tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88540233382531598132024-03-05T17:39:03.462-08:00Reel Appeal LuresSam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-50799931952868835222012-07-17T23:11:00.002-07:002012-07-17T23:11:42.955-07:00Have Faith!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lock it up and have faith your fish is staying connected!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Close up of the wiring used in my poppers... 2.4mm 316 Stainless Steel with a fully locked tow point connection. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-57822494550735259592012-07-12T02:13:00.001-07:002012-07-12T02:13:52.731-07:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long time, no post... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have had some great builds lately, with most work being custom or test lures...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a little 145mm/50g bait going out for testing in the next few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make sure to check out the Facebook page to keep up to date, Peace!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-64769178582403101872012-05-31T01:02:00.000-07:002012-05-31T01:02:37.663-07:00RAL Update!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make sure to check out the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362?ref=tn_tnmn">RAL Facebook Page</a>, I will be trying to keep things up to date and also get some lures made too!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-6957069233546493712012-03-16T21:20:00.001-07:002012-03-16T21:31:38.487-07:00Bomber Jr's Update.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been working on these little poppers for a while now, like most lures it takes a fair amount of time to get them how I would like. Currently working on a batch to for a angler in North Queensland AU, I may just put some aside for myself yet... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This little duck has proven to be a great surface lure with the GT's... I may "upsize" the lure for heavier line classes as it is currently made for "light tackle" GT fishing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-50006521311217458062012-03-16T01:22:00.002-07:002012-03-16T01:33:41.445-07:00GT Popping, Vava'u Tonga.<br />
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<b>Location - </b>Vava'u, Tonga</div>
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<b>Date - </b>20th of February 2012</div>
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<b>Number of Days - </b>5 days</div>
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<b>Charter Operator - </b>Poppin' Tonga ( Kurt Carlson )</div>
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<b>Number of Anglers - </b>Myself</div>
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I was lucky enough to be surprised on Christmas Day with flights and transfers to Vava'u from my partner and daughter to go hunt down my first GT! </div>
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So I started planning and making a few lures for the trip. I had a few poppers I wanted to try out and see how they worked on GT's. With only stick baiting rods in the quiver I contacted the team at Synit to help me out.</div>
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Synit came through and I had the rod hand delivered by Graeme the night before flying out. CJ had spun up a Synit Topshot GT, 2 piece, 7' 10" and 25kg Max drag at 45 degrees with a max lure of 260g... Just the ticket.</div>
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Landed in Tonga, and after a short taxi ride I arrived at the domestic terminal for the flight to Vava'u. I had a 4 hour wait but there was a great little cafe, took the time to re-fuel...</div>
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<i>Getting ready to board.</i></div>
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<i>Flying into Vava'u, checking out the numerous reefs along the way.</i></div>
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Landed safely in Vava'u and was met by Kurt at the airport, the gear was loaded in the 4x4 and we we were off. Stopping in at the local store for some supplies and cold beer we then made our way to Lucky's Beach Houses also run by Kurt and his wife Lyn.</div>
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<i>View from my beach front room...</i></div>
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Spent the last of the evening casting from the beach, trying out the new rod and lures. </div>
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<b>Day 1 -</b></div>
