New Jig and Lure Molds

Matt, I think you have an addiction problem 
Lead poisoning or paint fumes, I can't determine 
Nice work really

The campground share plan sounds good to me, I'll only be there for Fri. & Sat. nights and will sleep in the back of my truck (camper shell) and I noticed you may go a day early.
Are you going to make campground reservations for GS III or do you want me to?
Being a newbie to ocean fishing, maybe we can get together to discuss what tackle and other gear I may need.
Stay in touch!

Later, Tad

I know, I know!  I am addicted.  I am the type who always has to be doing something or learning something new.  The paint fumes don't have anything to do with iiiiittttt......wait, what was I saying? 

LOL, at least painting lures keeps me out of trouble, except when I drag paint and dirty clothing through the house, and dry my lures on the kitchen counter.  I guess my wife really does love me, or at least has learned to tollerate me.  I need a man land.

We will definately have to get together Tad.  If the weather clears we can hit the lake.  I would be happy share what I know or have learned.

What time are you planning on rolling in on Friday?  I will call the campground on Monday.  I will likely do the same thing, sleeping in my camper.  I have a tarp and tent poles to run a small 8'x10' awning in case it rains.  I have a friend from work i am trying to talk into going as well.  I may let him borrow the wife's kayak, luckly it is green and not hot pink like she wanted!  I do have a trailer, but the tent trailer isn't that much better in the rain.

I printed and laminated a few maps of the cove.  It looks like a rock fishing mecca!

Matt

I was hoping to hit the lake this weekend, but the weather decided it wasn't to be.  So I ran up to Redding and got some powder paint and living rubber from the local tackle store.  The powder paint is very nice!  I did some 2oz heads, and the quality and smoothness is great.  I have it curing in the toaster oven right now.  It is very easy to use and looks very professional.  I will try it on the flutter jigs next.

I pulled out my old fly tieing gear and tied up some shrimp flys.  I used some 5/0 and 8/0 hooks I have and made a white feather tail, and a red pipe cleaner body.  They really look good.  I will put them above my swimbait and flutter jigs.

I tied the living rubber on some of my collar jig heads.  It looks great and I can use a smaller swim bait on the head.  I think these will be a Ling killer!



Thanks for everyone turing me onto the powder paint.  It is so much easier and looks really nice.  I will order it in bulk from here on out.

Matt

Wow, Matt - you've got quite the tackle fetish going!  That's awesome.  I can't wait to see the fish your hardware's going to catch at the Cove.  Great job.   

Hey Matt,
couple tips for ya. First of all, make sure you don't use brass eyelets on the bottom of your jigs. they will crush flat in no time on the rocks. I use stainless steel wire and bend my own. Second when you use the powder paint, first heat the jig, then sprinkle it on with a brush. Reheat any areas that don't melt with an alcohol lamp. Nice work.

Thanks jonesz.  I have been using stainless wire inserts for the flutter jigs.  It is cheap at 2.50 for around 25 of them.  I could make my own, but stainless wire is hard to come by around home.

That is exactly what I did with the powder paint.  I got out some cheap craft brushes and sprinkled it onto the hot lure (preheated in the toaster oven).  Then I placed them back into the oven hung from either the hooks or some wire hooks I made, inserted in the flutter jig wire eyes.  I baked them at 350 for 20 min to smooth,harden and cure the paint.  It really gave it a nice shine.  I found the sprinkle method hard to control to make the two toned lures.  I think the spray painted flutter jigs just look a little cleaner.  I may just use the powder paint as a base layer and rattle can the rest of the flutter jigs.  It works fantastic on the spire and bullet heads (they are actually red and white, not orange like the picture looks).





I am going to get the supplies to make a fluid bed for the powder paint.  I have an aquarium pump already.  I will just make a simple one from coffee filters and PVC pipe.  It should even out the powder paint on the heads much better, and make dipping the flutter jigs possible.

I used more of my collar jigs and tied up some skirts.  I am putting the smaller swimbaits and curly tails on them.  I like the look.

Tackle fetish is probably pretty close    I have always been a do-it yourself kind of guy.  Of course looking at the past pictures, I think the lingcod and rock fish will bite almost anything that moves.  I am sure I am putting to much time and thought into these, but it is a lot of fun. 

Here are my shrimpflys:



I am going to try to twist up some stainless spinner attachments for the bullet heads next.  I saw some pictures on Humboldt Tuna that this guy EricG is putting together.  They are a very nice lure, and the flash of the spinner seems to work well based on the pictures he posts.  Just another tool in the arsenal.

Thanks for the tips and compliments.  Matt

Matt - your stuff is looking better and better - awesome in fact!  I would like to think that I can skip dropping $2.50/each on 6 oz. leadheads in Eureka when I come to the Cove for GS3 - I'll gladly pay you that and more for your jigs.  Will you have plastic for them too?

Looking good, Man!   

Hi Abking, just saw your post on Gimme Shelter, that is funny.  I will hook you up.  I just ordered some plastic to continue pouring swimbaits, splittails and scampi's.  I am thinking of sticking with white, reds and browns for plastic colors?  Any color suggestions?  I am doing a 6 1/2" swimbait, 4" swimbaits, 6 1/2" curly tails and split tails.  I want to cast some bigger baits as well.  Next time I go by Englunds I will pick some larger baits up to make molds from.  Mine are not pretty like store bought, but are cheap and should work.

