Thread: Is it worth the effort/cost?

I have inherited my dad's fishing stuff. It's mostly all bass lures though. He does have about 2 walmart bags worth of plastic bait. Is it worth the cost and effort to melt it down and make crappie lures? I don't even really like the colors that much. And we know it's all about what the fisherman likes instead of the fish....haha. I do not have an old microwave or any equipment so would be needing everything. Is this something I should try to mess with or be better off just buying what I want?

If you do not want to melt them down then send them to me. PM me for an address. I will make us some 2" stingers and 1.5" stingers out of them and send you some. If you or a moderator post this in the DIY / Soft Plastics forum you might get more responses. You could also just cut them into 1 inch sizes and add rubber or feathers on the tail by threading them through with a large needle. They call it a jelly and/or hackle jig. Here is how to do that. https://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-...le-jig-photos/

Originally Posted by shipahoy41

You could also just cut them into 1 inch sizes and add rubber or feathers on the tail by threading them through with a large needle. They call it a jelly and/or hackle jig.

Now that has potential and is something I could do now. What a great idea. Thanks

Where's one of the best places to find the hair or rubber tail material at?

Originally Posted by SuperDave336

Where's one of the best places to find the hair or rubber tail material at?

http://www.lurecraft.com/SOFT-PLASTI...departments/1/

Rod Building Supplies | Lure Making Supplies | Fly Tying Supplies | Fishing Hooks

Thanks "G"

Don’t know if anyone’s thought about this. Talking with a lady I work with whose husband makes large lures for stripers, etc. she said he’s sometimes gone to Walmart and bought the cheap lady feather boas to make lures with. I thought that was a good idea since you can find them cheap and multi-colored too. Just an idea.

So Shipahoy41 you can melt down some old plastic baits and reuse?

Sent from my VS501 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Originally Posted by Eatmorecrappie

So Shipahoy41 - you can melt down some old plastic baits and reuse?

Not a good idea. Soft plastic formulations vary and some may become a gloppy mess after being heated. If anything, buy some plastisol, pour some into a Pyrex cup, add old lures
and microwave in 30 second increments stirring ever so often. If after reaching close to 300 degrees the fluid mixture pours okay into a mold resulting in a bait you'll cast, you can heat some more new and old plastic.

SuperDave can you take a photo of your collection. I might have some ideas you can use involving fusing parts of lures together using a candle flame. Some of my best catches make use of old plastic lures.

Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

SuperDave can you take a photo of your collection. I might have some ideas you can use involving fusing parts of lures together using a candle flame. Some of my best catches make use of old plastic lures.

I will first chance I get. It’s all stored over at my parents. I just glanced at it one time. Need to dig it all out anyway. Thanks