My brother Raymond Hansen displays the reason he's reluctant to join me on the cold, windy, heavy seas of the Chesapeake. Nice November rainbow brother. Did you say Strawberry Reservoir? Think that's in Utah and home of the cut throat?
Not to be outdone, Teacher and Adam report that they have a 43 pound striper for a citation.
Now, that's a great catch for the first one of the 2012 season. Adam holds Teacher's catch of 40 pounds
caught on an eel. Adam got a 30 pounder, but why show a junior! Thanks for the report.
Ordered more jig making stuff form Do It and will make a few Red Mouth shad if and when the mold and other supplies arrive.
OK, more molds arrived and I cast a bunch of Ruby Lip jig heads in 3/4, 1, and 1 1/2 ounce weights
Haven't decided how to do the lips with powder coat yet. Maybe brush the powder on the hot jig? The following photo shows a pile of jigs cast in one session.
Here are some of the Ruby Lip jigs in white with red lips? More like drunk applying lipstick. Maybe lips only a striper could love, I hope. Did a few in chartreuse too.
The following shows my casting accessories. The critical thermometer as lead vaporizes at 900 degrees. Yet, a good casting temp is near 850. Be safe and always use a thermometer when casting. The mold sits on top of the Lee bottom pour casting pot. This can keep the temp high enough for the casting to fill out. I use wheel weights as it's made to cast. Somewhat hard at BHN 16 and has enough tin and antimony to work well. Not cheap these days. Also shown is the white metal flux. I also use hardwood sawdust on top of the lead to keep the lead from oxidizing. Still, there's a need to remove the oxide, but not while the melt is cool. Doing so will remove the tin!
I usually cast my ingots in 1 pound and 1/2 pound sizes that fit the pot nicely. I also use a cast iron pot to make ingots, but frequently, the 6 pound weights won't fit the casting pot and have to be remelted.
Need to have a shelf the same height as half the mold to hold the hooks in position before closing the mold. Remember, the mold is over 500 degrees and can burn quickly. If it takes too long to load the hooks, put the mold on top of the casting pot to heat.
Wheel weights don't shrink as much as pure lead and it sometimes takes some effort to pull the jigs from the mold. Yet, pure lead doesn't cast well. Needs at least 5% tin.
I'll get to the painting in a few days and explain how the work progresses. Mostly a new adventure for me.
ALWAYS A NEED FOR PLANER HOLDERS ON MY BOAT
The schedule 40 PVC is held on the rail with stainless cable ties available from Wal Mart. These stand up to sun and the corrosive salt water.
Working with Yogi during a refresher charter, Bill and I liked his means of deploying planer boards. So, my rendition is a 4 inch PVC with a slot wire tied to the rail in the proximity of an eel tube and the rod holder. The planers are set out first, 2 on each side. Then 3 or 4 corks off the stern. Two at deck level and two long lines on the T top. Important to keep the lines and corks separated. Eels can make a mess in a minute of inattention.
Now that the planers can be deployed with ease, there are times that fishing the pilings and islands is where the fish be.
FLUIDIZERS FOR WORKING WITH POWDER PAINT
To that end, I made some fluidizers for powder paint and cast some jig heads. Pretty easy to hang the jigs in a toaster oven set at 450 degrees. Dip one color, then bake for a few minutes and then dip in a second color. Final bake is for 20-30 minutes.
The fluidizer membrane is from the US post office, the fiber envelopes. Very strong and glue to the PVC.
FIRST ATTEMPT AT POWDER COAT PAINTING JIG HEADS
Bill and I ordered BKDs, 6" and 10" in albino, chartreuse, alewife, and pink. Don't know what to do about skirts yet. I also ordered Bug and Bug Combos in iridencent pearl. George Lenard is great to talk with and gave me tips on rod/reel accessories to fish the island and pilings.
Had to book reservation at Sunset Beach Resort as the Kiptopeke Inn is no longer in business. The motel next to Chris' was quoted at $80 a night plus tax without a discount for weekly or monthly stays. Kiptopeke Inn said that the Peacock Motor Inn next to Sting Ray's would contact me about lodging, but it never happened. While the SBR has TV, it lacks a microwave and refrigerator that we find necessary for longer stays. OK to bring our own. I usually pack a small Foreman like grill and coffee maker. Bill brings the crock pot and the propane cook accessory for outside. Likely have to bring our own table and chairs this trip.
Just renewed my FIP for 2013. Wonder how Sandy will change fishing this year?