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Worked the inshore reefs, and some of the bommies along the way... Kurt gave me a few pointers and we keep working what seems like an endless amount of spots. I was fishing a stick bait hoping to lure a GT, the fishing was slow with a tide change late in the afternoon we kept working. Managed to raise the odd boil but no hook up yet... </div>
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Changed out to a Cubera 100g and worked the reef next to a channel which attracts large numbers of Manta Rays... Kurt saw it well before me, the popper was absolutely inhaled by a Red Bass, I was tight on a fish and it felt good after hours of casting. With the fish at the boat it was clear to see why they fish didn't have a lot of fight, the lure was swallowed deep.</div>
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<i>Another Island and reef to explore...</i></div>
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Kurt knows this place very well, some spots you cast a few lures then move on, other you work right along the edges... We kept hitting spots all day long, by now I had dropped 3-4 fish and had fish mouth a few lures... The tide had changed and I changed out to a black popper and finally hooked up... After 8 hours of casting I had my first GT!</div>
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<i>Success!</i></div>
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<i>All GT's are released with Poppin' Tonga... Too much!</i></div>
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I managed to catch another GT late in the day. By now I was pretty tired, and feeling the effects of casting all day.</div>
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<b>Day 2 -</b></div>
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Finding bits of your body that aren't bruised...The wind had picked up and set the tone for the rest of the day.Wind and rain wasn't stopping us.. With a few leader changes due to some very stubborn wind knots I was getting plenty of knot tying practise in... Once again we hit some truly awesome spots, listening to story's of what has been pulled out from these spots always keeps you on edge. Late afternoon tide change was what I was waiting for but Kurt kept working hard, spot after spot, pass after pass. The radio was alive with talk of marlin, YFT, spanish mack's and sail's what a wicked place! I again dropped a few fish, one took a lure really deep, how did it not it not get any hook??</div>
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Late afternoon we hit a few small islands, the wind was whipping up but was at my back... Once again my own black 130g popper was the lure of choice...</div>
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Only fish for the day, but it was great... We had to really work for this one. We had a few feathered friends intent on eating my popper, it was inevitable the one should end up tangled. These birds were angry, and I mean angry. Biting the gaff, the boat and then Kurts hand as he tried to free the bird... It was a laugh first time round, second time not so cool. We said good bye to the birds and headed home. </div>
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Over the course of the trip Kurt found plenty of bait, large schools of Fusiliers that we struggled to get any bites any where near the bait. But hey that's fishing...</div>
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<b>Day 3 - </b></div>
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I hadn't planned on fishing, I had a half day to kill before flying out but Kurt wandered over and told me not to put all my gear away "We are going fishing". Sweet...</div>
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What looked like good water soon turned into angry seas and was blowing hard. We started out at some deep bommies, I decided to fish the 200g /50mm popper all day, and just suck it up...</div>
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We had a hit and drop, we moved on casting at the reef on the outside... Good swell running, lots of water moving it looked fishy. </div>
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<i>My favourite spot of the trip.</i></div>
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Having had a hit on day one in this spot, I had high hopes of hooking up. This spot is wicked to say the least... Huge ledge, nice reef section off to the right.</div>
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We finally hooked up, it was a good looking cast into some nice water and it was smashed... The fish stayed flat in the reef but eventually came out to the drop off, started to sound, turned back to the reef and rolled out the hook... Wicked, its still cool losing GT's! Kurt was surprised I lost the fish so late in the fight, it was hooked for 4-5 minutes but found its freedom. </div>
