to try. Some work and most don't, but when you get an idea, try it and it works....... what a feeling!! In the end, it's all about having fun!!

Hughsey would be the right one to answer that question. Maybe he will see this and help you. or send him a message

Thanks, wasn't sure being a composite mold. I might take you up on the color if I get into different baits.

I just bought the Lurecraft's (Pork) 2.5" Trailer V Shape Chunk / 5 cavity . It is a composite mold. Do I need any release agent?

if just starting I would do what cadman suggested. Then if that pans out, get yourself a bender. If you like what you are producing and are going to continue, get a good bender from the get go. I bought the cheap one first and used it one time and bought a good one. some do the closed loop better than others.

welcome to TU. are you wanting to bend the wire and mold them yourself?

Hey Hughesy.... good to see and hear from you. "Teched up" lol......... like I said, I am so far behind everyone today . all that painting knowledge and now all you do is click a button lol just teasing!!

Good thread and I appreciate the on and off topic views. I am very aware that this craft is alive and well and I was not trying to say that it wasn't. Having been gone from the site for some time, I was interested in who on here still made crank baits. I am sure that I am far behind most of you as times change and new ideas have surfaced. I will snoop around and post a question or 2 if needed. Tally

it was good talking with you to Nathan. I was trying to be a good boy.... lol it's all good, I deserved it and hopefully we can move forward.

Vodkaman You are very welcome. I actually was waiting to get blasted!! I probably deserved it. I did not start this post for any reason other than to find out who played with making baits and who I could bounce ideas off and learn some of the tricks. I am positive it has changed a lot from days I was making lures. For those of you who do the custom paint on blanks, I applaud you. Other than figuring out to get my bait to do what I wanted, the painting and coming up with new patterns was the most fun!! Had the blanks been around when I started I would probably just paint to. fun fun fun!!

thanks for the welcome back Vodkaman. Let me address this now as I do not come back with nor do I want any hostility. I do remember some of the heated discussions and for whatever the reason was, personality clashes or maybe I needed to grow up, My apologies to you!! Now on the other note, I did glance at your hunting bait post and plan on looking at that again in detail. No need to be embarrassed.... you had an idea and ran with it. Most would have gave up much sooner than that, including myself. Congrats on putting that all full circle. I sincerely hope my apology is accepted and we can move forward. If not, again thank you for the welcome back! Tally Maybe you are more of a custom crank bait make than you take credit for?

lol you are so right Travis. that was fun!! so long ago I don't even remember who all was involved in that

You are killing me Clemmy..... "kicked out" lol..... I just go peacefully lol That thread brought back memories with all those names. Talk about talent and great minds being in one forum: WOW!! I have the bug to start making baits again and really just wanted to see who I could bounce ideas off of. So far, only 11 members have replied or posted here, 256 views and 20 replies. Not anywhere near the number I was expecting but I understand the time and effort that goes into creating a "custom" crank bait. For the ones that are just lurking, hop in and post. say hi, ask questions. Trust me, the questions you have are the same most that are addicted have and yes, I get to learn to. If you are addicted, there are no dumb questions!! Its good to be back and just reading old threads have reminded me of things I have forgot about. For the ones that replied, thank you. some new and some old........... just flat awesome!! Tally

Hi Clemmy, good to see (hear) you. I probably was one of the first to disappear, I just got burnt out. But thanks for making me feel really old lol

LMAO..... yep, that is the reaction you get. Been a long time since I have been in that isle but I imagine there is some really cool polish out there

Hi Wayne and thanks for joining...... Sad to say I probably have more nail polish than most women or nail shops. Thin it with lacquer an spray...... warning: not all colors turn out to be a color you use but here is the trial and error thing. I was always looking for a great looking sparkle that made my bait look a bit more realistic. I make a spinner bait that flat catches fish. It honestly looks and reflects like a shad. so thumbs up on the nail polish. Warning #2...... you will get some strange looks in the isle as you try the color on the tip of your nail lol........

thanks for chiming in. The response you all gave me doesn't surprise me at all after snooping around and I guess that is why I posted the question. I certainly was not trying to ruffle any feathers if I did. Maybe we all took it to the limit years ago and new ideas just aren't out there? I guess most have just got into the "custom" painting and I understand that. Painting and coming up with new schemes was always fun to me. Manufacturers have taken there game to new limits and they owe TU a thank you for that. I am sure they snooped around here all the time to see what we were doing. Maybe I just miss the group that put ideas out there and we all gave an opinion and some pretty good minds ran with it. Plenty of failures along the way, but a lot of fun even with the failures. I don't think we had many secrets as most of it was posted and hashed out right here. Although I am sure everyone had something special that they just didn't share. No problem with that as that is what made what they did special. If you all remember Blades and Baits (JT), he got soooooooo upset with me and called me the biggest snoop out there. We still laugh about that today. There was special nail polish he had found but was discontinued, but he never told me about this. I called him and said JT, I found some cool polish. he said, what color is the bottle, what's it look like, who makes it lol......... and most important. where did I get it? Long story short..... he could not find it again and it was discontinued and he had been all over the internet looking for it. I found 30 bottles of it and oh did he beg me to sell him some.......... Please understand, JT taught me so much about painting, I said JT i am not selling you any...... again he was pissed....... I laughed so hard and said JT, I am sending you 15 bottles, NO CHARGE!! That was fun days!! Sorry to ramble and thanks for reading. I am going to start making baits again, but just as a hobby with no intent to sell them. Just having fun. I just wanted to find out if there were still a few around I could bounce ideas off of. For you that posted a reply...... I thank you. Tally