11-24-2014, 10:59 PM
Your are today where I was a year ago [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=889515"]trying to make my own[/url]. [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=885367"] I never found any blades[/url] so I made my own.
After much study and talking to others, I made a most beautiful set. Part of my study was fishing with a guide that uses them frequently. They turned out really good.
I wish I had them here to show you but as it turns out, they are currently out in the middle of Swim Beach about 92 feet down.
I was told by one avid Gorge fisher, "You are going to HATE using blades." He was absolutely right. Now, if I were to get a few more hundred hours using them, I might change my mind. But for now, I have no plans to try it again.
However, having said all that, I do want to share with you some ideas on making them at home from scratch.
Go visit all the Deseret Industries, Savers, or other thrift stores and buy those old toasters with those shiny sides. However, the shiny sides aren't any big draw for those macks down deep where there ain't any light. But, unless you are using aluminum blades, cut out toaster sides are a second best.
Go on-line and search for an "oval" in Google images. Size it so that it will use as much of the toaster sides as possible. Print out that oval and use it as a pattern to cut out ovals from your toasters.
Cut out those oval blades and drill holes in each end. Be careful not to drill them too far from the edge so that the clevis will fit.
Speaking of cleviss, I had some great help from TubeDude in making some for me that beat anything I could buy.
Anyway, back to those blades, once I had them cut out, the edges were pretty rough from the tin-snips I used. I Simply rolled out the rough edges with a heavy 2" pipe ... kind of like you would roll out pie dough.
Then, I used a small belt sander to smooth the edges.
Once the blades were prepped, I put a slight curve (very slight) in them so that they would rotate in opposite directions from each other.
One of the best tips I could offer you is that you pattern your big blades after those of smaller blades on the market. Just make your big ones "scaled up" in size. Pay close attention as to how the small commercial ones are arranged, spacing between blades and beads and such. You'll see what I mean once you get going.
One thing I did wrong at first was to not go to Anger's Inn in Roy first for parts. I struggled for parts and accidently went there and seen most everything I needed to build them. Just wish I'd gone there FIRST!
Now, here is something I am going to tell you that others may disagree with. But here goes: Those big blades are NOT what the fish sees down deep where there is no light. They are just the transport delivery device to show off what they actually see down there.
What they (the macks) actually see down that deep is the GLOW IN THE DARK TAPE on the blades ... not the blades themselves. Angler's Den in Roy has, by far, the best glow tape for those blades. Green glow is the best color for down deep.
For more tips, questions, etc... shoot me a PM. Been there .... done that .... And ain't going to do it again!
[signature]
After much study and talking to others, I made a most beautiful set. Part of my study was fishing with a guide that uses them frequently. They turned out really good.
I wish I had them here to show you but as it turns out, they are currently out in the middle of Swim Beach about 92 feet down.
I was told by one avid Gorge fisher, "You are going to HATE using blades." He was absolutely right. Now, if I were to get a few more hundred hours using them, I might change my mind. But for now, I have no plans to try it again.
However, having said all that, I do want to share with you some ideas on making them at home from scratch.
Go visit all the Deseret Industries, Savers, or other thrift stores and buy those old toasters with those shiny sides. However, the shiny sides aren't any big draw for those macks down deep where there ain't any light. But, unless you are using aluminum blades, cut out toaster sides are a second best.
Go on-line and search for an "oval" in Google images. Size it so that it will use as much of the toaster sides as possible. Print out that oval and use it as a pattern to cut out ovals from your toasters.
Cut out those oval blades and drill holes in each end. Be careful not to drill them too far from the edge so that the clevis will fit.
Speaking of cleviss, I had some great help from TubeDude in making some for me that beat anything I could buy.
Anyway, back to those blades, once I had them cut out, the edges were pretty rough from the tin-snips I used. I Simply rolled out the rough edges with a heavy 2" pipe ... kind of like you would roll out pie dough.
Then, I used a small belt sander to smooth the edges.
Once the blades were prepped, I put a slight curve (very slight) in them so that they would rotate in opposite directions from each other.
One of the best tips I could offer you is that you pattern your big blades after those of smaller blades on the market. Just make your big ones "scaled up" in size. Pay close attention as to how the small commercial ones are arranged, spacing between blades and beads and such. You'll see what I mean once you get going.
One thing I did wrong at first was to not go to Anger's Inn in Roy first for parts. I struggled for parts and accidently went there and seen most everything I needed to build them. Just wish I'd gone there FIRST!
Now, here is something I am going to tell you that others may disagree with. But here goes: Those big blades are NOT what the fish sees down deep where there is no light. They are just the transport delivery device to show off what they actually see down there.
What they (the macks) actually see down that deep is the GLOW IN THE DARK TAPE on the blades ... not the blades themselves. Angler's Den in Roy has, by far, the best glow tape for those blades. Green glow is the best color for down deep.
For more tips, questions, etc... shoot me a PM. Been there .... done that .... And ain't going to do it again!
[signature]