cadman

I use the Do-It Snootie Jig mold. It Goes down to an 1/8 oz jig and uses a 1/0 Mustad 32786 hook. Need more info PM me.

Hey guys Thanks for the replies. St. Croix it is.

I acquired a brand new MGX baitcasting reel, and I would like to get a good balanced rod for it. Here are the parameters: Rod to be 6'6 - 6'8" Medium or Medium Heavy? Rod cost no more than $200 - $300 I would like to use this combo for skipping under docks. Line would be 10 lb Trilene XL Using 1/8 to 1/4 oz jigs with a paca chunk trailer. How about a Johnny Morris Signature Series? What would you guys recommend? Thanks in advance

A bottom pour pot is easier to use and safer than pouring with the "Hot Pot II". Don't worry about the explosion part, just be cautious with every move you make so, you don't get burned. The reason there are so many concerns, is that lead is very hot, and if you get burned, it is not like getting sunburn on your hand, it is serious. I don't know how old you are, but just use some common sense and you will be fine. Most of all enjoy the pouring part. Then you will have to paint the jigs and skirt them. Once you get past your few, you will be fine.

I sent you an e-mail per your request. Check for it, it may go to spam.

While you are pouring lead, just make sure of your surroundings and what you are doing. Don't be in a rush and everything will be fine. I pour in my garage, without a respirator. Like smalljaw mentioned above, the only way you will get lead poisoning is through your mouth and or when lead is boiling. Your pot will never get that hot for the lead to boil. If you want to wear a respirator that is fine as well. Ventilation is always good. Put a small fan around your pot to draw away any fumes if you are worried. Just don't aim the fan at the pot, otherwise you will be cooling your pot and it will never get hot. The lead you ordered is excellent. I mentioned buying good lead, because many guys want to go the cheap route when they start pouring and use free weights they get from the local tire shop. The local tire shop lead is mixed with all kind of garbage, and if you get really hard lead it is going to be difficult for a beginner to pour. BTW the 99% pure lead from Do-It will be soft lead and excellent for pouring. What kind of pot did you get?

There are only several ways lead will explode and if you take precautions then it will newer happen: #1. Buy your lead from a reliable source, and make sure the lead is dry. When you start off do not use tire weights with clips, lead weight belts (Divers use), or any lead that has been sitting in water or outside in the rain. The reason being water and lead do not mix. #2. You will be sweating in the summertime. Do not let your sweat drip into a hot lead pot. Another recipe for disaster. #3. You will also be thirsty. Put your water or beverage far away from your lead pot, so the two don't come in contact. Also don't drink alcohol while pouring, for the obvious reasons. #4. You will attract flies and flying insects if you are pouring at night. Try not to pour at night, reason being is any bugs that fly into the pot might make the lead explode, as bugs have moisture in their bodies. #5. When you add lead to your existing pot, put it in slowly, so you steam off any moisture, The above items are the things to look out for and why lead would explode. Finally if anything wear eye protection and a face shield. If you burn your hand(s) that will recover. if you burn your eyes, well that is a whole lot worse. Not trying to scare you but, take as many precautions as possible and enjoy the hobby.

The biggest thing I always tell anyone who wants to pour is this. Make sure you are organized and focused. By organized I mean, make sure you have all of your tools that you need while you're pouring at hand, and don't go searching around for anything. By focused, I mean take your time and since you're new to this, focus on what you are doing every step of the way. Don't rush to get things done. The more proficient you get at pouring, you will then pick up speed. Also make sure you do not get distracted, keep all kids, pets away from your work area. Don't answer phone calls, and tell everyone in your house that you will be pouring and to leave you alone. Too many distractions, and you may have a mishap. Don't leave your area when you have a pot full of hot lead, someone can walk by and touch it and get burned. Be very vigilant about what you are doing and your surroundings. Finally, being a little nervous is good, as this will keep you on your toes and keep you focused. If you have further questions, I have some tutorials I can e-mail you. You can PM me if you like.

Cheaper is a relative term. In order to really save on skirt costs, you will have to buy them by the 100 pack of a particular color. So if you want 6 colors mixed, you will have to buy 6 colors of (100) count each. The 100 count is where the next price break is. Also remember you have to pay for shipping as well. If you are looking to make 10 or 20 skirts, there is really no savings, unless you like to tinker or make exactly what you want. It would be best to have someone make you the skirt with the colors you want, if someone happens to have that color.

I can probably make them for you. PM sent

I may hit the show in Schaumburg, IL. I am staying busy with all the jigs I have to pour and reels I have to clean for family, friends and club members. Good time to do this since I can't fish.

Constant good lead you can buy from Roto-Metals and skirts from fishingskirts.com

You can usually only go up one or down one hook size. So on a 3/8 oz head you can use a 2/0, 3/0 or 4/0. However on a 1/4 oz you can use a 2/0 and a 3/0, but a 4/0 might be too big and you may have to modify the mold to make the hook fit.

What A-Jay said. On the nickle blanks, they are very shiny, so no need to polish them. On the brass blanks they need to be polished and clear coated to keep them from tarnishing. However if you want the silver and brass blanks to shine like gold chains and shiny car bumpers, you will have to get the blanks gold and silver plated. It costs about $75 per color lot to have this done. So you are looking at $150 for plating costs just to start out. Those are your options.

I use X-mas ornament hangers. Buy them after X-mas and get a 100 pack for like 25 cents.

This is a correction to my post above. I meant to say that the crane swivels fit just fine in the cavities mentioned. Apparently I did not proofread my response. Sorry about that, and yes crane swivels do spin better than barrel.

Very nice looking jigs, job well done

My barrel swivels fit fine. I don't know what brand they are, so I can't help you there.

I will check later tonight when I get home from work.

What is the Do-It mold # or model, and what cavity are you looking to swap, and what size crane swivel. I have all the Do-it Pony head molds, so if I have the correct size crane swivel I will check it for you. Yes crane swivels do spin better than barrel swivels, and since you are only using the swivel to hold a blade, strength of the swivel will not be an issue.

Thanks, that was the best day on the water I had all year. Would have taken pics, but it was raining pretty good on and off all day.

Well went out to Geneva this weekend Sunday to be exact. My friend and I boated 20 fish in 8 hours. Crappy weather but the fishing was fantastic. The 5 biggest fish were (1) at 3.6 lbs (3) over 4 lbs and 1 at 5.2 lbs. All the others were between 12 and 16". All were caught on jigs and rattle traps.

Lot of small fish on Powers however if you want to try to learn how to fish jigs, than the small fish will teach you and keep you busy. Biggest fish we got out of there was 3.9 lbs my wife got last year. Other than that, that lake will always produce fish. They are either on the hump in the middle of the lake, the inside bay of the big point when you are heading out, or along the buoys by the sand bar working the whole length of the lake. that is where I find all of my fish.

Sorry, I thought you were fishing the Illinois River. Can't help you there.

Well Powers Lake report on Sunday. We got 3 bass and one northern pike in 4 hours of fishing. All bass were small, the biggest being 14". Northern was 22". I was more concerned about running the outboard, to make sure the repair was done. It worked fine. Off to Delavan or Geneva this weekend.