Classic Winner

[DirtyDeuceGoose]

First off, congrats to Casey Ashley on becoming the classic champion. 50 pounds is an impressive bag in the crappy conditions they were fishing in.

In his speech he talked about how he won on a homemade lure from his dad and how his dad told him this was the lure he would win the classic with. That's cool if you ask me.

I pose this question to you all: do you foresee this homemade creation reaching the market? Or will it stay an Ashley family secret so to speak?

[Weld's Largemouth]

It already is on the market. Look up underspin jigheads

[Jrob78]

First off, congrats to Casey Ashley on becoming the classic champion. 50 pounds is an impressive bag in the crappy conditions they were fishing in.

In his speech he talked about how he won on a homemade lure from his dad and how his dad told him this was the lure he would win the classic with. That's cool if you ask me.

I pose this question to you all: do you foresee this homemade creation reaching the market? Or will it stay an Ashley family secret so to speak?

He said in his post press conference that he would be open to marketing the lure.  He made it clear that neither he nor his dad would be making them though.  It's a basic Do-It Mold horsehead spinner, they are already on the market.

[smalljaw67]

He used a Do-it horse head or pony head that was made with a sampo ball bearing swivel and a size 3.5 willow blade and it had a 4/0 hook. In order to make that the mold had to be modified as it was pretty compact so I'm guessing a wire loop or brass eyelet was placed in the mold and poured and the eyelet or wire loop was used to attach the ball bearing swivel to. Based on that, and I make my own tackle, it isn't something anyone can just do, and him and his father have been doing it for a long time so I'm not seeing homemade stuff being used as it doesn't pay the bills. He also uses a jig from a small manufacturer, shooter lures or something like that but what I wanted to say is that these guys need sponsorship to pay the bills, so most, even if they used homemade stuff, are going to tell you it came from a paying sponsor.

[basscatcher8]

He used a Do-it horse head or pony head that was made with a sampo ball bearing swivel and a size 3.5 willow blade and it had a 4/0 hook. In order to make that the mold had to be modified as it was pretty compact so I'm guessing a wire loop or brass eyelet was placed in the mold and poured and the eyelet or wire loop was used to attach the ball bearing swivel to. Based on that, and I make my own tackle, it isn't something anyone can just do, and him and his father have been doing it for a long time so I'm not seeing homemade stuff being used as it doesn't pay the bills.

 

No he used the standard Road Runner Mold from Do it and used their basic #12 crane swivel when he poured it. But where others cover the swivel with foil and powder paint it to keep that swivel good he just painted over it so it wouldnt turn. Then he used a ball bearing swivel with split rings on both ends to attach to the crane swivel. Pretty good idea really.

[smalljaw67]

No he used the standard Road Runner Mold from Do it and used their basic #12 crane swivel when he poured it. But where others cover the swivel with foil and powder paint it to keep that swivel good he just painted over it so it wouldnt turn. Then he used a ball bearing swivel with split rings on both ends to attach to the crane swivel. Pretty good idea really.

 

If you reread my post I said he used the Do-it horse head or pony head, Road Runner is the brand name of that jig, Do-it calls it Horse head without the barb, pony head with the barb and then there is a larger version called a sea horse which uses a larger, strong hook. It may be possible that he used the larger one simply because they used a 4/0 Mustad hook in it which means they used the bigger mold or the other is modified. He did say the head was powder painted and he used a 3.5 willow blade in nickel finish but he only stated he used a Sampo swivel, he didn't say he powder painted over the crane swivel, unless you have better info. So remember, Road Runner is a trademarked name, Do-it molds calls it a horse head, pony head, or sea horse depending on the model.

[basscatcher8]

no I was just saying he didn't modify the mold to add the swivel. Let me find the up close picture you can see he poured the normal crane swivel into the head and attached the ball bearing swivel with a split ring.

[basscatcher8]

[BaitMonkey1984]

Never knew about this rig and immediately after the press conference on day three I was googling this bait. Last year I absolutely crushed the pre-spawn fish on the Howler, looking forward to giving this new bait I try. Also, it gives me a reason to bust out the tons of bags of soft plastic jerk baits like flukes that have gone untouched for years. 

[Montanaro]

Really nothing ground breaking. Just a very well rounded fisherman reading the conditions and having confidence in throwing a lesser used bait. You could probably say that about any elite series winner but "the howler" definitely made people consider the bait.

[Comfortably Numb]

Bet that head with the new Mann's Reel N Shad would be great.

[smalljaw67]

image.jpg

 

Is that the actual bait?  I'm asking because the post on the swivel look a little large for a Sampo and the front of that fluke is cut off which I wouldn't think you would want when using a 4/0 hook. That brings me to my other point, on that head, the largest size is 3/8oz and it calls for a 2/0 hook and the hook that is probably used is a Mustad 32746. That mold needs to be modified to take that hook, it may be able to put a 3/0 in it like what is in the picture, but not a 4/0, that is 2 sizes larger than what the mold calls for and just about every Do-it mold I have you can up 1 hook size, very few can go up 2. Especially going from 2/0 to 4/0 because those hooks have remarkable diameter difference once you go past the 2/0 size. I don't mean to be too technical but in order to make that bait with the hook size he is using is has to be modified, now the swivel part can be done, that looks to be a little longer than what I saw in the video but the front of that bait is cut off so maybe it is how he did the blade but the hook size doesn't work without modification.

[basscatcher8]

Is that the actual bait?  I'm asking because the post on the swivel look a little large for a Sampo and the front of that fluke is cut off which I wouldn't think you would want when using a 4/0 hook. That brings me to my other point, on that head, the largest size is 3/8oz and it calls for a 2/0 hook and the hook that is probably used is a Mustad 32746. That mold needs to be modified to take that hook, it may be able to put a 3/0 in it like what is in the picture, but not a 4/0, that is 2 sizes larger than what the mold calls for and just about every Do-it mold I have you can up 1 hook size, very few can go up 2. Especially going from 2/0 to 4/0 because those hooks have remarkable diameter difference once you go past the 2/0 size. I don't mean to be too technical but in order to make that bait with the hook size he is using is has to be modified, now the swivel part can be done, that looks to be a little longer than what I saw in the video but the front of that bait is cut off so maybe it is how he did the blade but the hook size doesn't work without modification.

 

Correct I agree he had to modify where the hook eye goes to get a 4/0 in there. That is the actual bait as posted by mustad on their fb page. They had several pictures of Casey holding it but I just grabbed the one that had the best up close shot.

[basscatcher8]

Hey small jaw. I was looking at my road runner mold and 3/8 th size is stamped as saying it will take a 2/0 or a 3/0 and like you said you can usually go one above the stamped size so I wonder if a 4/0 would fit without a mod.

[smalljaw67]

Hey small jaw. I was looking at my road runner mold and 3/8 th size is stamped as saying it will take a 2/0 or a 3/0 and like you said you can usually go one above the stamped size so I wonder if a 4/0 would fit without a mod.

 

Try it and see, it may be a stock everything but I don't have that mold so I don't know. I'm guessing it was the Mustad 32746 since it appears to be a black nickel but I'd go with a Owner 5318, it is just a wicked hook, but give a 4/0 a try if you have any, it may very well take it without being modified.