My DIY Projects and Great Adventures

[DockShootinJack]

Some people do inject crappie nibbles into the body of the tube baits

[Tradbow]

Most of the guys I know that fish tubes insert lure inside of the tube bait. Where it really comes into play is when fishing really slow in my opinion. The fish can lock into a scent better if the bait stays in one area.

[Micanopy]

Yeah that has to be it. Why else would he switch up and go from works of art to a simple tube. Maybe he is making the tubes, and they are special creations or something. My best guess is injection of scent.

[DrNip]

Dr Nip-

If I was selling jigs the client would naturally expect that they would not be blind. He might think them incomplete and rushed out the door or something. Cheated. Perception is that without eyes there is a lessening of value to the fish. Causing the loss of a few bites even. Perhaps so.

The FreeStyle jig has flat sides for the addition of 3d eyes, which serve to form a rounded head when applied. However, applying the eyes causes the jig to lose some of it’s painted surface. Maybe up to half or more. To me, this defeats the purpose of painting as I use attractive colors. I like the bright bright head out front and an attractive figure behind. The eyes add nothing unless you believe the fish is staring at the jig, and examining it.

My jigs are the drive-by killers of the crappie world. They come screaming past a fish and he is simply reacting. There is no inspection for details, and I am grateful for that fact, too. A jig doesn’t look like a minnow, so thinking it has to have eyes like a minnow makes no sense. It looks like something trying to escape. Bladed food items do not exist in nature either, but we all know them to attract bites. So for my style eyes are definitely unneeded.

You dip and wiggle and watch the fish eyeball your jig, so your works of art do make sense in that regard. You need every bit of attraction you can get as your jigs are not swimming past them. Kind of looking at the fish- taunting them. Even so eyes are optional, but most would reach for a jig with eyes anyways, and I understand that.

I find it interesting that you want to try your hand with tubes. You can make a far more attractive lure so I wonder why. I can see tubes as the lures someone wants to use when they don’t enjoy fiddling. Something simple and easy. I made up a bunch of them and almost never clip one on the line. I am glad to see you have a new deal there at the house and can start pouring again. Nice.

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I will mail this to you at absolutely no cost or obligation - should it be of interest. It would come in a package with a fine selection of tube baits. Simply claim it by sending me your name and mailing address and I will get it together and visit the post office. As you can see it is very lightly used. It makes clean heads that do not require further attentions. I chose this shape as I thought it would slip inside much easier than the ones I had purchased.

Wait a minute…..are you inserting some sort of goo inside the tube to add scent ?

It is just hard to imagine this transition. Can you tell me why you think tubes will outperform what you already make ?

Haha didn't mean to throw you for a loop. Just broadening my horizon I guess you can say. Plans would be to mostly use with my 6.5' rod and cast to them as well as some dipping with long rod. No plans on inserting anything. I do have various crappie nibbles that I never touch. Have tossed the around the idea for years of having a 2-2.5" tube mold made. Will see how this goes and maybe one day fork over the money for a custom. Definitely wish I could have some plastic color combos made in the tube that I've made over the years.

I would love to try out the mold. If you don't need it I will borrow it. If you were to ever need it back let me know.

[GrumpyLoomis]

We have all dabbled in making our own creations and have success too. But if I am meat hunting it is hard to overlook simple plastics that are cheap and easy to leave in a brush pile. There are many tricks with plastics too.

[Micanopy]

We have all dabbled in making our own creations and have success too. But if I am meat hunting it is hard to overlook simple plastics that are cheap and easy to leave in a brush pile. There are many tricks with plastics too.

Well there Grumpy….I am trolling jigs, some in real close to the boat, some back behind a ways. No snagging going on round here. I think I have only lost three all year.



What tricks ?

I like tricks you know. Quick tell me so I can go explore.

[Micanopy]

Grumpy I hope you don’t mind me noticing that you noticed me. I’m a little shy you see.

Check this out and let me know your opinions regarding what is there.




It’s my narrow list you see. Only the 1/16th ounce heads……. 1/0 Victory hooks, glow yellow over white, FreeStyle jig mold. As the Sun sets further that is when the magic begins. They POP due to the UV reflection value added. Yes sir they do cause I did.

The plastics are still kind of a challenge. Man I can’t thread them on straight. Curves, too much this way, no that way. Could use advice about that, too.

[Micanopy]

My 1/4 ounce selection.






Again this is just what rides up front with me. At the ready. I usually cycle through about 8 or so a day. Usually have a good idea of what I want to begin with, and attach them to the rod early, and in the morning they are ready to go. Choosing wisely, perhaps even luckily, means I won’t have to go deep into the bench. Those backups will be in bag in the back anyways you see. Start with my best stuff saves nine.

I fish two rods way back. Two rods anywhere between there and right next to boat. Two rods right in tight to hull. Two rods straight out the back, rods in rocket launchers. So four setups are 1/4 ounce and four are 1/16th. So I really only need to have those two sizes, which is a big help.

I think.

No one ever seems very interested in my inventions, but the freak-show factor must be just grand. I asked about blades too guys.

[Micanopy]

I share. I try to post up my work as faithfully as I can. I would like some hints, clues, or simply just point. I want to discover, learn and create.

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[Micanopy]