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Kurt and Lyn run a great operation, if you stay make sure Lyn cooks your meals as she is a lovely cook and you are well feed. Kurt is a top class guide, and is down to earth he shared plenty of tips and lure designs with me, a few should be out later this year for testing.</div>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-2400535834904988252012-01-12T22:38:00.000-08:002012-01-12T22:38:28.176-08:00New Lures...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spent this afternoon testing some new lures from the shore... We have had a lot of rain so the water quality is not so good but when it clears I will make an effort to shoot some video...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First up is a new 130g Popper...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzULW6jyQ5Ckt6nKcmCeaFZLuzrjGQaS2RkjpICn7Hd4u9uUhB_kg3edbxzPAgKSrUUb1lXaQGDZs2gr3gr6aaYQDWdjvaFZmBPZDQ3EqS4m-6x47uS6xNCCoCft6sHJ7V04nnqHQOoz8/s1600/130POP1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzULW6jyQ5Ckt6nKcmCeaFZLuzrjGQaS2RkjpICn7Hd4u9uUhB_kg3edbxzPAgKSrUUb1lXaQGDZs2gr3gr6aaYQDWdjvaFZmBPZDQ3EqS4m-6x47uS6xNCCoCft6sHJ7V04nnqHQOoz8/s320/130POP1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The popper is rigged with an ST66 5/0 on the belly swivel... I purposely tested the lure with no rear hook as this lure will be for targeting GT's. I have researched and found GT's crash the middle section on most lures and in most photo's the fish is hooked on the belly hook, leaving the rear hook to do a lot of damage to the fish, not the best for both angler or fish. If targeting YTK a single hook on the rear would be a good idea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The popper has impressed me so far, big splash, lots of noise and a great "waggle" as the cupped face spills the water pressure...I will testing this popper properly in Tonga next month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another new lure is the 230 Stick bait... Again this lure is 130g...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rigged with ST66 4/0 both front and rear...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a diving lure and the action is wicked, very hard to explain so you will have to wait for some video.. I finished this lure in fusilier colours to mimic the common reef bait. Again this will be tested next month in the tropics. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-299170934158568752012-01-02T19:06:00.000-08:002012-01-02T19:06:40.303-08:00In need of a name....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The test bait is in need of a name...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjAbuC6t09UcYNEM_muaQ9gbxBuFMvncc8ogIye-9AFWuhCnfc0hpBdMpOgMPVF6RLIYvaCrnyzu1IZ4XuO3v5qmwbHuBIcVsYKG1SS5L6zrFtfljk1kjT9dgrMI89ahG4QPBJD_MOlE/s1600/Blackbetty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjAbuC6t09UcYNEM_muaQ9gbxBuFMvncc8ogIye-9AFWuhCnfc0hpBdMpOgMPVF6RLIYvaCrnyzu1IZ4XuO3v5qmwbHuBIcVsYKG1SS5L6zrFtfljk1kjT9dgrMI89ahG4QPBJD_MOlE/s320/Blackbetty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Black... As requested by Capt Ben Pokaia.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently finishing up a few baits for sale, includes poppers, stick baits and some popping pencils... Will get some pictures up as soon as they are done...</span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-75014881682543271522011-12-25T13:05:00.000-08:002011-12-25T13:05:09.612-08:00Season's Greetings<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Christmas to all,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you are enjoying this time with your family's...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I managed to get out with my father on Christmas Eve for a spot of bottom fishing, it is not often our work schedules allow us to get out fishing together so it was a great day on the water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next year is looking even better for RAL as more lures are put through testing to ensure I have a quality product.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy the Holidays and all the best for 2012 from RAL!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0xAFunPUYmJXQC8ccd0kRnfsF3FCKHmBIh593NTRvUvIFBS2eL5nGscjIwF7DyZb3qSft3yG3X7Yrm_n6j7dQpcBWnv_C_1uIBWO1Mz4pQoo5H4GIjFkmu4DAkqCijAHqY84yVio7Bc/s1600/8kgSnap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0xAFunPUYmJXQC8ccd0kRnfsF3FCKHmBIh593NTRvUvIFBS2eL5nGscjIwF7DyZb3qSft3yG3X7Yrm_n6j7dQpcBWnv_C_1uIBWO1Mz4pQoo5H4GIjFkmu4DAkqCijAHqY84yVio7Bc/s320/8kgSnap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-35888265251282847172011-12-20T00:49:00.000-08:002011-12-20T00:49:14.771-08:00Sup bro...Check this out.