frankensteininig baits!

Odd name for a post but want to toss this one by you guys!
I was out with a couple of my cousins last weekend and for one of them it was his first time in my boat. He got a kick out of how I manipulate (Frankenstein) these baits. I like how he phrased it anyways.
This fall with the slow flow I have seen more than ever how that tail movement really affects your results!!!! It suprises me how everyone glues themselfs to the “hot bait” and overlooks why that bait turns those fish on. Moxies have been a hot one this year just because of that reason. With little movement you get max out of that tail. I dont think the wide body profile is key. It has been that tail movement! So the last few years I have spent limited time mixing and matching baits together! Putting paddle tails on ringworms, K grub tails on moxies, ect….. This year I have now spent enough time playing with it that you can see this make a big difference. I will put some pictures up tonight to show some examples if I get the time. Profile is huge and 3rd up to think about is action!! All plastics have these qualities. Some are pretty plain and others are very unique!
Just something to think about while you are out there hunting down a 12 pounder! If you have a box full of plastics and run out of that killer bait dont think your out of luck! Or if you see some nice plastics on sale that have great tails but terrable profile. dont pass them up if there at the right price. All you need is the gumption and a lighter!

Quote:

---

Odd name for a post but want to toss this one by you guys!

I was out with a couple of my cousins last weekend and for one of them it was his first time in my boat. He got a kick out of how I manipulate (Frankenstein) these baits. I like how he phrased it anyways.

This fall with the slow flow I have seen more than ever how that tail movement really affects your results!!!! It suprises me how everyone glues themselfs to the “hot bait” and overlooks why that bait turns those fish on. Moxies have been a hot one this year just because of that reason. With little movement you get max out of that tail. I dont think the wide body profile is key. It has been that tail movement! So the last few years I have spent limited time mixing and matching baits together! Putting paddle tails on ringworms, K grub tails on moxies, ect….. This year I have now spent enough time playing with it that you can see this make a big difference. I will put some pictures up tonight to show some examples if I get the time. Profile is huge and 3rd up to think about is action!! All plastics have these qualities. Some are pretty plain and others are very unique!

Just something to think about while you are out there hunting down a 12 pounder! If you have a box full of plastics and run out of that killer bait dont think your out of luck! Or if you see some nice plastics on sale that have great tails but terrable profile. dont pass them up if there at the right price. All you need is the gumption and a lighter!

---

I love where this thread can take us! This is how great baits are born… scissors, razor blades and a heat source. Borrow from here. Trim there. Tweak-tweak-tweak!

As you’ve noticed the tail on the Moxie is vastly superior to the one on regular ringworms when it comes to creating max movement at low speeds. That design was achieved doing exactly what you’re doing now.

Mike Westman and I are headed to Pool 2 in an hour to do some final testing on a new swimbait style plastic from B FISH N Tackle that has exactly what you’re talking about… a pulsing, wicked tail at low speeds. Hopefully we hit the sweet spot with the design and I’m very interested in seeing what you’ve come up with.

Did you check in on this thread? CT is pouring his own ice plastics.

http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/1067028/93/fpart/all

I’ve poured plastics before by hand and it is a messy, stinky and expensive deal when it comes to making the larger baits. Actually maybe it is the same for the small stuff too. Either way it is cool to see a guy take an idea from start to finish like this.

Funny this topic should arise, I have found that by experimenting a little with plastics you change the action from very subtle to more lively. Take a slow subtle moving plastic and put it in the “MICROWAVE” yes you heard right the micro. experiment with different time settings , but I would not recommend going over 15 seconds then check the softness of the bait and go from there.If too soft cut down the time till you find the action you desire…

Hey James don’t forget to put a report up about the fishing. I suppose I’ll need some more plastics for the new boat when you get done testing.

Quote:

---

Hey James don’t forget to put a report up about the fishing. I suppose I’ll need some more plastics for the new boat when you get done testing.

---

We had 9 fish over 6.5 – 7 lbs with the largest going 9+ and a good number of fish of all sizes. Mike will have pics and a report to follow. Everything came on Moxies. Pro Blue as the sun was getting low on the horizon then the fish wanted purple chartreuse tail or purple cracker with chartreuse tail.

http://www.bfishntackle.com/4inch_moxi.html

The new prototype bait I’m working on was sent to me in the same color they are always sent to me… dull brown. That’s not exactly my top pick for river colors if you know what I mean. But we’re darn close to a finished product with the new bait. I really liked what I saw.

Great night of fishing. Driving home in the snow was just the icing on the cake. It will have to wait until after work tomorrow before I can get some photos up. From talking to a couple of other boats out tonight it sounds like we where not the only ones on nice fish.

Quote:

---

Did you check in on this thread? CT is pouring his own ice plastics.

http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/1067028/93/fpart/all

I’ve poured plastics before by hand and it is a messy, stinky and expensive deal when it comes to making the larger baits. Actually maybe it is the same for the small stuff too. Either way it is cool to see a guy take an idea from start to finish like this.

---

Thanks James. I am pumping mine. As you have alluded to, pouring is haphazard.

Cut and weld, pour or pump your own….all of this makes the sky the limit. Homework in the forend makes all of the work worthwhile in THE end. All you need to get started is a little drive and a desire to do something unique.

I totally agree CT, I feel just as you do when I create my own different versions and colors of hairjigs. The most fun is getting to “field test” them.