VMC punching hooks are sharp, and they have a good, reliable keeper. I use an O ring on my baits, 3/8" down onto the nose of the bait, and pass the hook point through the nose and just past the O ring, turn the hook sideways, and pull it out until the keeper is exposed, and then turn it back to enga...

I've boiled a bunch of newish frogs and not had any issues, I feel they're hard to destroy. Not sure about older material, though, maybe it's gotten brittle. I just submerge the frog for 20-30 seconds, let it cool a bit and then repeat a few more times. I've yet to damage any soft plastics by boili...

Jnkoepp wrote: ↑

Sun May 31, 2020 4:28 pm

Just buy new ones

I know, but I'm Covided, so I'm looking for things to do. I actually have enough frogs to last me the rest of my life (I'm 73).

Smalleyez wrote: ↑

Sat May 30, 2020 5:58 pm

I do, but mainly to keep the rods from getting too tangled up in the overstuffed rod boxes.

So I lied. I do use rod sleeves in my rod locker, but never on the deck while I'm fishing.

QUAKEnSHAKE wrote: ↑

Sat May 30, 2020 9:58 am

never to both

Me, neither.

Single strand of copper wire from stranded THHN wire, wrapped twice, twisted tight, cut close to the bait and then fold over the tag end tight to the bait. I do this to every jig, chatterbait, spinnerbait and buzzbait I own. I do the same thing with copper craft wire. I wire my skirts, too, but I l...

I only service my own reels, so this is not an informed opinion, but I only change out the main gear and the pinion. If it still feels geary after that, I look at the bearings.

I have some older hollow belly frogs that have become harder over the years.

I've heard that I can boil them to make the rubber softer.

How long should I boil them, and do I need to remove the hooks first?

I've had mine since they first came out, and I like it. When I got it new, I broke it down and added a drop of reel oil on all the bushings, and greased the gears. I have smaller hands, and the reel palms just fine for me. I throw braid on mine, and use it for frogs, and it's held up, so far. And it...

Last year I bought three identical left handed reels with brass gears strictly for flipping/pitching/punching. I typically lock down my drag for this application. One of the three reels will sometimes not allow the thumb bar to release the spool. The other two work fine every time. It can be release...

Thanks for the replies.
Sounds like it would not be practical for bait casting gears.

doomtrprz71 wrote: ↑

Thu May 21, 2020 11:05 am

It amuses me that alot of gears in spinning reels claim cold forged gears that are usually cast zinc. I would think cold forged gears would be cost prohibitive for a baitcasting reel.

Can gears that are cold forged have the same precision as machined gears?

I'd dare say from the limited / non existant release of company manufacturing video's on / of their products especially gear manufacturing I'd dare say that the limited information provided to their (whoever the manufacturer) gears other than advertising "digi, hyper, machine cut, forged et al" is ...

Slazmo wrote: ↑

Mon May 18, 2020 3:33 am

More info...

Aluminium / brass?

Both, or either. I'm just wondering if really fine gears can be forged as a final step, or do they need to be ground after forging?

Wow! $240 each is just about what I paid for mine more than 15 years ago.
I'd sure put them on Ebay if you can get that kind of money!