Pouring Smokin Shad Question

[Pitcock]

I am just getting started pouring my own soft plastic baits.  I have been pouring my own jigheads for years!!

I started pouring the 3.75" smoking shad the other night and I have a couple questions:
       
1.  Some of the heads are not filling up entirely with plastic when I take them out of the mold.  What am I doing wrong?
2.  When I pull the smokin shad out of the mold I have to trim the extra plastic from the back of the bait.  Am I suppose the be using the little piece of metal that came with this mold/lami plate? 

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!!!

[andrewlamberson]

Sounds like you are not filling up your injector all the way...and you are running out of plastic.

And yes, you need to use the insert. The insert gives you a pocket to help hide the bend of the hook in. If you want the bait to be solid then don't use it...but you will need to trim off the flash the fills in the insert area on the belly of the bait.

[ctom]

Welcome to Do-It Molds Pitcock.

Andy's advice is spot on. I'd add that once the injector rod wants to stop, lift the injector up a half inch and let some extra plastic flow into and heap up at the injection port so any voids inside have some plastic to draw from to fill.