My First Attempt at Injecting Soft Plastic Baits: Did Amazon Molds Deliver or Disappoint?

This is the first video of an on going series. Follow a total beginner (ME) as I start my journey into the growing hobby of making soft plastic baits.
Ever struggled to find soft plastic panfish baits in the colors you want? Were Amazon soft plastic bait molds the solution or a waste of money?
This is the first video of an on going series, following a total beginner (ME) as I start my journey into the growing hobby of making soft plastic baits.
That was my dilemma.
I scoured everywhere but couldn't find what I needed-panfish-sized baits in classic bass bait colors like blue, black metal flake, green pumpkin, and June bug, favorites among the lake's bluegill (who have a knack for tearing apart my bass baits).
Frustrated with commercial options, I took matters into my own hands. With minimal investment in stone molds, an injector, and other essentials from Amazon, I gathered torn baits and household supplies, hit record, and got to work.
Did my DIY experiment deliver results, or was it money down the drain? Click play to find out the outcome, and if you enjoy the journey, hit that subscribe button for more!
#DIYFishingBaits #SoftPlasticMolds #FishingExperiment #AmazonFishingSupplies #PanfishBaits

[@michaelboettcher9384]

Been making fishing lures for over 50 years. I have over 60 molds. Do your self a favor buy a gallon of dead on plastic. New plastic shoots the best.

[@mikelaundry7353]

Yep, thanks for the comment. Better molds, a dual injector, and plastisol are on my list.

[@pipsweeney]

Heat your molds with a heat gun or an electric griddle. It makes a huge difference. Don't get water in the measuring cup when melting the plastisol. It creates bubbles.

[@mikelaundry7353]

Thanks for the tips, I have actually been using a heat gun since I made the video. Still learning, always appreciate the input. Thanks again.

[@brianwills4398]

The rabbit hole starts right here.. I did the same thing a couple of weeks ago.. i now have 20 something molds 3 injectors and a dozen colors, very satisfying pouring a bait and catching fish on it..

[@Huntingforgills]

😂 Yep, since this video, one more injector, one more mold, and two more molds on the way.

[@Three_Rivers_Adventure]

I've starting my own business and already have been building inline spinners for everything from panfish to Musky Pike inlines. And I've been tying flies for 33 years and I've just started looking into doing plastics.

[@aaronb3760]

I can smell the plastic as I'm watching this. Awesome job. Just started making my old last year. I only single injector and one mold. Hoping for duel injector and more molds soon. Can't wait for more videos

[@okiebocagrande]

Good job man!! Love the beginners insight on what you encountered using what most makers would stay away from (Amazon). Heat stabilizer makes working with those remelts nice, especially the ones that already have a salt added. Once you burn a batch you'll get what I mean lol. I like to pre heat my injectors in the oven at the lowest setting when it gets cold here in Oklahoma before I go to the garage to start injecting, make sure to keep oil on the o rings. Keep it up!!

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks. Heat stabilizer is on my list, I turned a nice chartreuse/yellow turned brown on the second reheat.

[@Psychoti]

The point&shoot thermometers don't give you the temp of the plastic below the surface, I highly recommend getting a $10 digital probe/instant read thermometer. I use one from the grilling section at Wal*Mart, it takes temperature over about 5 seconds. Not instant-read, but pretty accurate. Edit: Forgot to mention, you might want to look at Do-it molds. They have an "Essential Series", cast aluminum molds for ~$50. I have 3 of them, another on the way. They're decent. You still need oil or mold release to get a good shine on the baits, but one spray will set you for 5-6 injections. Edit 2: Didn't see you had a second (and third) video up already, one covering your experiences with different types of thermometers. Whoops.

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks for watching, Whoops, I just read your whole edited comment after I finished my response, you can read it if you want, but, I also have a couple more videos on custom molds the works, the unboxing one should be tonight, and some shorts on some prototype molds are on the way too. Someone actually suggested that to me shortly after this video came out, so I did another video comparing the two different types of thermometers. While the point and shoot does only get the surface temp, it does work good if you check as you are mixing, or shooting a reading off your mixing knife after you have been mixing the plastic. The probe thermometer I was testing would take a while to get a steady reading (there are probably faster ones). I do find myself now using both when I'm mixing liquid plastisol, where making sure you're hitting the 350 degree range. Thanks again for watching.

