Thread: Am I getting any better?

Looking good Ship. I have my stuff on order. How big is that paddle tail?

Originally Posted by Scoot

Ship, I have been reading this forum for awhile now. I know you have been making jigs with chenille, feathers, and other things before you started learning plastic. My question to you is this. Which is the most fun to learn? Which is the most costly? Which is the easiest or hardest to make to catch fish. The bottom line is I am getting ready to retire, and I would like to hear from an elderly person like your self, what will I be getting into. Thanks and love all of you people who take the time to spread the knowledge and help those who are just getting started. That is why I am asking. By the way Ship, those look really nice and I think you will by in upper group in no time.

Hey Scoot.

I tied jigs and made soldered teardrop ice jigs for over 40 years. Then at the age of 65 decided I wanted to try soft plastics. The first thing I tried was making my own molds. I did fairly well with plaster of Paris molds but I was horrible making resin molds. I burned myself a few times before I read the "Do not" stickie at the top of this forum. I highly suggest you read that and look at as much you tube on soft plastics as you can.


A month ago I got my first aluminum mold and an aluminum injector. As long as you follow safety rules you will be fine. I like to add anise, garlic, and worm oil to my soft plastic baits. I will add soft plastic glitter to give flash or imitate scales to my lure.

As to cost, I stopped selling lures about five years ago so I just keep an inventory enough to hand tie a few baits and make soft plastic baits to fish with. I enjoy soft plastics a lot so I probably fool around more with that hobby now. Enjoy your retirement and just have fun. My hobbies pay for them self when I catch a fish on something I made.