My Top Picks for Baitmaking
Companies, Equipment, Molds, & Supplies
Click each icon to visit that company’s website!
Soft Plastics
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SDG Multi-Block
The SDG Multi Block by N2 is a new kind of blending block specifically designed to inject molds with multiple ports as well as multiple single port molds that are clamped together.
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N2 Injectors
I love my N2 equipment! Super high quality, smooth action, and outstanding performance - my N2 injectors are a joy to use!
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Barlow's Colorshift Powder
Like the Nova Stone jig powder paint line, this soft plastic colorshift powder is stinkin’ cool stuff - and very economical if you want to snag some colorshift without breaking the bank!
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Barlow’s Liquid Pearl Pigments
Its so nice to make laminates when BOTH sides are liquid-based - no more adjusting temperatures to prevent bleedover! If you want to make your laminates easier and still get that sweet pearl effect, definitely check these out!
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8bitbaits Holoshift Powder
The things you can do with Holoshift are simply amazing. I’ve grown particularly fond of using it as a belly color with just black flake… sooooo tasty!
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8bitbaits Sire Scales
My favorite flake on the market - hands down. This stuff is freakin awesome, catches light, is variable in its particle size so you don’t have to buy multiple versions… if you like flake as much as I do, Siren Scales is a MUST!
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3.4" Epic Glory Craw
The undisputed… best craw… on the market… period. At least in this baitmaker’s opinion!
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3" Epic Chunk Paddletail
My go-to confidence swimbait… the body roll is amazing and the fish just friggin’ eat it!
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2.3" Epic Slaybait
When I want to downsize but I still want to fish a moving bait, the 2.3” Epic Slaybait is what I’m throwing. This little finesse swimbait may be the best minnow profile on the market. It catches bluegill, crappie, bass… you name it! And, as a bonus, I think it looks killer on my custom Bladed Slayer head!
Lead Molds, Paint, & Equipment
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Trokar Arky Weedless
The classic Arky Head Pitching Jig is my favorite bottom-contact, do-everything, jig of choice!
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Buzz-Keel
TOP-WATER BABY! Oh heck yeah, bring on the buzz baits! This one comes in multiple sizes, but I love the smaller option so I create some sweet 1/8oz Finesse Buzzers. If I want something bigger, I can fit a full size wire form into the 1/4oz cavity, so, IMO, its all I need!
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Shake-It Jig
By far and away my favorite shaky head jig because the hook is longer than a normal shaky head AND there’s a space to add a skirt if you want a TRULY weedless jig presentation (without the need for a weed guard!).
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Weighted Wacky Hooks
Who doesn’t love throwing a stickbait? I prefer mine without salt, so a weighted Wacky Hook is a must… but honestly… I feel like I get better action with this weighted, salt-free, setup anyway, so win-win! I also like to use the 1/4 and 1/8 heads for super compact, light wire, finesse jig builds!
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Freestyle
Quite possibly the best round head on the market. This Freestyle one comes in 2 sizes - my favorite being the smaller so I can pour down to 1/32oz. LOVE the little ridge on the eye socket - it really completes the look once you glue on your 3-D eye of choice!
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Weedless Midwest Finesse
I bank fish a lot so a weedless Ned rig is a must! Love this mold - very versatile and keeps me out of snagatory!
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Midwest Finesse
When I don’t NEED it to be weedless or I want to REALLY down-size, the original Midwest Finesse is my Ned Head of choice!
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Teardrop Drop Shot Weight
I quit buying drop shot weights years ago… these days I just make my own! I get exactly what I want because this Teardrop mold has just about every size you could ever want!
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Nova Stone Colorshift Jig Paint
Its amazing that the home baitmaker has access to materials like Barlow’s Nova Stone Chameleon (Colorshift) Powder Paints - how far the possibilities have come! Any chance I get, I’m turning to one of these beauties to add something special to my builds!
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Vein Paint
Don’t make the same mistake I made by sleeping on this vein paint. It is absolutely fantastic and one that stays in my 8-cup fluid bed at all times!
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Barlow’s Brand Powder
Did you know Barlow’s makes a lot of their own “standard” colors as well? I own a bunch, you should take a look, see if find something you like!
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Pro Tec Powder Paint
A gold standard for painting jig, Pro Tec has a BUNCH of colors to cover just about any build. I’ve used it for years and dig quite a few of their options!
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Clear Glitter Top Coat
When I want an extra little “umph” to complete the paint job, I pull out my glitter top coat!
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Lee Pot
Love the bottom pour Lee Pot - 10lbs is all I ever needed, just make sure you use clean soft lead!
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Commercial Wire Former
Its not cheap, but man does it do the job! Barrel twists, spinnerbait wire forms, buzz bait wire forms… small builds up to musky size baits… this bad boy can do it all.
Skirt Material
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Striped Silicone
By far my favorite skirt material to use this Striped Silicone! Between the colors, texture, and multiple pattern options you get, its pretty dang hard to beat!
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Metallic Foil
When I want texture and flash, I turn to Metallic Foil! This stuff looks great as an accent and the lighter patterns make fantastic belly colors!
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Nature’s Edge
I love me a natural pattern, so when that’s the goal for a jig build I often turn to Nature’s Edge!
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Candy Glitter
Sometimes a little sparkle in the skirt is just enough to get a fish’s attention. If I want a smaller sparkle than the metallic foil, Candy tabs are the way to go!
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Fish Scales
These are new to me, but man am I excited to start using them, especially as accent additions!
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Solid Colors
Whether its a tamed- down skirt pattern or an addition to break up all the other stuff going on, you can’t do without solid color tabs! I definitely love all the special stuff, but I own the most of these classics!
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Round Rubber
Float, volume, flare, durability… round rubber may be old school, but there’s a reason it’s still around - straight catches em!
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Striped Round Rubber
All the benefits of round rubber with the added benefit of texture and pattern! Man I love this stuff!