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nomad NZ HQ checked in today, it seems they have been having some insane fishing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ben also had some feedback on one of the stick baits I made for swimming singles, Ben had mentioned he liked the lure earlier and was putting it through its paces...It is really great to have a Charter Capt' thrash the lures, it has shown a few improvements that can be further made to the lure but overall it's swimming great and catching fish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be making some tweaks and trying some new cosmetic changes to the lure then sending some more back out to be tested again...In the end it will be a great lure, good things take time is what I keep telling myself and lessons learnt can be applied later on as the range of lures grow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the changes will halt progress I am making with other lures until I hear how certain components and products perform in real world conditions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's some photo's courtesy of Nomad Sportfishing NZ.</span><br />
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<i>Great to see the bait swimming single's well! Nice fish!</i></div>
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<i>Schools of Kahawai, YTK candy!</i></div>
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<i>Ben putting these guys onto some more fish! </i></div>
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<i>Fat fish, Big smile = Wicked!</i></div>
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<i>This way to the fish! </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-25894900519995919472011-12-17T01:31:00.001-08:002011-12-17T01:31:25.519-08:00Diving Baits<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought it would be good to give those interested an insight into what goes into making a stick bait. Not all stick baits are the same and this is my take on one style of lure. These will be diving baits, they sit at 90 degrees to the water surface at rest with some practise and well timed rod work they swim with a diving, bubbling erratic action. They are what I would call a "finesse" bait, you do need co-ordination and favourable sea conditions to get the most out of these lures, but when you get it right....They are fish magnets! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88UfNaw6_uA878zc9G1kt2M5idc51Hvn-dIzxdkfhumV_lPoCtsusjeCIMirNU-xnhaM-a9TYhxn7p5vReGaCaKy9KMJGgC-TLcnP2BmGP6_ESsOtUnfdFWHswTi9pQ7P8vVmAgVnkZQ/s1600/DBBlanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88UfNaw6_uA878zc9G1kt2M5idc51Hvn-dIzxdkfhumV_lPoCtsusjeCIMirNU-xnhaM-a9TYhxn7p5vReGaCaKy9KMJGgC-TLcnP2BmGP6_ESsOtUnfdFWHswTi9pQ7P8vVmAgVnkZQ/s320/DBBlanks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>200mm Blanks</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When finished these will be 200mm/95g baits. They start out as blanks cut from a clear straight grained piece of wood, wood species varies depending on the intended action of the lure. Good quality, well seasoned and a reliable source of wood should see baits that swim with a close action, they won't be identical as they are wood but that's what makes wooden lures great, every now and then you get one that is just "different".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blanks are marked out using a template, they are also already drilled to accept the through-wire later on. The template is a shape I have tested and what I think looks good to the eye, no real science to it. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR1OYBhzGF2WTVDt-XGPgYrqGV1NzgejUTdABa6Lzmm2SZUl33sSAXhKWYxBAUSVXCGGpYK_dganBm6eLUZRFX4IwMytSQfcZQDcd4uba8s3cFOsGctub59y_iqgrUS5Ar9CgD3I3sEM/s1600/DBBlanks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNR1OYBhzGF2WTVDt-XGPgYrqGV1NzgejUTdABa6Lzmm2SZUl33sSAXhKWYxBAUSVXCGGpYK_dganBm6eLUZRFX4IwMytSQfcZQDcd4uba8s3cFOsGctub59y_iqgrUS5Ar9CgD3I3sEM/s320/DBBlanks1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Next stop.... The bandsaw.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I have an idea of the baits shape we can go to the bandsaw. This is a quick way for me to reduce the blank to a starting point for carving. Once cut I then can mark out other important features like belly swivel holes etc... I do this after the blank as I have found it to be more accurate. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZYutUE56R0InhHmMN8hn1JtzEDlR5uQJkV_mdoANS0mw7ZVqVIXC2KNYEDO7t2w7gJuYlo0NDjl4gLtytR608I9xpQPTId_ioUZmjjAjEkix23nd-3NUtdZmTNV0HzDq_Lr0H9LxjNY/s1600/DBBlanks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZYutUE56R0InhHmMN8hn1JtzEDlR5uQJkV_mdoANS0mw7ZVqVIXC2KNYEDO7t2w7gJuYlo0NDjl4gLtytR608I9xpQPTId_ioUZmjjAjEkix23nd-3NUtdZmTNV0HzDq_Lr0H9LxjNY/s320/DBBlanks2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ready for shaping.