Hand Poured Plastic

by Jeff Bruhl

Like many careers or hobbies, learning the terminology associated with the activity is challenging in itself. One term thrown around in the past few years that require some exploration are hand poured baits. This specialized off shoot of the soft plastic bait market has become one of the hottest baits in bass fishing. Not being one to pass up the latest new bait or technique, I had to ask “What is a hand poured bait?”.

There are many characteristics that make hand poured plastics different from injection mold plastics. The first difference is the mold or form used to craft the product. Hand poured molds are open on the top, which allows the maker to pour layers of plastics into the mold. All hand poured baits are flat on the top side, made with different plastics than injected baits, and on average are softer than store brand counterparts. Next, the open mold allows the baits colors to blend. Pourer's blend colors like Watermelon and Junebug without a definite laminate or line, which give the final product a natural, more gradual color change between the two colors. Hand pours are mass produced but more commonly come in favorite colors according to a region, a personal creation, or even a specific lake. Adding colored flakes, spots of colors like red or chartreuse, and ingredients like salt or scent makes the combination of baits almost endless.

Softness in terms of the plastic used has several advantages. Worms, lizards, and other shapes have more action in the water. Soft poured baits wiggle, flex, and fall different than injected models. This translates into more bites. Whether the angler chooses a drop shot or floating worm, hand pours have more action and life-like appeal. The down side of softness is durability. Tearing of the bait after landing a fish is frustrating but more strikes that put fish over side of the boat overcomes the softness aspect.

If an angler draws on soft plastic as his main tactic, adding hand pour baits to the arsenal only replaces the lure not the technique. From flipping to drop shotting, there is a pour plastic for the job. Drop shot technique may be the premier use for hand pours but the baits have spilled over to dominate other techniques. Flipping, Carolina rigs, and jig head worms shine with the addition of soft hand poured plastics. Hand poured baits come in different styles, shapes, and colors that are not found in injection molded baits. Do Nothing baits to large worms deal with any technique or fishing situation known to the angling world.

One angler who knows the importance of hand poured plastics is Nate Bloom ( http://www.bozaza.com/Nate/Nate.html), a Creek Critters pro. Creek Critters (http://www.creekcritters.com) is a North Carolina Company, which produces a great line of unique, hand poured baits. The company’s experience along with the unique shapes and colors make their baits real producers. Nate is a Florida angler who knows flipping hand poured baits from Creek Critters is the way to catch the big Florida bass.

Nate recommends a Creek Critter Stump Knocker rigged with 1 ½ ounce Penetrator weight. Florida is a state with plenty of vegetation and flipping goes hand in hand with the cover. The Bassmaster angler recommends two colors for his state; Junebug and Watermelon. The great thing about hand poured molds is blending two prime colors like Junebug and watermelon into one, two-color bait. Often, hand poured plastics come in two or three color combos that take the dominant colors of a lake and combined them into one lure. Nate adds a heavy action flipping stick and a high speed reel spooled with Berkley Trilene XT or Spiderwire line. Florida’s weed and grass beds are not a place for light tackle.

When it comes to soft plastics, hand pours add another step to the fishing equation. The angler may use recommended baits or contact a dealer and create his own secret weapon. Colors combined with additives like scents make any bait possible. Take some time to explore the world of hand poured baits. Whether it is a drop shot worm, finesse worm, or a creature bait, hand poured baits get the job done.

More Tips and Article by Jeff