SmallieGuy

Thank you so much Musky Glenn, ah the only one's I found when googling are Barlows tackle, now you mentioned the .040" for that makes two. Luremaking.com offers colorado blades with deep cup http://www.luremaking.com/catalogue/catalogue-index/blades-index.htm Along with LPO https://www.lurepartsonline.com/Lure-Making/Shop-By-Product-Category/Spinner-Blades-Spoons/Spinner-Blades Then there's Walleye Supply that supposedly has #8 willows, they don't mention the size of these blades, it's kind of strange they have #8 willow blades on a walleye fishing store? Are these actually #8s? https://www.walleyesupply.com/8-willowleaf/ If you find any other #8 willow deep cup sources Musky Glenn, don't be afraid to message me or post the link here. I'm gonna do some more searching...

I was referring to the chinese supplier for the #8 blades.... Yeah that chinese whole supplier may not allow me to purchase unless it's high amounts, states 5,000 pieces. I thought I shared the link, maybe I forgot to or it was edited by the forum admin, here it is again https://trophychina.en.made-in-china.com/product/ZXDxOKEoMVUd/China-Willow-Leaf-Spinner-Blades.html I'm grateful you're willing to help, but I've been around the hobby for a very long time, not everyone shares the same ideology. Lets keep this easy, because you seem to be concentrated on how the blade spins. I want a #8 willow blade that travels through the water fast and deep, less resistance when reeled. You claim that a shallower cup will run deeper, but from my experience that's not the case, the regal blade(shallower cup) vs the hildebrandt(deeper cup), the shallower cup runs higher in the water column and travels through the water slower. That's what I experienced when casting and reeling them. I'm not positive the #8 hildebrandt is a deeper cup, I'm just basing it on what I looked and felt when comparing the two willow blades. I called LPO and they said basically all their #8 willow blades are the same, but different finishes. They run super slow, have huge resistance, and run higher in the water column near the surface. I need to match up a cheaper #8 willow blade to the #8 hildebrandt, that Barlow #8 deep will may be my last hope, however Musky Glenn says they have deep cup #8 willow baldes, so I may try those. Glenn which willow blades are deep cup sir? If you don't mind me asking, the .025 or .040? https://www.muskyshop.com/blades/willow-leaf-spinner-blades-.025-gold/ https://www.muskyshop.com/blades/willow-leaf-heavy-duty-.040-spinner-gold/

From my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong... Deeper cup is going to travel faster through the water, deeper in the water column, and less resistance/pull. Shallower cup is going to travel slower, higher in the water column, with more resistance. I've already tested the Hildebrandt Blade which seems to be a deeper cup #8 compared to #8 Regal Blade from LPO. The regal blade stayed higher in the water column and was very slow with a lot of resistance, the Hildebrandt could be reeled at the same speed, but travel through the water faster, yet still stayed somewhat deep, with less resistance. From what I remember, the #8 Hildebrandt blade was exactly the same size and dimensions of the #8 Regal Blade from LPO when I compared them on top of one another, but the Hildebrandt was deeper cup, almost felt like it had ridges near the edges. For all I know, there may not be another willow blade comparable to the Hildebrandt. I suspect the shallower blade turns/spins in the water faster, but is slower traveling from A to B with the same reel speed using a Tranx or Beast baitcaster, and the faster turn/spinning rate causes more resistance/pull. Maybe I'm wrong, all I can do is try the Barlow Deep cup when they get their inventory in and see what happens. Speed is key for musky in the summer, but during the Fall that changes when the water temps drop, that slower Regal blade from LPO probably come in handy. Yeah well, I wish that were true, so far Barlow told me they wouldn't give me the details of their parts supplier, probably because they probably don't want me cutting out the middle man, like I'm trying to maybe do with the #8 willow blades at MuskyShop.com You ever seen the movie Blow, how Depp was eventually cut out of the picture after he told PeeWee Herman was his source? lol Anyways, there is a lot of stuff secret about parts suppliers and fishing lures, I'm not sure what planet you've been fishing on for the past few years. More fishing companies that come out with a spinnerbait on the market with a #8 blade, that means more competition, which means possibly less sales for certain companies, I could totally understand why some on here wouldn't be willing to share their sources. I've contacted a couple musky companies before because I was curious where they got their ball bearing swivels, never got a message back from them. Anyways, appreciate the help Musky Glenn, appreciate all who's helped in this thread. Mogambo grub looks to be only six inches, but looks to be very thick. From my understanding, yes I'll save hundreds from having to purchase molds, but in the long run I'll save more money making my own. Anyways, me just sharing that source of MuskyShop.com supplier was probably never shared on here, I'm sure others will be very appreciative in the future. I wouldn't be surprised if majority of the blades that are sold on these middle man sites like Barlow and LPO are made over in China, lol. So far I haven't heard back from that Chinese tackle supplier, may be due to the Corona virus, as I'm in contact with another Chinese company related to fishing and they said they're kind of in a quarantine process over in certain regions in China and currently can't work.