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a shape to work to I can start carving/shaping the lure blank. I have adapted a tool to suit my purpose, the angled blade helps shear the timber as it's cut improving the finish. I have yet to spoil myself with a purpose built carving/whittling knife but I will one day. The chisel/knife has got to be sharp and I mean razor sharp. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvf5LWm3vMhyphenhyphendsQxf1TtcEYHkiNceBt4H9wVDNTBBv3PS7-hNAanpqGFuWRPB4HI-ru7KaKs0gaPF1LTZjeLeC1Y6zWrRqm_Gc8l-0Dm9w9Ra19duFtysV90WDgkhf3kM9SzkJ0K7ebFQ/s1600/DBBlanks3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvf5LWm3vMhyphenhyphendsQxf1TtcEYHkiNceBt4H9wVDNTBBv3PS7-hNAanpqGFuWRPB4HI-ru7KaKs0gaPF1LTZjeLeC1Y6zWrRqm_Gc8l-0Dm9w9Ra19duFtysV90WDgkhf3kM9SzkJ0K7ebFQ/s320/DBBlanks3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ready for sanding.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The key here is keeping it symmetrical, sure it's not going to be machine perfect but your eye is a very good tool and is very accurate, getting your hands to do what the eyes see is another thing all together! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been toying with the idea of making a machine that will produce these shapes for me, multiple axis and funny shapes it should be a fun/weird machine. Carving lures is great but my hands cramp after carving / sanding many lures. I have yet to start building this contraption but I have some ideas in my head that could work.... It could be safer that I carve them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will try and follow these lures through the process as I work on them, there is a lot to go yet! </span></div>
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<br /></div>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-75074162006027700062011-12-11T15:15:00.001-08:002011-12-11T15:25:50.084-08:00Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the weather being unkind and stopping what chances I have had to get out to the local inshore reef, I have been preparing blanks and testing patterns. The silly season is well upon us now and time is in short supply but I will do my best to keep you all updated. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There has been a large amount of interest in "light" tackle lures, so I have been concentrating on the BOMBER Jr. It's big brother has been fishing well of late with many reports of "reefings" coming in from GT anglers, so it makes perfect sense to down size the lure.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also aiming to have a small supply of stick baits ready for next year, these are extremely time consuming with each blank being hand carved so I won't have a large amount for sale. It will need a name so I will be hitting the forums for ideas also. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIOPsoqrwx-_w5deXN3xCpHcZXXqHKXvi29PS9g8ynx1t2VwxY2J6hwmpInDkNO2zDQwHXraID2RmayLrIKqMGIcfsMkl_VA2AWzTjeUc5m4lN-s-_tYFMdudotHw49NB9v_NDNXcZ1w/s1600/BomberJr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIOPsoqrwx-_w5deXN3xCpHcZXXqHKXvi29PS9g8ynx1t2VwxY2J6hwmpInDkNO2zDQwHXraID2RmayLrIKqMGIcfsMkl_VA2AWzTjeUc5m4lN-s-_tYFMdudotHw49NB9v_NDNXcZ1w/s320/BomberJr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>BOMBER Jr. Test samples</i></span></div>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-33204308503605666832011-12-03T18:15:00.001-08:002011-12-03T18:44:07.837-08:00Grey Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a small break in the weather I took the chance to head down to my local marina entrance channel, yesterday saw white caps rolling in with very strong winds. As the weather and the water starts to warm up this channel attracts all kinds of species of fish.</span><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_fgGFJe5bKeaJMnE5wgW92WULMvZpb2oYIHDfESF4zZnOxamgJYt_Di6lBJeSmE_PUhQHUO5LkmoPedXjKCE2rdP9R4cXtR6VemkLtydJ8lT6dMAnDn97MK_BT3_OvQRxSDSRtQTptk/s1600/Greyday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_fgGFJe5bKeaJMnE5wgW92WULMvZpb2oYIHDfESF4zZnOxamgJYt_Di6lBJeSmE_PUhQHUO5LkmoPedXjKCE2rdP9R4cXtR6VemkLtydJ8lT6dMAnDn97MK_BT3_OvQRxSDSRtQTptk/s320/Greyday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In between the spits of rain I made some casts from the rocky shore, first up I wanted to try a new size "Bomber" popper. I scaled the Bomber down to 90mm/40g and its a great little popper! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Casts well, pops and still has the sub-surface swim it's bigger brother produces. I now need to spend some time finishing a few and get them out for testing. I will get some photo's up of the popper as I complete some. