cadman

Fished Loon Lake years ago when Sturbenzes had a bar/restaurant on it. Now I believe it was sold to the State or DNR. Ramp and launch used to be good it hasn't been good (or questionable) in at least 10 years. Good lake for bass though. I fished Tichigan Lake in S.E. WI last weekend. Team tourney, so each boat was allowed 6 fish. We got a 17" and 16" bass and my wife got a 40" pike. Couple boats came in 6 fish biggest weight was 19lbs. Big bass was 5.2 lbs Lake produced some nice fish, but we couldn't find them. We also got stuck on a mud flat for awhile. Water was high and I couldn't see the buoys. We did manage to get out. Found out 4 or 5 other got stuck including some guy in a pontoon.

I assume you want to change the top blade at the end of the arm. If so just get yourself a split ring separator and this will aid in separating the split ring, so you can take off the blade. That is providing the ball bearing on the top blade is still usable. If not replace the ball bearing as well. If you are trying to remove blades on the spinnerbait wireform arm that sit in a clevis, well I have bad news for you. That is going to be near impossible, as the wireform is looped at the end of the arm so the top bearing and blade can be attached. The reason being is you need the get the clevis, arm blade and any beads off the wire to change it out. However, you will need to straighten the the loop at the top to do this. Problem is by opening up the loop at the top, you will never get it perfectly straight to allow the clevis and beads to slip off the wire. Also you have a chance of weakening the wire at the top, because if you do get it to open, you will have to bend it down again to close it and you may just end up breaking the loop. You can do this. If you don't mind a shorter arm on your spinnerbait, cut the arm as close to the loop as possible, take off all the hardware you want to replace, and then reform your loop at the top to accommodate your bearing and top blade. This may change your spinnerbait action. If you are looking for components like blades and clevices and bearings, beads, check out LPO and Barlows. They have a ton of components that you can buy and swap out. Just make sure when you buy beads and clevices, that they fit on your wireform.

What kind of Abu reel? Do you want to add bearings or do you upgrade bearings?

Fill the chipped gaps first with Elmers wood filler, lightly sand smooth and then seal the whole handle with sealer.

Cork for me only. I just like the feel of cork. I don't want any spongy foam. Looks cheap to me.

You want the mold hot, so you can't grab it and hold it. On a Hot pot maybe 15 minutes. Depends if where you are it is cold inside or warm.

What looks like is happening is you are trapping air at the collar. This is what I would try first. #1 make sure your mold is hot and not warm. Put your mold on the Hot Pot to heat it. #2 put your hooks and wireforms under a light. I use a reflector shield with a 100 watt bulb. By heating the wire and the hook, you will not have any real cold spots for the lead to stick as you pour. #3 stick a piece of tape or two to gap the mold. By gapping the mold, you will separate the mold halves letting air escape. Start your gapping at the mold handles. This will give you the least amount of gap and less flash. The closer you put the tape to the hinge area the more gap you will have. The more gap you have the bigger chance of flash you will get. The correct balance to this is to get full pours with the minimum amount of lead flash on the finished head. #4 you may be also pouring the lead in too fast into the mold. Try getting a 1 oz ladle. I believe they are around $8. This way you can pour with the ladle from your pot That is it. This should work for you. If you would like to discuss further, you can call me via phone if you would like.

Like Munkin mentioned, there will be no adverse effect. The few second you hold a hook in the lead is nothing as far as heat range goes. The only thing you might see is the plating especailly tin plated hooks slightly change color. You're good to go even if you re-pour the hook a dozen times. Which model spinnerbait are you pouring? Maybe we can help you solve your problem.

Another vote for Yozuri Hybrid. 8 lb on my spinning reels and 12 lb on my baitcasters.

No Problem, always willing to help. One thing I will say on this set screw is this. The set screw is about 3/16" long, so no need to tighten it down. Just snug will do, otherwise you will strip out the hex in the set screw.

I have a CI4+ so I'm sure it is the same. It is a hex. It is a .9mm Here is the hex driver I use for my reel. It is made by Wiha. See pic below

I'll echo what Jig man said. No need for a fluid bed. Buy your (2 oz) jars of powder paint, get a heat source, and a small toaster oven (optional). jars of powder paint .....$5 - $7 I use a heat gun...........$10 (Harbor Freight) Toaster oven............... $10 (Garage Sale) You can probably get everything you need for about $50.00 Most importantly is to make sure the powder paint is fluffy when dipping a hot jig. So stirring or shaking powder often is a key to get thin coats on jigs. Toaster oven hardens the paint to keep it lasting longer.

Went out Sunday to do some pond fishing for an hour. Got a couple small fish on a 1/2 oz Rattle Trap. Fish aren't hitting jigs yet in this pond. Going today for about an hour later.

I have a lifetime IL license so I never have to buy one. However many of the guys I fish with take a pic of their license and keep it on their phone and have a paper copy. I got stopped in WI last year and I gave the warden my phone. He said that is fine but I also need a paper copy. I read in a WI forum that you have to have a paper copy with you at all times when fishing WI. I don't know if that is because I'm not a resident or is that for everyone. I have phone copies of all my licenses and paper copies. If they want to check my license, they can scan my number off of my phone.

Freelancer if you remember, I bought the MGXtreme from you last year. I use it for all of my 1/8 oz and 3/16 oz jigs I toss. Between the MGXtreme and the MGX I have all of my bases covered.

I am a big Revo fan and I only fish with my Revo MGX and Gen 1 MGxtreme. Both reels are very light. Cast extremely well. In my opinion, the MGXtreme is slightly smaller than the Revo MGX. If you want some pics or need some dimensions, PM me and I would be more than happy to help you out. You won't be disappointed if you get the MGXtreme.

No picture visible.

I used to live in Cook County and now live in Lake County. I've spoken to DNR in Cook years ago and he said that there is no wading in rivers and lakes. I have heard the same about Lake County. For the same reason Scott F mentioned above. It is dangerous in rivers and lakes due to deep holes, moving water and garbage in the water that you cannot see.

Yep still ice on many lakes up here. I was out shore fishing a small pond yesterday. Ice out was Monday on this pond. Water is still cold, no fish pics yet.

Like I mentioned, it is probably for a 20 or 30 year old. I bought mine when licenses were $9.00 (I'm not sure what they were exactly in 1992. But if you figure licenses go up every year, in 10 years, they will probably be $20/year or more. You are probably right in regards to living in IL. I intend to move in 6 years, so my license won't be any good, but it has paid for itself.

I bought a lifetime Illinois license for myself and my wife in 1992, it was $200 each back then but I never have to buy a license anymore unless it is for Lake Michigan or a trout stamp. For those of you who are younger in their 20's, 30's, it may be worth looking into this as it is still available. Lifetime Illinois resident license is $435 dollars and yearly licenses never go down in price. Just a thought.

For baitcasting Revo MGX or MGXtreme For spinning Stradic Ci4+

Thread is hard to tie on a jig with a weeedguard. If it were me I would either use wire or if you insist on thread, I would pull the weedguard out, tie your jig and glue in a new weedguard. Just my opinion.

Is your dilemma, tying on the skirt with the weedguard in place? If so I do that all of the time and never have a problem. However I wire tie. Are you wire tying or tying with thread?

Clean out the hole really good from the old glue. If you have Loctite-gel super glue, use that and let it dry for a day. You have a PM.