thanks for all the input on the kingfish live bait rod...

now it is time to save some money, i would like to start making my own king dusters and/or pearl baby. these are skirts that go on the wire live bait rig that give it a little bit of flash/color/shine. i already have the mold that will make the head, the problem im running into though is properly getting the skirt material to stay in place while i put the rubber band around it. any suggestions appreciated.

and yes i know, this is not rod building but i was thinking that mabye someone somewhere has already done this and would have some input.

I tie up bucktails for trolling. This probably isn't much different. What I do is put the bucktail (hook) in a vice and use a fly tying bobbin to wrap thread around the head adding deer hair; flashabou; mylar; etc a little at a time around the circumference of the head and finish it off with rod (thread) epoxy. Only thing "different" I think is that you'll have to put a dowel or mandrel inside the head (I'm assuming you are using a "thimble" as a head rather than bucktail with hook)

For what it is worth, I used to think I could save money by tying most of my own stuff ... that isn't the case, unless your labor is worth $2.00/hour roughly. By the time you buy materials, buy supplies, buy tools and pay shipping ... you are pretty close to wholesale on larger lots of tackle. King dusters are $3.00-3.50 in quantity. IF you enjoy doing it, that's one thing ... but you won't find a money savings IMO.

Ken Preston Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I tie up bucktails for trolling. This probably
> isn't much different. What I do is put the
> bucktail (hook) in a vice and use a fly tying
> bobbin to wrap thread around the head adding deer
> hair; flashabou; mylar; etc a little at a time
> around the circumference of the head and finish it
> off with rod (thread) epoxy. Only thing
> "different" I think is that you'll have to put a
> dowel or mandrel inside the head (I'm assuming you
> are using a "thimble" as a head rather than
> bucktail with hook)




How do you troll from a row boat?

Not very efficiently - but my doc says it's good for my heart-lung action

you may have a point Jim but i get 40% off materials (fly tying material at Bass Pro, I'm an employee), Free Supplies (Lead and Mold), alrady have all the tools from tying my flies, and no shipping. as of now i have made ten different molds in varying weights ranging from 1/8 to 9/16 OZ. and that only took about ten minutes after the lead heated up. tried to put the first one together with Braces rubberbands and got so frustrated i put this post up asking for advice.

Hi Wes

I'm with Ken & Jim, but whatever floats your row boat.

Good Luck.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.