[@ethang8]

I think you did really good for your first time i think stone molds do good but you just have to oil them up good 1 tip for you can use pam cooking spray that you buy from the store its cheap and works great and i whould shoot only 1 or two molds and maybe get a bigger injector maybe 4oz aswell u can get colorants from lure works or dead on or bait plastics on Amazon they all work great aswell you can get plastisol from dead on or bait plastics there cheap and good plastisol aswel make sure you have good ventilation and great video keep bait makeing your doing great

[@Huntingforgills]

Hey thanks for watching, and comment. You’re describing the path I’m on. Did start using cooking spray, and picked up a used Do-It 4oz injector. Just waiting to start the plastisol until I can get some aluminum molds. Thanks again for your input.

[@ethang8]

@@Huntingforgills no problem your doing great have a good rest of your day

[@ericcartwright5724]

I'm doing the exact same thing.That's how I found your video. Pretty much doing the exact same thing you're doing. Except i'm using 3d printed modes.

[@Huntingforgills]

Nice, thanks for watching. How are the 3D printed ones working, and did you make them yourself, buy them somewhere? I’m planning on getting a couple aluminum molds, and sticking with re-melts for now.

[@floridasaltlife]

Considering this myself. No payback here as my consumption is too low but it looks like a fun hobby...

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks for watching. Yeah I’m just making baits for myself and maybe a few friends for now, but I’m kinda looking at maybe when I retire it could be something.

[@rpb1961]

Just watched a video on Fish-n-stuff. The guy heats up the plastic in a small can with lead weights in it on a burner. Works much better. Check his video out on how to make your own lure.

[@Huntingforgills]

Yeah I watched that one when it first came out. I like the idea of not cooling down between pours, and might give it a try with an injector ..

[@rpb1961]

Just a reminder, everything is shinny under water. "The wet look"

[@Huntingforgills]

I sometimes give bluegills way too much credit when it comes to those little details.

[@RandomDude45_X]

Those ukraine molds add some worm oil with your finger to lube them up it helps with release and also they come out more shiney and less dull. That was a problem I ran into with them. I actually use to order some and you can tell them what you want and they coustom make them. Made comment before I seen you said you oiled it😂

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks for watching. I only had the tiny bottle of worm oil that came with the mold, so I’ve tried mineral oil, and cooking spray. Not sure what the long term effects are from those two, but I’m cooling them in water and it washes them off a little, and I got a bigger bottle of worm oil that I’m putting on them when I bag them up. Thanks again for watching, and I’m learning from everyone’s comments.

[@MyAngleFishing]

Nice video sir. Ive been considering the molds on Amazon to get started myself ✌️🎣

[@Huntingforgills]

@@MyAngleFishing Hey thanks for watching, hope you got something out of it. I also recently did an update video to this one, on the things I’ve learned since I made this one. I checked out your channel, and subscribed, I like what you’re about, and pray you have many more years of fishing ahead of you. I think you would probably enjoy making baits. I know do, in fact I just finished shooting footage tonight, for a video on packaging baits for the hobbyists. I feel that stone molds from Amazon are a good way to get into bait making without investing a ton of money. Feel free to reach out, and don’t forget to subscribe. Have a great night.

[@thebosun181]

Looks good. I have been making baits for 2 seasons now and find it enjoyable. A couple of points...1. You need a thermometer that can be dipped into the plastic to get a better reading. 2. A good pair of thermal gloves, you WILL drop some hot plastic on your hands. I use a 4 inch open pour swim bait mold from angling ai and a injection mold for frogs. Very impressed with the detail. I was lucky to stumble upon kzbin.info/door/ScpvPNtZxs7gC_lSHXDUcw (worlds worst fisherman) who has great tips on making soft plastics. On the whole your headed in the right direction. Cheers!

[@Huntingforgills]

Thank. No burns yet, but I have started wearing at least one glove. Thinking I do want to try some open pours, but with the different options I’ve seen between probe and point and shoot thermometers, I’m planning on another video on that. Thanks again.

[@brucepierce4971]

Use small c clamps to hold your molds f clamps won't hold the pressure.

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks for watching, I’ll give C clamps a try. Thanks again for watching.

