Tube Dude,
You've obviously been fabricating your own tackle for quite some time now, and I'd like to ask your opinion on molds.
If you were to recommend one or two Do-it molds for jig heads, which one/ones would you choose? I'd like to expand my fabrication supplies, but want to keep it simple at the same time.
Below are two that I've been contemplating. I'm looking to primarily fabricate heads for use with curlies, tubes, and ones with fly bodies type add-ons (maribou tails, etc).
[url "http://www.do-itmolds.com/prodmolds.aspx?c=22"][/url]http://www.do-itmolds.com/prodmolds.aspx?c=22[/url]
[url "http://www.do-itmolds.com/prodmolds.aspx?c=191"][/url]http://www.do-itmolds.com/prodmolds.aspx?c=191[/url]
Good choice, bad choice, better choice????
Also, what kind of paint do you use for your heads and eyes?
Any recommended sources for pricing and quality?
Have you found glow paint to be any better than standard paint?
Appreciate the feedback as always
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[cool][#0000ff]Sounds like you are serious about jumping into lurecrafting. You are asking some of the right questions. Wish I had someone to ask all that stuff way back when...when I was fumbling around learning by doing...and not doing right.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Not sure if you have been pointed to the BFT lure making board. I helped get that started and was moderator for quite a while. I put up some links for sources of supply and there are some good discussions with pictures. That will help you.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I will make the offer to have you come over to my tackletorium for a one on one jig making session. I can show you examples of many kinds of jigs, and discuss their applications. If you tell me what kind of fishing you do most and what plastics you use, I will be better able to make realistic recommendations. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Jig molds are expensive and there is no reason to buy them just to collect them. I know. I have over 40 and that is after getting rid of quite a few. But, if you select them right, and take care of them, they can help you make quality jigs and save money...over time. You will not likely save much money if you only use a few jigs. But, the real reason for making your own stuff is to get exactly what you want and not have to settle for what the "experts" at Wally World or Sportsmans want to sell you...because that is all they have.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I buy my molds mostly from Barlows. They are lure making specialists and usually have the best selection and the best prices. They also carry all of the component parts I need...like special swivels, split rings, wire forms, etc. Some places sell a few molds, at higher prices, but sometimes do not have the other stuff you need.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If I were to start from scratch today, and were limited to only a couple of molds...for plastics...I would first choose a mold with several cavities for round headed jigs...from 1/32 oz. to 1/4 oz. This will allow you to make one at a time of the exact size you want. These work for all plastic grubs and twisters.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My second mold would be the "minnow head" mold, with the triangular shape and the barb on the back side. These are for fishing tube jigs. Again, it is good to have them in several sizes rather than multiples of only 2 sizes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A lot of jig makers use powder paint. It is quick and easy, for making one color heads, with maybe a bit of glitter. But, anybody who has ever used the heads I make will testify that mine hold up 1000% better. Powder coated heads pop off the first time you ding the jig on a rock. I have up to five or six coasts of paint, glitter, clear gloss and epoxy on my jig heads before they are fished. You will wear out the hook or lose the jig before the paint comes off. Oh yeah, I use mostly CS Components vinyl jig paint and epoxy clear coat. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most glow paints are not very good. I add glow powder to clear vinyl paint over a base coat of white or chartreuse. Then I paint the highlight colors and glitter over that. The powder is space age strontium alumino silicate. It holds a high charge for hours. My tackle room glows like a cockpit of an airplane hours after I have shut off the lights.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Is glow paint better? I use it heavily for ice fishing, as do quite a few of my fishing buddies. They wouldn't leave (my) home without it. A very noticeable difference in results. And, in murky water, low light conditions or night fishing, glow can really make your lure more visible. And visibility is a key to getting strikes. Fish have different vision that we do and they can detect the glow emanating from a jig in low light that you or I might not even notice. There have been days when I have switched to a glow head even in bright light and had more hits.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]PM me if you would like to spend some time in a hands on session of pouring and painting. Believe me, there is nothing better to help you get a real grasp of how easy it is and what it takes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Also, we used to have "jig parties" for small groups back in the olden days. Haven't done that for awhile. It's something good to do during the colder months...which are upon us. Anybody else up for a jig party?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope this helped. Stick with it. It's only time and money.[/#0000ff]
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Thanks for the feedback. The internet is truly wonderful. It wasn't that long ago that we were strictly learning by books, classes, or fellow fishermen.
