Custom Baits - Forum

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Johnny Bass on 07/06/20 09:11 UTC

Title: Drying Baits
Post by: Johnny Bass on 07/06/20 09:11 UTC
What up guys!
What do you think is the best method for drying baits.
I lay my baits (straight) down on cardboard to dry for about 24 hours.
I have heard hanging them etc...What do you do?
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Slow Burn on 07/06/20 10:29 UTC
Some guys hang them, and some lay them out straight, and some throw them in a bucket of water for a bit.  I personally give them a water bath after i take them out of the mold for however long im making baits, then i lay them out on cookie sheets for at least a week to cure.  In my experience if you bag baits just after a day and leave them in the bait they can bend or kink and form that way.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: WALLEYE WACKER on 07/06/20 11:55 UTC
I lay them on a cookie sheet for two weeks before they go in a bag. I only use  2-3 drops scent Just enough so they stay lose in the bag.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: ctom on 07/06/20 12:17 UTC
Mine with the finer details go into the freezer on a plastic cutting mat. Out of the mold, lay them flat with tails straight and when I'm done with the run they get slipped into the  deep freeze for up to 48 hours. Take the mat out of the freezer and set it on the work bench for a couple hours and they're good to bag. Its been in the 90's here with heat indexes in the upper 90's, lower 100's. They don't cure to quick in these temps.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Johnny Bass on 07/06/20 13:16 UTC
Thanks guys for the information!
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: BareKnuckleJigs on 07/06/20 13:17 UTC
I have lumber boards with finishing nails driven through them at intervals that suit the length of runners.
About every 2.5" or so does a good-enough job for hanging baits.
I mount the boards on walls.
Pierce a part of the runner to hang to cure.
This is for baits that CAN be hung.
Some baits, like curltails or ribbontails, are laid into pans to cure so they cure closest to the design of the mold.
I do things this way because the design of the mold makes a piece of plastic that is d-e-s-i-g-n-e-d to function in a way that is one of the reasons I bought the mold to begin with.
I want it to cure so it functions how it should...not in a distorted version of how it should.

Curing:  I cure for a minimum of 4 weeks, but am not opposed to curing longer.  Plastic changes over time.  No PVC plastic bait is exempt, regardless of how long it's cured, but I'm going to do my thing because I'm a Tackle Crafter and I HATE crooked baits.

Once they're cured for 4+ weeks, I stand a good chance that when I pull a bait from the bag, it's not bent beyond acceptability, so it will function close to the design.
This is getting the most out of My PRECIOUS Fishing Time.

I spend many dollars on quality gear.  The least I can do is give my lures some Time.  Curing Time doesn't cost me a dime...but my lures look and function like Dime Pieces.

"A TEN!  A frikkin' TEN!"
(https://custombaits.com/gallery/315-060720132530.jpeg)
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: DF on 07/06/20 14:01 UTC
 I hang swim baits and most everything else lays flat. For curing I like to wait at least a week before I bag, but I often shoot a handful of baits the night before fishing them.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Lines on 07/06/20 19:56 UTC
Most of mine don't get time to cool before being used. :)
The rest are bagged with a couple drops of anise oil and 4 or 5 drops of worm oil. Enough worm oil to lube the baits so they slide in the bag.
I try to straighten them the best I can when bagging, just to make the bag look better. Squeeze the air out for more room in my tackle bag.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Johnny Bass on 07/07/20 08:01 UTC
Awesome guys, its interesting to see how you guys dry your baits.  I was wondering about the kinks in the plastic after bagging. I didn't like that.
@ BareKnuckleJigs  If possible, can you snap a picture of that hanging board and post it up?
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Shaunm81 on 07/07/20 14:29 UTC
Hmmmmm this is a good topic.  I  honestly was just making my stuff and bagging right up after doing so but it does make sense to let them cure.   I am going to start doing that but  my lands  as many crappie baits as I'm shooting  I'm not sure where I'm going to put them lol
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Johnny Bass on 07/08/20 07:43 UTC
Yeah after reading these posts, I am curing my baits for at least a week.  I didn't like the kinks that I was getting. Good stuff dudes.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Slow Burn on 07/08/20 11:27 UTC
Like i said, i do a week minimum but the longer the better in my experience.  If you plan on using them in the next day or so it doesnt matter, but if you leave them in the bag and they are not straight they will kink or paddle tail baits will be bent.  Bought several large cookie sheets on sale for really cheap and i just spread them out on the bench after im done. And all over my garage really.  To each their own.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Les Young on 07/09/20 19:59 UTC
I usually try a week or two, but i have baits hanging on the garage wall that have been there for a year so i think they're fully cured & ready to use.  ;D
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: BareKnuckleJigs on 07/10/20 00:47 UTC
Here you go, JB!
(https://custombaits.com/gallery/315-100720004550.jpeg)
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Lamar on 07/10/20 05:55 UTC
 I only make baits for myself. A lot of times I make them and fish them in the morning. I've never fished them where I had to wear gloves but pretty close. I personally don't think it makes any difference.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Johnny Bass on 07/10/20 07:17 UTC
@BareKnuckleJigs Awesome man! Thanks!
Happy Friday!
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Lines on 07/10/20 08:06 UTC
I only make baits for myself. A lot of times I make them and fish them in the morning. I've never fished them where I had to wear gloves but pretty close. I personally don't think it makes any difference.
Lol....on wearing gloves. Been pretty close to that also.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: WALLEYE WACKER on 07/10/20 19:07 UTC
BKJ LIKE YOUR SETUP!!!!
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: 21xdc on 07/10/20 21:28 UTC
LOL... It's a board with nails...
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: efishnc on 07/10/20 23:20 UTC
For curing my baits -- the few that I do -- I lay them on pieces of an old bed liner and the grooves align each bait perfectly.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Les Young on 07/11/20 19:36 UTC
LOL... It's a board with nails...
Lol I have nails with very small heads to slide the sprues  over  drove into the purling boards & the post in my pole style garage. I have baits hanging everywhere.  :D
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Lines on 07/11/20 20:58 UTC
Lol I have nails with very small heads to slide the sprues  over  drove into the purling boards & the post in my pole style garage. I have baits hanging everywhere.  :D
Done in the right colors it might look like christmas trees.
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Les Young on 07/12/20 22:51 UTC
Done in the right colors it might look like christmas trees.
  I could do it with green pumpkin, red bug or cherry seed &  sapphire blue pretty easy.  ;D
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Johnny Bass on 07/30/20 07:46 UTC
@BareKnuckleJigs you mentioned this.....

" Some baits, like curltails or ribbontails, are laid into pans to cure so they cure closest to the design of the mold. "

I have lizards with curtails so you recommend I lay them flat to cure and not hang these kinds of baits?
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: BareKnuckleJigs on 08/24/20 04:19 UTC
@BareKnuckleJigs you mentioned this.....

" Some baits, like curltails or ribbontails, are laid into pans to cure so they cure closest to the design of the mold. "

I have lizards with curtails so you recommend I lay them flat to cure and not hang these kinds of baits?

Yes Sir!
That way they'll cure curled and will function how they're designed to function.
I shoot a 7.75" Lizard and they lay in pans for this reason, same as Worms or any other bait with curled appendages.
It may seem tedious but it is beyond worth it
👊😎
Title: Re: Drying Baits
Post by: Johnny Bass on 08/24/20 09:44 UTC
Thank you brotha