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3. Found shape (pre-cast slip sinkers) ballast. Figure 7. Is a large saltwater trolling design. The steep dive angle diving bill makes this lure run deeper than most fast trolling lures. The additional 8 ounces of lead ballast cast onto the laser cut, spring steel, hookset harness helps the lure run even deeper and helps prevent the lure from running nose down and back-first at higher speeds.
Figure 8. Is the popular Plunger Head, Squid trolling design. The Plunger Head size and shape variations for this basic design concept are limitless. The ballast for this TRUEFLEX Imagineering design is a simple 8 ounce slip sinker.
Figure 9. is a 2.5” Lipless Crankbait with a double hookset, direct line of energy, hookset harness. The 1/4 ounce slip sinker used as ballast is positioned inside the mold cavity with a simple insert tool.
Figure 10. demonstrates the same 1/4 ounce slip sinker being held in position with a ballast tine designed into the .030 gage, stainless steel hookset harness plate.
Figure 11. demonstrates how the exact position of the ballast can be adjusted forward and backward slightly to fine tune the location of the ballast. This comes in very handy during prototype development.
4. Ballast is the lure body. Figure 12. is a ballast lure, or solid lead jig with action skirt.
5. Cold-pour lead (encapsulated birdshot) ballast. Figure 13. The Phantom-24. The name of this lure design, “Phantom-24” comes from it’s whopping 24 ounces of total weight. The Phantom-24 is the deepest running (@ 12 KTS) of all lipless big game lure designs. The body and weight configuration make it the most animated of all big game lure designs by causing a life-like, and unpredictable lateral darting behavior.
Our methods of forming heavy metals into any size or shape includes the use of #7.25 Carbonized lead bird shot encapsulated in a solid polyester resin shell (Binder). Our methods of doing this do not require actually touching the bird shot, nor does it require melting that produces harmful vapors. #7.25 Bird Shot can be purchased in 25 pound bags at any sporting goods store. The 24oz Phantom-24 Ballast is made this way.
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