Thanks for chiming in kingmfg, I appreciate it, I'll have to try the worth swivels again then... I may buy some heavier duty chinese swivels for now, that sucks 200 didn't end up turning. I see you're over in Minnesota, musky heaven, lol, cool, yeah it's bummer not more online mold shops carry musky molds. I mean 8" could still be used for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass as well, I've got some nice 4 pound smallies on 7" tubes before.

Thanks for all the tips fellas, any tips on finding a 8-10" grub mold like this 8" grub from Bass Pro by Offshore Angler? https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/offshore-angler-swirl-tail-grubs I found this one, it's an 8 inch mold, but the grub is just under 6 inches, too small. https://anglingai.com/8-single-tail-grub-mold/ This one looks kind of cool, but tail looks pretty small and not long enough. https://baitmold.com/plastic-bait-mold/twister-tails/mold-t126-10-inch-250-mm/ This one looks to be more like it, but I don't know about holes in the tail, musky will shred that pretty quickly https://baitmold.com/plastic-bait-mold/twister-tails/mold-t603-9-06-inch-230-mm/ I see other threads of musky anglers on here just making their own silicone molds and it seems when you go over 8", most just pour versus injected?

Anyways, I'm still having a tough time finding a #8 willow blade that has a deep cup, anyone has a source or knows of the company that supplies Barlow, please message me. I'm waiting to hear back from a few companies... Would be nice to try a #10 willow blade as well, now that's would be cool. Also is there a company that has a CNC injection mold for a 7" or 8" grub twister tail?

Thanks for the tip smalljaw, at one point I did put some heavier duty split rings on the Worth swivel and the monster #8 blade still ended up working it's way off the blade when I casted or reeled. The amount of resistance the #8 blade puts on these split rings is too much. I find that using a same size swivel as the Worth but with solid rings, then attaching a beefer split ring at the end is the best way to have an indestructible spinnerbait. This is basically the way the top musky companies make a spinnerbait now like Musky Mayhem. https://musky-mayhem-tackle-llc.myshopify.com/products/the-hinge I suspect your method may work bass spinnerbaits with smaller willow blades, but there's even some of the top bass companies like Terminator which have a lot of complaints of bass fishermen losing willow blades because they work their way off the split rings when casting or catching fish. The best fix I've found is attaching a strong split ring like the hyper brand split ring to the end of crane, barrel, or ball bearing swivel with solid rings. You'll never lose a willow blade again, case closed. It's a great ball bearing swivel, but really it would be more time consuming put on two split rings for every bait, it's so much easier to just buy a ball bearing swivel with solid rings, then put one split ring at the end where you attach the willow blade.

Just got off the phone with Barlows tackle and they seem to be the only one's that carry the #8 willow with a deep cup that provides speed and runs deep for musky, they are currently out of stock, I asked them if they can provide the source where they get these, they said they can't reveal. But manager said they should be getting them back in stock another couple weeks, so that's a big plus. https://barlowstackle.com/Willow-Spinner-Blades-Deep-Cup-Size-8-P726/ If a supplier sees this, please hit me up through private message, I've talked with a few other companies over the phone like LPO and they seem to just have the shallow cup. I suspect the shallow cup is great for spring and fall when musky are more lethargic, but summer and early fall the speed crushes it! I might give Hagens a call, but I'm sure there's are shallow cup too.

Probably around 100, 200, 500 quantities.... Yeah I've seen Hagens, I'll head over to their site again see what they got, I have their wire former along with knipex round nose pliers. "I either had to go bigger and start advertising, website etc. or give up the selling." I'm well knowledgeable in this area, I've done web design, also video editing, advertising, and have already sold millions of dollars worth in fishing tackle over the years as an affiliate... I already have numerous websites up, I don't need help in this area, thanks though, looking for specific help on sources, so please keep the topic on hand. If they don't sell, no problem, they won't go to waste regardless due giveaways on my youtube channel. "It wasn't so much fun anymore. So I gave it up and now only make for family and friends." Yes, well aware of that side of fishing and lure making, it can lose it's fun... But it's also fun when work doesn't seem like work and you enjoy what you do, I'm sure there's many on here that enjoy their lure making profession. Pretty awesome you got the opportunity to be featured in a magazine, totally understandable if you didn't want to due to having a solid job and not having the time...