I am bringing some leadheads over for Amphibian, to trade for more lead.  I have been casting like crazy.  I have a huge burn on my foot to prove it.  Note to self, don't pour hot lead in crocs...... Every now and again, I have to do something stupid to remind myself to be a little smarter.

I think these will work better as I continue with the powder paints.  I am just using Walmart gems for the eyes, much cheaper.  I have a lot I did with the epoxy coating.  They look good, but I think the powder paint will be more durable.  That way they will look great when sitting on the bottom, after each snag. 

Matt

Matt,
Nice, I'll take 2 of everything, maybe you could set up a tackle shop at GS III.
I really should come down your way soon and check out your stuff!
What days are you off work? I'll bring a 6 pack
If it stops raining lets hit a lake!
Tad

Well I scored today.  I was getting the tires re-balanced today and scored about 15 lbs of tire weights.  I had to promise to bring the guy some bass jig heads in trade, but good deal!  I will start casting heads again soon. 

That is a good idea Tad, I bet I could put out a little tackle board with a few lures on it.  It might be a good way to make up for gas money and more lure supplies.

I played with the fluid bed some today with the powder paint.  I ended up just hooking it up to my shop compresser with a 1/4" nipple fitting.  The little aquarium pump just didn't cut it.  I got a few volcanoes, but it worked really well. 

Matt

Well I scored today.  I was getting the tires re-balanced today and scored about 15 lbs of tire weights.  I had to promise to bring the guy some bass jig heads in trade, but good deal!  I will start casting heads again soon. 

That is a good idea Tad, I bet I could put out a little tackle board with a few lures on it.  It might be a good way to make up for gas money and more lure supplies.

I played with the fluid bed some today with the powder paint.  I ended up just hooking it up to my shop compresser with a 1/4" nipple fitting.  The little aquarium pump just didn't cut it.  I got a few volcanoes, but it worked really well. 

Matt

Matt I've had good luck with brown "paper bag" paper as a membrane in my fluid bed. You can order  plastic sheet that the pro models use but its pricey.
The fluid bed makes your powder come out very even and smooth, don't forget to bake after coating. It really strengthens the coating.

  I have been having good luck with the paperbag membrane.  I get a few volcanoes I have to work on, but ti seems to work well.  With the compressor i have unlimited pressure, so can really vary based upon how full I fill the cup. 

I am thinking of adding a new mold to the lot.  I am looking at the 3-4oz Spires Head or maybe jumping up to an 8oz Spires head.  Thoughs?

Matt

Well I did it, I got an 8oz Spires Jig Mold ordered.  This one was a little more of a cost input, as the 10/0 hooks are spendy; but I also have to look at the savings when pouring these myself. 

I also got some spinner blades and stainless wire to make a few spinner blade attachments to try.  There is a fellow on Humbolt Tuna that makes these and they look great.  I got the stuff to make about 20 of them to give it a good test.

I also got some prism tape to try on a few of the flutter jigs. 

I also got the plastic supplies to pour more grubs and swimbaits.  I will be doing white, silver shad and black purple.  I got one gallon of the 500 saltwater plastic, so I hope it holds up good.  Expensive initial costs on all this stuff, but I hope to differ the costs in the long run and maybe by selling or trading off a few.

Now I need to go to my tackle re-hab meeting.....

Matt

Hey Matt, here is a pic of some jigs I am working on. The little one is 150 grams, just over 5 oz, and the big one weighs 300 grams. I havent decided on how to color them up yet.

Very nice Domenic, is it your own design?  Where did you get the inspiration for it?  I can't wait to see them get bit at Gimme Shelter!  They look great.  I might have to trade you some 4oz jigs, for the heavier design.  With the imprint on the sides you might be able to fill it in with something to give it some nice flash and color.  I will be intrested to see what you come up with.

I got my 8oz Spires Head mold today.  I cast up some heads with the collar to try it.  They are large heads, but don't look it due to the shape of the Spires Heads.  I really like the design of the bullet heads.  Making the silicon plug really makes them multipurpose.  I cast a straight head (no hook) and cut off the collar with a hacksaw.  I oiled the mold and put the cut down head in place.  I then filled the collar up with silicon to make a plug.  I have it curing now.

I am getting better with the powder paints.  I find the hotter you get the lead head/lure the less paint it takes and the smoother it flows on.  I get the heads to where they are starting to shine, but not quite melting.  It worked great.  On the flutter jigs I am trying the powder paint as a base coat and then detailing them with spray paint.  They look really nice!  An airbrush may be in my future....

I also got some stainless wire and willow blades.  I put a few of these together to try (thanks EricG for the idea):



The blades are on some of my new 8oz heads.

I also tried a smaller willow blade on a flutter jig.  I like the look.  I hit a yard sale the other day and found some packages of 1/4" lure eyes and lure tape to try.  I cut out a few strips and tossed them on the flutter jigs.  Just a diffrent look and a little flash.  I will probably shape the tape a little next time:



I think I have a good selection of tackle now and am really enjoying myself (thanks for all the tips and suggestions!).  My techniques and products are turning out much nicer now with all the practice.  I am finding the simpler techniques really work the best.  I wish I could get the finish of commercial jigs, but think these will work great.  As always tips and tricks are always welcome!  I think I may try some of my own designs next.  I like making these, but catching fish on your own design would be fantastic!

I will post up some pictures of the new flutter jigs after they finish drying.  I definitely want to play more with the prism tape for diffrent looks.  I got red, silver and blue tapes.  I will also likely do up some silver jigs like the traditional Diamond Jigs.

Thanks, Matt