The Wired Angler - Bass Fishing Blog, Tackle Tips and Bait Making Advice

Rigging Stinger Hooks

Matt Allan has a great new video on rigging stinger hooks on his website Tactical Bassin.

He shares a couple of his secret rigs and thoughts on stinger hooks.

 

How To Make Soft Plastic Eyes For Your Soft Plastic Swimbaits - Part One

Ever wonder how some of your favorite swimbaits are made? Or maybe just small parts of them?

I am going to start a new series of articles on in depth how-tos for some of these techniques. The first is one that involves a lot of processes, but I'm sure a lot you have pondered. Ever wonder how those eyes on a Hudd are made? It took about a minute of thinking for me to figure out, but wouldn't that be cool if you could put them on any swimbait? The answer is Hell yeah it would, I thought about manufacturing them, but screw it - here you go:

I devised an easy way to make soft plastic eyes that can be permanently glued on your favorite soft baits. The bait I will be modifying is one of my favorites: the Rising Sun by 3:16 Bait co.

You're gonna need a set of quality glass taxidermy eyes from a supplier such as Van Dyke's. Most baits take 8mm or 10mm. You are going to be casting them upside down to capture the paint pockets on the back. Here is a set of 8mm taxidermy eyes:

                          Notice the inset on the back of the eyes.             

You're gonna need a bit of modeling clay from a hobby or craft store. Flatten it on a work surface - I just use my bench but it can be done on a piece of cardboard or plexi. You can flatten it out with just about anything, really. I used a small piece of acrylic I had sitting on my workbench. After flattening the clay, carefully push the eyes face down. Push the eyes to the tip of the convex of the lens. Put them at least a inch apart.

Next, with a razor blade, cut a clean rectangular edge around the clay.

After the cut is complete you will need to build a fence around the clay to be filled with silicon. I made one really quickly out of some foam core and some more clay to hold it in place.

Now you are ready to pour the silicon in the mold. There are endless suppliers of silicon out there. Most hobby stores will have it in stock or you can get it on-line from suppliers such as Smooth On. Smooth On's OOMOO 30 is about the easiest to use silicone on the market. This is a consumer grade silicone that does not need to be vacuumed to release the trapped air. Most of the silicones I use in my shop are are a pain in the ass and very time consuming to use.

Mix up a small amount and fill the mold. Pour into one spot on the mold and let the silicon settle itself around the eyes. Some bubbles will rise, but should settle out. This is a really small mold - just be sure to follow the manufacturers directions very carefully.

Now the waiting begins. Most silicones will have to set for at least 12 hours to cure. In other words don't wait for it: go fishing or something. I will cover the rest in part two

Continue to Part 2

Who knew there was a B-29 Bomber at the bottom of Lake Mead?

I didn't.

On July 21, 1948 a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber ditched into Lake Mead. Apparently the pilots, on a test flight, misjudged their height over the water and hit the surface at 250 mph. The crew were able to escape into life rafts before the plane sank and were rescued, but the plane was never recovered. This was one of WWII's largest planes, and it's down there nearly intact.

 

Lots more about it here:

Lake Mead's B-29 Superfortress

Here's an album of photos from the NPS

And here's a link to all of the National Park's Lake Mead videos

Lake Mead is Screwed

Most of us know that Lake Mead's waters are really, really low, but to see just how bad the situation actually is, check out these satellite images - the first is from 1985, the second was taken this year:

1985	2010

The lake is suffering from a combination of natural forces and man mad problems. The lake's levels naturally fluctuate, but a 12 year drought is kicking its ass. The second part is all of the water that is pumped out to Las Vegas and elsewhere exceeds the amount of water flowing in. And the demands are growing.

The scary part is that according to one study the lake could be completely dry in just another decade (here's a link to the study). So the question is: what can we do about it?

Read more:

"Why worry about Lake Mead?" on Boing Boing

I linked to this one before, but it's a good one: Lake Mead on GOOD.is

Aug 2010 article in the NY Times about the low waters

Official National Parks Lake Mead page

Tuesday Fishing Video: "Where The Stripers Are" Vintage IGFA Video

You've gotta see it for the narration - a sample:

"I've been hearing about this saltwater fishing up in Massachusetts from my old buddy Larry Cronen, and when Larry asked if I'd like to come north and fish a coupla days for striped bass, well, that's like throwin' an old southern cottontail into a briar patch"

 

I'm posting new videos every Tuesday and Thursday until I get bored or run out. See them all here>

 

Thursday Fishing Video: Belly Boating in Spain

Caught on a "pooper" :)

I'm posting new videos every Tuesday and Thursday until I get bored or run out. See them all here>

 

 

Tuesday Fishing Video: Vintage Florida Bass Fishing Footage

"Joan Salvato, housewife and mother, lives in Florida, not far from some very good bass fishing. From tackle demonstrations through to casting lessons, if it has anything to do with fishing it's part of Joan's job - for she is a Garcia Girl, and a Garcia Girl is as much at home with tackle in her hands and an air boat beneath her as she is in a supermarket or on the dance floor."

Spoiler! Ends at the dinner table...

I'm posting new videos every Tuesday and Thursday until I get bored or run out. See them all here>

Thursday Fishing Video: Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in South Africa

The actual fishing starts after about 2 minutes. Neat to see places so far away that don't look much different from home. . .

They're fishing Clanwilliam Dam, South Africa.

I'm posting new videos every Tuesday and Thursday until I get bored or run out. See them all here>

 

Tuesday Fishing Video: 1956 World Champion Casting Demonstrations

It's 2-for-1 today: Here are two 1956 films showing off the latest casting techniques.

 

I'm posting new videos every Tuesday and Thursday until I get bored or run out. See them all here>

Thursday Fishing Video: Fishing Italy's Lake Coghinas

Tournament footage from Italy's Lake Coghinas, on the island of Sardinia. Crazy how much it looks like California. Contender for best fishing video soundtrack!

I'm posting new videos every Tuesday and Thursday until I get bored or run out. See them all here>