[@kayakak77]

Wear Gloves!

[@mikelaundry7353]

Yep, that goes for everyone. Thanks, I do, but it was so cold in my garage when I filmed that, nothing was very hot.

[@falco5616]

checking the temp really only matters on new plastic just need it liquid enough to inject and heating the mold and injector is kinda just a waste of time also you need to clean the injector before you try again

[@Huntingforgills]

Hey, thanks for watching and commenting. I’m still learning a lot as I go, both from viewers comments, and from my mistakes. I might do another video on what I’ve learned from you guys, and my own experiences. Thanks again.

[@NoGoatFishing]

Just a reminder to wear a glove trust me. I’ve jacked up my hand pretty good don’t want the same to happen to you

[@Huntingforgills]

Hey, thanks for watching. Yep, I’ve been wearing a glove. Just doing one shot at a time nothing really got hot, but I’ve added a couple more moles and things get heated up. Thinking about a much shorter video on how things are going after doing this for a little while. Thanks again for watching, and commenting.

[@kyleanderson9453]

Heat up the damn mold.

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks buddy.

[@502deth]

i see youve already found most of this out at the end of the video, lol.

[@ModestReviews]

"Let's see what kind of disaster we have!" Literally, my exact words my first time too 😂

[@Huntingforgills]

Hey thanks for watching. I’m getting better, I think. I’m throwing fewer and fewer baits straight back in the measuring cup after I pop the molds open. 🤣

[@ModestReviews]

Same here 😂😂

[@Huntingforgills]

Hey thanks for the comment. I do have plans to get a couple aluminum molds, and will probably be getting a dual injection too. Looking at a couple different options for molds, like 3D printed, will be some kind of review video. Dealing with boat issues or I’d be out trying some of these out. Thanks for watching.

[@BigpapamoneymanMVPtypebeat]

Good stuff 🤙🏼 Not a lot of moulding videos in the context of new learners or at all. Definitely make another video on the subject

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks, I went into this having never done it before, and watched a lot of videos, and didn’t really see any from the “I never did this before” angle. I also just started learning how to edit videos, so it was a process.

[@Marcuccioperca]

Man, in terms of oil, have you tried WD40? I shouldn't say it, but, accordingly to some old riverbank boys,works great also as scent for lures...

[@Huntingforgills]

Yeah, I’ve heard that over the years, but I’ve never tried it. Maybe next time I’m on a hot bite I should spray my bait with some and see if they keep biting. Might make a good video. Thanks for watching.

[@Marcuccioperca]

@Huntingforgills , I was thinking in terms of lubricant for the mould with a view of having part of it left of the lure... not sure it's environmentally friendly solution as lure scent! 🤪

[@Huntingforgills]

@@Marcuccioperca 🤣 yeah you’re probably right, funny some say all petroleum (gas, oil, and the like) repel fish, and I know I’ve heard the WD40 as an attractant from way back. I’m just finishing up fallow up video, where I talk about using cooking spray, probably be out tomorrow,Wednesday at the latest. Thanks again for checking it out, and commenting.

[@legendflyorgil1513]

350 degrees its faringet?

[@Huntingforgills]

@@legendflyorgil1513 Thanks for watching, and yes it’s 350 degrees Fahrenheit. I’ve also learned since I started that the 350 degrees is more for using liquid plastisol. The liquid plastisol requires that temp to cause the chemical reaction to change from liquid to a solid. Just about any Themp that turns the baits you’re remelting into a liquid will work, usually around 250 degrees or so. Good luck, and again thanks for watching.

[@Baitmakerz]

I always shoot the temp as I'm stirring, found it gives more accurate reading. Also if your shooting stone molds check to make sure you are not clamping over the vent holes

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks for watching, I’ve been getting some feedback from viewers, and appreciate the input. I’m learning as I go, and I’m thinking about doing another video on what I’ve learned since this one. Thanks again.

[@Baitmakerz]

@@Huntingforgills sounds like a great idea. Can't wait to see it

[@richardserzy2376]

Great video, always learning something new is a great place to be.

[@Huntingforgills]

Thanks for watching Couldn’t agree more. For me, just about the time I think I know something, I watch something from a different perspective, and there it, something new.