About 20 years ago I set out to design a couple of crappie baits based on a heavily ribbed body. I wanted one to be a stinger, the other to be a paddletail. I also wanted most all of them to have separate tail colors and out of 13 different color patterns only chartreuse was a solid color bait. They were made to finish at 1 7/16" in length. I found a company in the Twin Cities that had Chinese ties to tackle making and specifically to injection. I worked thru that company and at the start things were very promising. As it turned out they [the baits] were expensive to make even in China and then the Chinese decided to use a cheaper plastic and colorants than what was used in the proof baits that we got back. Instead of full injection on the injection the Chinese decided to try and slide hand welding the tail past us and when the first order arrived state-side we were not at all impressed so the order got nixed. The next order came as we agreed upon, but then subsequent orders cost much more so they were discontinued.

I was doing some re-stocking of my boat boxes this morning and had to dig out the buckets of these baits so I thought I share a picture of something I did years ago. Fun times back then but I wouldn't work with the Chinese on a sandbox today and is one reason I like making my own stuff here at home.



I still use these today even though they can't be found them anywhere. I still have the hand-made proto-types and may someday take time to get some molds made. Right now I am just looking back at the past and smiling.