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also took the time to cast the "Cuban". I rigged a solid black 75g Cuban with 2x ST66 3/0 Barb-less trebles this will have the lure suspending with a slow sink to it. A fast sweep and retrieve will keep the lure up popping/splashing on the surface and then swimmer just below the surface.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hoping to get a chance to head out to the local inshore reef to see if the YTK are out there in numbers yet, may be a while looking at the forecast...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uWosPRnCkTiyjXQZevOFO7kvmygShop1hcVDneIHm_2SUrsyLgjHyqcngPcrkd93iUJEjVyJBQK2nlvPkOehysKxc8LS-rs8Eb6XF3g3n4pH8VPXbWuVAMg0-6sKl7rnRP9j2xq02RM/s1600/CederPops3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uWosPRnCkTiyjXQZevOFO7kvmygShop1hcVDneIHm_2SUrsyLgjHyqcngPcrkd93iUJEjVyJBQK2nlvPkOehysKxc8LS-rs8Eb6XF3g3n4pH8VPXbWuVAMg0-6sKl7rnRP9j2xq02RM/s320/CederPops3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are from the cedar blanks I turned earlier in the month, I decided to finish these in two differing weights, 50/55g and 70/75g. The 70/75g will be good for when conditions are not ideal as it has a more subsurface action diving below the wind chop creating a nice smoke trail of bubbles. The lighter 50/55g popper has a nice walk and splash, with some well timed rod work it will also go subsurface with a great trail of bubbles.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_m7xnJqfE-Xdu_9IIlWWx8-xa9HtwJOIEW4bX21jXkjnB8DX6TnHjXyUQ9BUn5Dle9jcNTegKR5_jvMwSi4oSgYtD91am08fSll_upcd4jGVhLgMpneJ37I1ZFjXlTok-I6U666cpNU/s1600/CederPops1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_m7xnJqfE-Xdu_9IIlWWx8-xa9HtwJOIEW4bX21jXkjnB8DX6TnHjXyUQ9BUn5Dle9jcNTegKR5_jvMwSi4oSgYtD91am08fSll_upcd4jGVhLgMpneJ37I1ZFjXlTok-I6U666cpNU/s320/CederPops1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Built tough</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are a smaller lure but they are still built tough, the same Stainless Steel wire that is used for the larger poppers and stick baits has been used in these smaller poppers. They are 145mm long and have a 25mm cupped face. I decided to lock the front tow point eye with a wrap as you can see in the photo for ultimate strength.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A NT 5/0 swivel has been used in the belly, this gives the angler 540kg of confidence in their swivel connection, fully through wired and locked up with a double wrap. I also pre-tension the wire to lessen the affect of the wire stretching from skull dragging big fish. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grain and colour on some of the pieces of Cedar is too nice to hide, the popper looks like a Cuban cigar in colour and shape, ready to smoke some fish! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be testing these myself over the coming weeks, I have also sent off some to be inspected, critiqued and fished by Charter Captain Ben Pokaia from <a href="http://nomadsportfishing.co.nz/">NOMAD NZ</a> .</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ben's input and honesty is helping shape some great lures, nothing beats experience and time on the water! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-16204368593837282832011-11-20T15:20:00.001-08:002011-11-20T15:28:27.047-08:00Test bait feedback<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just heard from our friends at <a href="http://nomadsportfishing.co.nz/">Nomad Sport Fishing NZ</a> about the test bait. The bait swims real good so I will making this model in the future. Currently preparing blanks for shaping.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rigged with SJ41's / SJ51's size 11/0 and a 8/0 or 9/0 Jobu in a "Baker" rig setup see's the lure swimming nicely with fish crawling over it! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-8652626178837596932011-11-16T00:06:00.001-08:002011-11-16T12:10:25.602-08:00Behind the scenes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The not so glamorous side of lure making...Marking out blanks.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a rather robotic, repetitive task but it needs to be done. After marking out they need to be drilled and made ready for the lathe. I hand turn each of these lures so there is a little variation but accurate marking out of blanks limits the variation also. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are some cedar blanks, this wood is beautiful plus it has a nice sweet smell that fills the shop. Each of these will be made into a hybrid popper/stick bait lure targeted at Yellowtail Kingfish. