Chatterbait I made

[Munkin]

 

 

Here is the chatterbait I made where I am trying to duplicate the original Phenix bait. My bait is on the left and the Original Phenix is on the right. My blade I swiped from a chatterbait that was laying around because I needed a black one. Still working on the best way to paint blades black but what does everyone think?

 

Allen

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Looks good to me! Is the Phenix blade different than the coffin blades you can buy? Have you tried a powder paint gun for painting blades? That's how I do it and the trick is to not overheat them so you only get a very thin coat of paint. About 4-5 seconds is all it takes to heat a side up enough to get the paint to stick. 

[Munkin]

Phenix blades are a matte black while the Zman are black nickel. Powder painting the blades has been unsuccessful so far for me.

 

Allen

[Bluebasser86]

I do mine matte black as well. If you get it just the right temperature it doesn't seem to effect the thickness of the blade or the action at all.

[tander]

You can buy black nickel blades at Barlows.

https://www.barlowstackle.com/Shakee-Blades-Black-Nickel-Finish-P3133.aspx

[Jigfishn10]

That looks awesome Munkin! If you make too many, don't be afraid to ship a couple north of you...

[Munkin]

4 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

That looks awesome Munkin! If you make too many, don't be afraid to ship a couple north of you...

I will make you a few, what weights and colors are you looking for. 

 

Allen 

[Jigfishn10]

I appreciate that and would love to try one out, but I also know that they get expensive to make. I appreciate your offer tho.

 

Those beauties are bomb.com, I'm sure you'll fill the boat, best of luck with them!

[Munkin]

 

Something I made today.

 

Edit since I have so PM's about the bait. This is a fine starflash skirt, copper blade, and Gamakatsu 345 30 Degree swim jig hook.

 

Allen

[Logan S]

Nice, I make my own Phenix recreations too.  My way is not as inventive as yours though, I just put their blade on their 'swim jig' which comes out to be identical.  Almost like they planned it that way .  If I wait for sales to buy the components, each one comes out to about the same retail price as other chatters...Which I'm fine with since I'm not setup to pour my own.

 

Can't help with the blade color as I prefer standard gold for the ones I put together.

[fishwizzard]

Are you guys having to open up the eye a little, or will the blade slip right in?  

[Logan S]

You need to open the eye a bit, it's a pain at first but after a couple it's pretty easy.

[Munkin]

4 hours ago, Logan S said:

Nice, I make my own Phenix recreations too.  My way is not as inventive as yours though, I just put their blade on their 'swim jig' which comes out to be identical.  Almost like they planned it that way .  If I wait for sales to buy the components, each one comes out to about the same retail price as other chatters...Which I'm fine with since I'm not setup to pour my own.

 

Can't help with the blade color as I prefer standard gold for the ones I put together.

Definitely not a stock color.

 

Allen

[Munkin]

37 minutes ago, Logan S said:

You need to open the eye a bit, it's a pain at first but after a couple it's pretty easy.

I bought some build your old Phenix bare heads that had the blade and little wire as a kit.

 

Allen

[Iluvsmallies]

I cant see the image??? Did you remove it?

[fishwizzard]

4 hours ago, Logan S said:

You need to open the eye a bit, it's a pain at first but after a couple it's pretty easy.

Cool.  Do you use a punch or pliers?  I have tried it a few times on some random jigs I had laying around and did not have a lot of luck with pliers.  

[Bluebasser86]

6 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

Are you guys having to open up the eye a little, or will the blade slip right in?  

The ones I make with the blade directly on the wire I pour with the blade on the wire. Had to modify the mold but it works well. 

[Munkin]

15 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Cool.  Do you use a punch or pliers?  I have tried it a few times on some random jigs I had laying around and did not have a lot of luck with pliers.  

https://www.harborfreight.com/nail-punch-set-3-pc-62686.html

 

Use the green one from this set.

 

Allen

[fishwizzard]

Just now, Munkin said:

https://www.harborfreight.com/nail-punch-set-3-pc-62686.html

 

Use the green one from this set.

 

Allen

Thanks!  

 

Next season I am going to get over my fear of loosing chatterbaits by loosing a bunch of chatterbaits, so the idea of making some up is appealing.  

[Munkin]

4 minutes ago, fishwizzard said:

Thanks!  

 

Next season I am going to get over my fear of loosing chatterbaits by loosing a bunch of chatterbaits, so the idea of making some up is appealing.  

Do you have a way to pour the heads?

 

Allen

[fishwizzard]

15 hours ago, Munkin said:

Do you have a way to pour the heads?

 

Allen

No, I was looking at buying the heads and adding the blades and skirts myself.  

 

I have never met a laydown that I didn't want to spend an hour casting at and I think the only way I am gonna figure out how to keep a chatterbait from instantly snagging is to snag a bunch of them until I get used to working them through.  

[Munkin]

On ‎12‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 9:59 AM, fishwizzard said:

No, I was looking at buying the heads and adding the blades and skirts myself.  

 

I have never met a laydown that I didn't want to spend an hour casting at and I think the only way I am gonna figure out how to keep a chatterbait from instantly snagging is to snag a bunch of them until I get used to working them through.  

When the weather gets warmer I will pour you some heads if you want.

 

Allen

On ‎12‎/‎17‎/‎2018 at 4:59 PM, Iluvsmallies said:

I cant see the image??? Did you remove it?

Not sure what is going on with your computer but I can see all the images.

 

Allen

[fishwizzard]

14 hours ago, Munkin said:

When the weather gets warmer I will pour you some heads if you want.

 

Allen

Thanks, I will absolutely take you up on that.  I even have a decent stash of lead, although I don't know what alloy/hardness it is. They are old theatrical counterweights and seem pretty soft.  

[Munkin]

On ‎12‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 2:47 PM, Jigfishn10 said:

I appreciate that and would love to try one out, but I also know that they get expensive to make. I appreciate your offer tho.

 

Those beauties are bomb.com, I'm sure you'll fill the boat, best of luck with them!

I still owe you for those Kinami baits you sent me.

 

Allen

[Jigfishn10]

LOL. @Munkin you got a heck of a memory, I think I forgot about that when I dropped the Kinami’s in the mail.

 

If you got a couple lying around I’d love to try em.