Subvisser7 Posted September 10, 2020 Report Share Posted September 10, 2020 Hey guys. I'm new here and want to get into making my own lures and soft baits. I've been doing as much research as I can on YouTube and lurking on this forum. I'm trying to figure out what I need and where I can find it at reasonable prices. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardnaaa Posted September 10, 2020 Report Share Posted September 10, 2020 Well I can’t help much because I’m just getting started as well. Everyone here has been great and very helpful. I ordered 3 different blends of plastisol, a bunch of colors, an open pour epic pud mold, just ordered an injector and a 10 cavity core shot senko mold. I have almost $500 invested and I barely have anything. It’s expensive to start for sure. Your best bet is buying second hand CNC aluminum molds. I’m not on Facebook but I have read that there are a lot of soft bait making groups that specifically sell second hand gear. Plus there is a classified section here on the website as well. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Essentials... plastisol, colorant, glitter, heat source, holding containers, gloves, molds. That is just to start. The sky is the limit depending on what you want to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Young Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 microwave, pyrex cups, gloves, digital thermometer, plastisol, colorant & glitter & molds for your absolute favorite baits will definitely get you going pretty good. Medium plastisol would be the best bet to start with until you learn & know what you like. It's also hard to beat bait plastics brands for price on plastisol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) Awesome! Thank you so much! I’ve been looking at injectors. Is baitmold.com a good place for them? It looks like their 6oz is $40 and their dual kit is $90. I’m just not sure about their quality. Edited September 11, 2020 by Subvisser7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardnaaa Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I’ve read very good things about the ones at bass tackle, and I’ve also read good things about a company that’s only on Facebook called quality injectors. I just ordered mine through them. $65 plus shipping for an 8oz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Injection molds are the most expensive part of your search. When I started, I trolled the classifieds here, on the doit forum, eBay has some gently used molds that pop up. Figure out what you want and just keep an eye out. It’s how I bought a lot of molds when starting this hobby. Cavity count is important and that takes time. Second hand shops for a micro. Pyrex isn’t all that expensive new. Good luck.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I’ve got several molds from them of good quality so far. However don’t be in a rush for anything from them. They are a Ukrainian company so shipping takes forever but a reasonable price. This is not a cheap hobby unless you don’t go hog wild. it’s a fun and rewarding one though. I haven’t bought a bag of any Commercial baits in 8 years. As mentioned above get what molds you use the most. Small cavity count is the cheapest but will take forever to make a couple of bags .Same can be said about color and glitter as well. Smaller amounts is cheaper but you pay in the long run I have multiple small bottles of colorant but the ones I use the most I have quart bottles of because it’s cheaper in the long run. Start small if your not sure you’ll like it. There is allot of hidden cost like PPE and microwaves . Welcome back to the fray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I do have a microwave. I'll check out the seller on Facebook as well as ebay. I need to save up anyway, but I'm looking around. I mostly fish for trout using worms, salmon eggs and the like, but I am wanting to go into the realm of panfish and bass. So I'm trying to learn how to fish plastics as well as I don't have much experience. Any ad use and resources there would be great as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 What helped me was to buy a couple of bags of what style of bait you want and try them out.when you find a winner then you find a mold. If fishing for bass I would highly recommend a Senko/stick bait style mold that’s the one that got me started. Im sure most folks here who bass fish would agree. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I was thinking that I could start collecting stuff this fall and winter yet while watching videos on fishing techniques. Here in Utah, we get too cold for bass fishing unless bass bite in the winter? I've fished for years, but I still feel like a beginner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I live on the Virginia coast . Our winters can be mild to horrible. Depending on the year I’ll bass fish. During the winter months I’ll usually fish the Chickahominy River which is tidal but it’s considered fresh water. Good bass fishing in the winter.i usually make runs of baits in the winter. I have a presto pot I use to make myself 350 to 500 stick worms for the next year.The smaller batches like a bag or four of what ever I will use a microwave. For stuff like laminate baits I’ll do it either way. I would wait on a laminate injector.You can pour 1/2 a mold and then inject other 1/2. Get all you mechanics down and when your ready go for it. There’s a lot going on when doing lams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apdriver Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 +1 on what Wally says. A good stickbait Mold to get started. I have a 10 cavity I picked up used and it makes plenty of baits quick. I don’t like a single cavity of anything except maybe a large swimbait. Pretty sure you can get a four or five cavity stickbait mold fairly reasonable. Do It has one in the essential series too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 This is awesome! Thank you guys so much! I’m still trying to figure out what type of mold to get. I’m seeing a lot of 5 inch worms and those feel huge to me considering I’m a trout angler most of the time. Do bass really take something that large? What is the biggest thing you’ve had them take? Also, what’s the smallest thing you’ve had them take? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STO76 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 if you are going to bass fish, a 5 inch senko style stick bait mold is a must. Do it essential series are only about $35 bucks for 4 cavity new. They do not have a shiny finish when done, but out of the 30+ molds I have and fish, those baits have out fished every other by far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Awesome! I was looking at the angling A.i. 5 inch core shot. Is that considered a Senko style worm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 hours ago, Subvisser7 said: This is awesome! Thank you guys so much! I’m still trying to figure out what type of mold to get. I’m seeing a lot of 5 inch worms and those feel huge to me considering I’m a trout angler most of the time. Do bass really take something that large? What is the biggest thing you’ve had them take? Also, what’s the smallest thing you’ve had them take? Smallest 3 in fluke Jr style drop shot to a 12 inch worm and everything in between and 5 inch stick worms till the cows come home as long as it’s green pumpkin:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, wallyc14 said: Smallest 3 in fluke Jr style drop shot to a 12 inch worm and everything in between and 5 inch stick worms till the cows come home as long as it’s green pumpkin:-) Why green pumpkin? Or is it just because the area that you’re in? I still don’t know how to select my colors either. I know lighter for clearer and darker for stained/muddy. Or I think I know? Now I’m second guessing myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallyc14 Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 It’s where I’m at. My home lake is clear to stained depending on the time of year white green pumpkin albino watrrmelon blue flake watermelon seed watermelon no seed kudzo watermelon red flake all greens and whites work well where I fish black as well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 I wish I had a home lake. The closest place I have to go fishing of any sort is over a half hour drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted September 11, 2020 Report Share Posted September 11, 2020 Something I might recommend is starting with open pour molds rather than injection. When you mentioned injection molds, my first thought was there goes a HUGE chunk of money. Open pours are affordable and you learn a thing or two along the way. Then if you feel it's something you want to dive deeper into, injection could be something for the future. Just food for thought. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Young Posted September 12, 2020 Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 Just take your time & slowly buy what molds that will make the lures you'll use constantly. For me it was a basstsackle brush hog style mold, next two delmart shz molds (super hogs), several aluminium & artificial stone molds for several different types of jig trailer molds, worm molds & a couple fluke style molds from enforcer, & a tube mold & a hula grub mold from angling ai. Now i have about 30 molds & still not done. If you take some time it won't get to overwhelming & it will become a very addictive, but enjoyable hobby. Then there's the catching all of your fish on stuff that you made yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2020 Awesome! I’m excited to get started. I’m a bit nervous about mixing colors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted September 13, 2020 Report Share Posted September 13, 2020 18 hours ago, Subvisser7 said: Awesome! I’m excited to get started. I’m a bit nervous about mixing colors. I would start by trying to match a commercial bait that works for you. I read here that you can use mineral oil/worm oil to test you color mixing, before you try to color your plastic. I have never done it, but it sounds like it would work. I think green pumpkin works because most fish and crawdads have that color, or something close, in them. It probably has to do with living in grass or moss. Start out by adding less color. It's easier to darken a color by adding a few more drops than to have add more plastisol to lighten it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subvisser7 Posted September 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2020 That makes sense. I've been watching a ton of videos on YouTube from world's worst fishing and I've been learning a lot there. What do you guys use for storage of your equipment and then finished baits? What do you use worm oil for? Do any of you add scent to your hair as you're mixing, or do you soak it after the fact? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