Yep, just starting to start off just selling, I've been making and bending for a few years now, just basically using the top quality tackle from traditional brick & mortar stores and some online shops. Buying from Muskyshop.com for top dollar really not what I'm looking for, but thanks for the tip on Rosco, I'll check'em out, ebay has some pretty good stuff for bulk... I noticed some companies actually just sell their tackle in bulk on ebay. Yeah I know of Barlow and Jann's, seems like some of their stuff their tackle is priced in bulk at a decent price, but aren't they still bit of a middle man? And their top brand of swivels like Spro and Sampo are just sold in small packs for standard fishermen. Anyways, I'm sure just buying from Sampo or Spro directly wouldn't be what I'm looking for due to their high price, but rather finding something of a step down in bulk at a reasonable price like Worth or Lakeland. AFW seems like a good company and has a pack of 50 swivels for $30 at Barlow, that's not bad.... Maybe I'll run with them. Where's everyone buying their wire from? Gotta be some good cheaper sources rather than just these standard make lure fishing shops... Again private message if ya want... I think I'll get a 20 lb Lee pot, wasn't there a brand a step above, I know some complained of the Lee pots leaking a little and even the 10lb collapsing. drip - https://youtu.be/DAx_wiD7-EA collapse after 3 years - https://youtu.be/k-fQ3cckKBE?t=73 Thanks for the tips Kasilofchrisn

Well just talked to Worth on the phone, I guess they don't sell swivels with two solid rings, bummer. Maybe if they step up the quality of their split rings I wouldn't have a problem of losing my blades, but I guess that American company is out of the question. Bummer because I've heard they are best company for the ball bearing swivel itself.

I need help big time, if you guys can help me I would very well appreciate it. I'm going to get into selling some of my custom lures, also giving away on my youtube channel. If I don't make a whole lot of money fine, I'm doing it for fun regardless, my lures already work I've caught some big musky and bass with them. I just need sources for split rings, solid ball bearing swivels, hooks, etc... I know everyone recommends the company Worth for ball bearing swivels, but do they have the option with 2 solid ring ball bearings swivels? Anyways, I've tried the split ring version before and the split raings are weak, the split rings are cheap, the big willow blade I use slides off when casting. Some split rings already came separated too right from the packaging. I bought them right from lurepartsonline.com https://www.lurepartsonline.com/Spinnerbait-Swivels I'm definitely not the first to complain about the worth split rings http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/topic/25068-lakeland-vs-worth-swivels/ I saw these INFOF brand on DHgate.com and they have decent reviews https://www.dhgate.com/product/100pcs-american-hyper-ball-bearing-swivels/381091940.html?skuid=467522556004519946#ctabBox Rather than using ball bearing swivel with cheap split rings, I've been using a ball bearing swivel with solid rings, then I use on heavy duty split ring at the end to attach the big willow blade, it's a nice trick that I've seen other musky companies do to prevent from losing the willow or colorado blades. I even do this for my custom bass spinnerbait, but use a hyper wire split ring instead, which is know for it's strength of springing back in place. Also I need a source for heavy duty split rings? Both for musky and bass. And if anyone has a good source of deep cupped willow blades in the #8 and #10 size for musky let me know, I tried the regal #8 willow blade off lurepartsonline.com and they are too slow! Speed is key for musky... I think that's right, deeper cupping allow for better speed or is it vice versa? Also where does everyone go for reasonably strong stainless steel wire .051, .062 size in bulk along with bass wire for spinnerbaits? You can pm me or post... Anyways, appreciate any help I get, as I need it. I think the rest I can figure out such as pouring lead, making jig heads, and soft plastic baits, a lot of great information on this forum already on that, I may try that bismuth/tin combo from rotometals.com. I may need a source for 6/0, 7/0, & 8/0 hook size hooks in bulk for 1oz to 4oz jigs... What brand does anyone suggest going with? I'm the type of guy that prefers quality for terminal tackle, especially since it will be musky and big bass, but I know sometimes you can get quality stuff from China depending on the brand and dealer.