I'd love to take you up on your jig session, and I I'd like to bring my wife along if you wouldn't mind. I think she would enjoy hanging with us, and I think she would enjoy meeting your wife as well. She's sat with me numerous times while I've read your posts, and has seen the pictures of your wife out on the tube. My wife loves to fish, and they would probably get along very well. Our kids are with their father every other weekend, and maybe one cold evening we can plan a get together.
I did find a bunch of your previous posts in the Lure & Jig making section after I posted my question. I particularly liked your thoughts on lure selection colors for different water conditions. Makes sense. I've fished for many years, and have primarily made my lure selections based on what I thought looked good to me that day, and not by looking at it from a fishes perspective. Of course when fly fishing I look closer to what the fish are actually feeding on to make my decisions. I;ve only been lake fishing a few years, and I was pretty much a stream guy before that.
I've been doing my own dropshot weights for a few years, and I finally broke down and purchased the Production Lead Pot setup to get away from the small pot and pouring spoon thing. Much better choice for mass production.
Thanks again,
Glenn
Maybe the weather Monday will be nice to you for your Huntington excursion. Hopefully the high pressure will hang an extra day.
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[cool][#0000ff]Wives are always welcome at the tackletorium. There are several local BFTers who have taken up making lures and have their wives participating in different aspects of the process. The ladies often have good dexterity and artistic abilities that enable them to help turn out good quality stuff.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On a humorous note, I often have guys stop by for the first time and then ask if it is okay if they come back and bring their spouses. But, the motive is to show the wifey "See...you thought I had a lot of stuff. Look at this." I think I have helped take the edge off a few marital disagreements on how much is too much.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe is going to be out of town a lot over the next month. She is spending a lot of time with our daughter in California helping with a special project. But, when she settles down after the first of November we can easily arrange a mutually convenient time and have a show and tell session. But, we don't have to wait for that if you wanted to come over sooner.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you haven't already done so you might also want to spend some time at the Barlows website. They have a lot of online info about making different kinds of lures, and just reading through the info on their different products is educational.[/#0000ff]
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[#500000]Yes, A jig party sounds fun.....I would prefer a Saturday in the winter.......The tackletorium is a great place for anyone to learn, no matter how long you have been tinkering with lures.......You can always learn something from the Dude......WW.[/#500000]
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[cool][#0000ff]Saturdays would probably work best for a lot of folks. I have the big heated 3 car garage with overhead lights so we could do a jig party and perch chowder fest. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We will have to time it in between prime fall fishing and hard deck...winterizing the yard and Christmas shopping...lawn mowing and snow shoveling...etc. There's gotta be a good Saturday before mid November that will work for a few folks.[/#0000ff]
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I know this post occurred more than a month ago, but if that event has not taken place yet, I would be interested. I bought your Tubin' book last year and was pretty excited to give the techniques a try, but my float tube subsequently went down the tubes shortly after purchase while I was in the middle of Lake Mead. Still have yet to replace it. But I have relocated to North Ogden and want to try to get out more during the winter on the ice (never done that before so not even sure how to start) and get into some of the other species you have posted over the last year or so. The one constant in your photos is your jigs heads. So I figure, what better place to get guidance than the source. Anyway, keep me in mind if this goes off. Also, if you are ever in the selling mood, I would like to make an investment in your talents.
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[cool][#0000ff]Thanks for the kindly comments.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sorry about your tube. Probably a story that goes with that.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think Sportsmans is having an ice fishing seminar up there next Saturday. Check them out. Good place to start.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We have not had the Tackle Craft get together yet. Looking at either Saturday the 5th or 12th of December. After T-Day but before too heavy into Christmas. Will post an announcement as soon as we finalize "dance cards".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, I do one-on-one sessions all the time. If you are serious about learning more about jigs...making or fishing...you can come down and look through the stuff I make. I can show you how to make your own or sell you some of what I make.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Shoot me a PM if you would like to get together.[/#0000ff]
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You should take TubeDude on his offer. The classes are good but nothing close to what you can learn on a private visit.
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