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb8Ic0zCX70IaMV0cdAveJ-u7XhHdCDlw8lXjpzRHzVSyBW27u8BSnh7PjfhetJ_igJJT4VbEUAHtP3XlYNttoL2VNJFjY6V9T__U_-4LeUTrbxGUrw9N48dTdSjRccd0-BVbpSMay7Q/s1600/blanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb8Ic0zCX70IaMV0cdAveJ-u7XhHdCDlw8lXjpzRHzVSyBW27u8BSnh7PjfhetJ_igJJT4VbEUAHtP3XlYNttoL2VNJFjY6V9T__U_-4LeUTrbxGUrw9N48dTdSjRccd0-BVbpSMay7Q/s320/blanks.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cedar is extremely stable and makes a great lure, I find the occasional piece with something different i.e. figured grain, different colours etc and I set these aside, these pieces I will not paint and leave the lure with a natural finish.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBWp1OOWJgkt_cj3MuH8rq_h3MbDmZJy3OVYAPHjmBu8dYDGVj3NfiSI9z6ymJum5Jf4SM4xbZswSlnihiRc08FaqoFh815xIsSOcIIrbRi9IWO7LNd-rjzRY05SMBRugSGOSuL-f9Dg/s1600/blanks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBWp1OOWJgkt_cj3MuH8rq_h3MbDmZJy3OVYAPHjmBu8dYDGVj3NfiSI9z6ymJum5Jf4SM4xbZswSlnihiRc08FaqoFh815xIsSOcIIrbRi9IWO7LNd-rjzRY05SMBRugSGOSuL-f9Dg/s320/blanks1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find using wood for lures much more appealing than plastic or resins etc... There is something about using mother nature to fool mother nature.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-65125217887624842132011-11-07T14:42:00.000-08:002011-11-07T14:42:32.155-08:00Test Bait<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">I just took the Single Bait for a swim at a local estuary... Its blowin' a gusty westerly here so there was some wind chop on the water which was great, pond like conditions aren't ideal for testing...</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">So I rigged up the lure with a couple of SJ41's on the belly and a JOBU on the rear, decided to attach the leader via NT 1/0 and a split...</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">Quick check on the lures static position, it was sitting around 50-60 degrees ( could go slightly larger on the belly hooks ) ... First up simple retrieve, rod tip down, no rod work and a steady wind... Success it swims with no input, once the lure starts weaving and hunting the large single hook on the rear really starts to wag and add to the action... No roll out, but plenty of flash from the aluminium finish.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">Tried some "sweeping" retrieves imparting some rod work on the lure, has a nice slide that is unpredictable on the end of the sweep...</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;">That's enough for now, it needs to be tested in anger and cast at some fish... Will be sending it out to Nomad NZ HQ tomorrow. </span></span><br />
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</span></span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-55009181685453516312011-11-06T18:12:00.000-08:002011-11-06T18:12:24.010-08:00Putting ideas onto wood<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the coming weeks I will be putting a few new ideas onto wood, these new lures will mostly be pencils and stick baits. There is a new popper I would like to try out also for those casting at GT's but this may have to wait until current customers lures are finished.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will post details and images of the lures as they evolve from a simple idea into a working lure. I have a few new species of wood to try out with some great characteristics to each species.</span><br />
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</span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-60140770367663057912011-11-04T03:23:00.000-07:002011-11-04T13:12:15.609-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet to have a name for this bait but it is ready for testing....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">95g and 200mm long it has been designed to swim single hooks ( Baker Rig ). With the ever increasing effort from anglers for fish conservation this is a step in the right direction...</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aluminium foil finish for some added flash.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Sam Morrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11719414669100347063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854023338253159813.post-12950883669934989852011-11-04T03:14:00.000-07:002011-11-04T03:14:28.858-07:00Welcome to Reel Appeal Lures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome and thank you for visiting RAL,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over time I will add to the site to give anglers an "inside look" into the small world of my handcrafted lures.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to contact me you can via - <a href="mailto:reelappeallures@xtra.co.nz">reelappeallures@xtra.co.nz</a></span><br />
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