Anybody here make your own spinnerbait skirts using silicone strands and collars??

[The Rooster]

I'm interested in making some skirts in specific colors but I don't know how to thread the material up inside the collars.  I see you can buy collars and silicone materials, and I've even considered buying several skirts already made to get the colors I want and then disassemble them to recreate the combinations I want.  Is there a special tool made for spreading that collar to insert the strands of silicone??

[Siebert Outdoors]

I do. You have to have a special too to seperate the collar or something to pull the silicone through the collar.

A paper clip might work Never tried it.  Probably a pain though.

[Grey Wolf]

I'm interested in making some skirts in specific colors but I don't know how to thread the material up inside the collars. I see you can buy collars and silicone materials, and I've even considered buying several skirts already made to get the colors I want and then disassemble them to recreate the combinations I want. Is there a special tool made for spreading that collar to insert the strands of silicone??

You might find the tool you're looking for here.   www.jannsnetcraft.com

[Jig Man]

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to use small zip ties instead of messing around with collars and tools?  Even bread sack wrappers would work pretty easy.

[The Rooster]

I've used a few zip ties to repair my old skirts on the lure as the collar deteriorated away.  It was easy to do, just pull it semi-tight around the skirt while it's on the bait and then snip off the old collar, slide the tie down in place exactly where the old collar used to be and then finish pulling it tight and clip off the excess tie.  That might work and save me a hassle of spreading the collars out to make new ones.  

[flippin]

theres a good cheap tool at fishingskirts.com

[The Rooster]

theres a good cheap tool at fishingskirts.com

This is EXACTLY what I'm looking for.  Thanks a million!!  Now it's ON!!!  I'm gonna have a boat load of custom spinnerbaits.  No more buying baits I'm only half satisfied with.  Now all I have to do is learn how to do some custom painting to match the heads to the skirts I'm gonna make!!!  Thanks again.

[LooksLikeSinbad]

Now all I have to do is learn how to do some custom painting to match the heads to the skirts I'm gonna make!!!

Like these?

I did those with powder paint and using a paintbrush to tap the paint on.

[The Rooster]

Uh.......yeah.  Something like that.  DAYUM those look sharp!!!  Very professional.  I'm stunned that someone can do that kind of work with just a brush and some paint.  Hope mine come out looking that good.

Did you get spinnerbaits that were unfinished and add your own blades or did you take some that were already made and just redo them??  I was thinking of getting some of the ones at Walmart for $1 each and repainting them, replacing the skirts for what I want them to be and just using the blades that are already on them but maybe replace the swivel with a ball bearing type.  I already have some swivels here to use so the only money I'll have in them would be for the baits themselves and for the paint and skirt materials.  Might be as much in then when finished as what I could pay for some really nice spinnerbaits but then again THESE will be really nice too, and they'll be EXACTLY what I want.

[LooksLikeSinbad]

I purchase unpainted jigs and spinnerbaits from a guy I met on another message board. He has great prices and quality and service too. He gave me the tutorial for doing the multiple color powder paints. If you want his contact info just pm me.

I would not recommend buying the cheap spinnerbaits and trying to repaint them because they have a protective coating on them that you would have to try to remove. You are much better off purchasing unpainted ones, painting them yourself and adding the hardware.  It is very rewarding to make your own baits and catch fish with them. Good luck!

[basscatcher8]

I use a pair of split ring pliers from farm and fleet. Works real well.

[Munkin]

Now all I have to do is learn how to do some custom painting to match the heads to the skirts I'm gonna make!!!

Like these?

I did those with powder paint and using a paintbrush to tap the paint on.

All that hard work into these spinnerbaits and you are using crane swivels  I will send you some good swivels if you can do one of those photo rattletraps for me?

http://www.fishingskirts.com/  There is a video on the home page of his site showing how to make a skirt.

Allen

[LooksLikeSinbad]

All that hard work into these spinnerbaits and you are using crane swivels I will send you some good swivels if you can do one of those photo rattletraps for me?

Allen -

Your right, those are the cheap swivels, but I haven't had any problems with them. Do they tend to break? Or do the better swivels improve performance? What swivels do you recommend? The spros?

I will trade you one of my rattletraps for whatever you make - soft plastics, right? Send me a pm if your interested. 8-)

Sorry for the hijack  :-[

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I'm stunned that someone can do that kind of work with just a brush and some paint.

No brush,....air pen  Very easy

[booneangler]

Is that the poison tail jig head in those pics? And the naked bait company skirt tool is neat!!

[LooksLikeSinbad]

I'm stunned that someone can do that kind of work with just a brush and some paint.

No brush,....air pen Very easy

No, I did it with a paint brush and powder paint. You just tap the paintbrush over the hot jig. I got a tutorial from someone on the t.u. board. If anyone wants it just pm me your email address.

Is that the poison tail jig head in those pics?

Yes. I order them unpainted with the weedguards unattached. I powder paint them, bake them, add eyes, add the weedguards, then devcon them.

[Munkin]

Shot with DiMAGE E500 at 2008-12-13

Here are some of my latest spinnerbaits. My photo taking skillz are terrible though! :-[

Shot with DiMAGE E500 at 2008-12-13

Football jig and some hand poured DS minnows

Allen

[spinners]

MAN, THOSE ARE SOME GOOD LOOKING JIG, SKIRTS AND SPINNER BAITS.I USE THE PLIERS AND THE SKIRT TOOL FROM BARLOW'S TO MAKE THE SKIRTS, BUT I FOUND A WAY THAT IS JUST AS EASY.COST'S ABOUT A DOLLAR....IF YOU SHOOT A BOW TAKE AN ARROW WITH A FIELD TIP.CUT THE ARROW OFF 4 OR 5 IN.PULL THE FIELD TIP OUT WITH THE INSERT ATTACHED IF YOU MAKE YOUR ARROWS YOU WOULD PROBLY HAVE A PIECE LEFT OVER.SLIDE THE RUBBER KEEPERS. OVER THE FIELD POINT ONTO THE SHAFT.AS MANY AS YOU WANT PULL THE TIP OUT (WITH INSERT ATTACHED)RUN A PIECE OF WIRE IN THE SHAFT BEND THE TIP OF THE WIRE A LITTLE (THE WIRE HAS TO REACH ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ARROW SHAFT) HOOK THE SILICON MATERIAL WITH THE BENT END OF THE WIRE PULL THE SKIRT THROUGH ROLL THE RUBBER KEEPER OF ON THE SKIRT CLIP THE ENDS,, READY TO USE.IT IS EASY TO KEEP ON THE BOAT REALLY WORKS GREAT. HOPE THIS HELPS SOME ONE....

[rfrazier]

try a pair of needle nose pliers to open your collars, works fine for me. Just push it down onto the tip and open.