Lead Flies

[jonescort]

SO I know lead is the arch nemesis of some and best friend of others but tonight I had an idea and am considering turning it into a product. I was sitting there cleaning my crap out of the garage when I came across a box of lead bricks. It was one of those moments where an idea just consumes your mind. Could I drip lead onto a hook to create not only the weight I want for a minnow or streamer, but also the shape of body. I was thinking of maybe making a mold, placing the hook in, and dripping lead into it to make a shape of a bait fish. Has anyone ever tried it? If so what was a problem you ran into?

[F/V Gulf Ventur]

Never tried it, but give it a go. I know a few guys that make their own jigs and Saltwater-surf guys have been injecting lead in to their plugs for a long time. You'll probably need to make you own mold though.

If your going to make a weighted lead "minnow" you might want to use a spin rig to be more efficient.

[Red.Fly]

So what you're saying is you want to reinvent the spoon?

There are already products out there that are essentially what you are talking about only fine tuned. Here's an example. Crippled herrings are great for jigging, can be bent to impart more or less action and come with an outstanding finish. You couldn't cast one with a fly rod d/t the weight, but....

If you want something big enough to be a minnow imitation that you can cast with a fly rod I would look into plastics.

[jonescort]

Not so much that weighted. I am looking at streamers, and still water bugs. Things like cray fish and such. I was planning on making wooden molds. I know it would be a bit like a rapalla. I was more going to try to get the body shape, a little weight, and not having to wrap lead.

[Marty]

Cort good idea but not a new one. There are a number of hooks out there that have a molded lead body. The problem you will find as F/V already noted the weight of the fly becomes too great for effective fly casting. I have found that cones, dumb bells and beads add plenty of weight to get the fly in the zone. The key is in the fly line and leader. If I remember it right, you tie flies and mold jigs, but then that raises a good question, when does a fly become a lure? Safe the lead for a drift boat anchor. Hot glue makes a great under body if you are looking for shape.

Lee Wulff was noted for his molded bodies, just some trivia

[jonescort]

This is exactly why I asked, because I didn't know if it would be worth my time. Now where to find a drift boat to go with this new anchor:)

[«°Ñøvã°»]

Be careful with that stuff. Lead is toxic. So dont be takin any shots.

[Dave Jabronie]

cort,

sent you an email

[raynanwalt]

Cort,
I'm with Nova on this. While I'm not sure of the various ways that lead can hurt you, I assume that melting it and possibily breathing the fumes is probably on the list of potential dangers. Procede with caution.
Ray (Isaak) Walton

[«°Ñøvã°»]

Anymore than 40 ug/dl in your blood is considered toxic. Thats "micrograms per deci litre". The lead will not "start" naturally leaching out of your blood for 30 years. Particle masks and/or regular filters do nothing to stop lead from entering your system. You need special HEPA filters to actually fliter out the lead so it will not enter your body. Lead can also absorb through your skin. If your safe with it there shouldnt be a problem. Just sayin ...be safe sir

[campfire]

All of the safety precautions noted, I think it is a great idea. The problem with jig heads is that the hook is upside down, and the weight is all in the head ( same with bead heads). Dripping lead on the body of the hook might balance the fly better. You could put as much or as little as you want and as you say add some body. BUT, back before my fingers worked like toes and I quit tying, lead wire was sold for that very purpose (wrapping under body material). Can you still buy it? And if so, you would not have to reinvent the wheel.

[Garth]

Lead is not good. Kills fish and people. Try something else.

Remember that we, as fisherman, are putting lead; if that is our choice for weight, into our drinking water, as well as the drinking water of our friends and family.

If you like lead weight. You probably support Italian Nuclear waste in Utah.

Or the development of a nuclear facility here in Utah (sponsored by your representative, who may have a conflict of interest, put has to vote anyway, by law), to suck up the water the fish need to cool the reactors.

Gee, I wish I could vote for Gw and Greg Curtis in 2008. Love there Corporate supporting attitude.

[Red.Fly]

If you like lead weight. You probably support Italian Nuclear waste in Utah.

Or the development of a nuclear facility here in Utah (sponsored by your representative, who may have a conflict of interest, put has to vote anyway, by law), to suck up the water the fish need to cool the reactors.


If you don't like the idea of nuclear power maybe you should do some research......or go live in Beijing for a few weeks and suck in the polution required to burn enough fossil fuels to support millions of people. I hear that the air quality is so bad it will stain a white shirt just walking down the street. I don't know about you, but I would much rather my power plants gave off steam as a bi-product and every 3 years I ended up with a 5 gallon bucket full of spent nuclear fuel. It truly is the more environmentally conscious choice.

To keep on topic, I agree with you on lead. I use tin entirely now.

[jonescort]

Tin is the way to go. I support nuclear power 100 %. That, hydro, and geothermal are the best sources of fuel ever invented. SO yes, in fact I don't really care if they stick toxic waste in the utah desert. As long as we get the money we deserve for the space. Hell its better than getting that money from selling our water to CA.

[Garth]

Ignoring the nuclear waste debate, I was trying to make four other points in that post.

1. in Utah the law requires you as a legislature to vote on all issues, even if you have a conflict of interest. For example, Real Estate developers who are legislators must vote on any real estate development issue that comes up in the legislature. How do you think they will vote? pro or con? Shouldn't they be allowed to abstain. Same for a fish farming legislator. How do you think he will vote on supplying the DWR?

2. There are a couple of legislators who are sponsoring a law to allow building a Nuclear plant in Utah. They also happen to be principals in the company who wants to develop a Nuclear plant here in Utah.

3. As you point out it gives out steam. That is because Nuclear plants use huge amounts of water to cool the reactors and keep them safe. That is why most existing plants are built near huge sources of water, like the Ocean (San Onofre in California and 3 mile Island on the east coast, to name but 2).

4. Living in a desert environment, with restricted water resources (look at the levels of our reservoirs the past ten years) does not seem to me the place to build a plant that uses huge volumes of water. Sucking the water out of the state to keep a plant from melting down, just might be bad for our fish and our fishing.