The Cotton Cordell Red Fin

Liquid: Bunker oil or Baby oil ?

(These are the two oils that I have readily available. If the red fins leak over a period of time then the bunker oil will stink. If the same holds true but with baby oil then the bass may detect the molecules of the baby oil and shy away.)

Volume of liquid: What to use 10cc or 15cc or inbetween ?

Red fin weight is 1oz
10cc approximately .33oz.
15cc approximately .50oz.

There is one source that indicates 15cc that will dig to the sand thus simulating a sand eel. This may be fine for sand bottoms but not rocks. I do like the extra weight for casting but not at the expense of losing the lure.

Is there a certain retrieve method to keep it off the bottom or should I go with 10 cc ?

I load mine with baby oil or water, depending on what I have around. Load them until they weigh 1.5 ounces with hooks and hardware for the best results.

I don't have a scale but the manufacturer of the 7" Red Fin unloaded w/ standard hooks weight 1oz.

Given: The weight of 15cc (based on water) is .507 fl oz.

Then 1.5 oz will be a load of 15cc and the lure

Tlap, I'm interpreting that your saying is that you get little to no hang ups on rocky bottoms. Yes ?

How are you guys sealing the holes

I tried to seal my own with epoxy and the epoxy kept falling i the hole and not setting up


someone suggested hot glue

Try Anise Oil, bass wont shy away, and it wont stink if it leaks.
Thats what we used to use.

I do not have that problem because I have yet to seal the hole of my first Red Fin. I drilled a 1/16 hole and when I seal it up I'm going to:

1) Place a round type tooth pick in the hole, exacto the excess and super glue.

or

2) Jam the brissels of a cheap model paint brush into the hole then use super glue.

Does anyone know which method is best and precautions that I should be aware of when sealing ?

i seal the hole first with hot glue pushed all the way into the hole and then put epoxy over that. make sure plug is ultra clean first, scuff then wash with alcohol.

i seal the hole first with hot glue pushed all the way into the hole and then put epoxy over that. make sure plug is ultra clean first, scuff then wash with alcohol.

Would you also recommend zap a gap ?

never tried it. devcon 5 min. works for me. ps- i load with water and like 'em about 1-1/4 to 1- 1/2.

At 1.5 ounces, it still floats and stays right on or near the surface when retreived slowly. Never hung one on the rocks. I seal the hole either with paste epoxy or if use a heated nail to poke the hole, I just spread the plastic back over. A little 5 minute epoxy for insurance and they are good to go!

Go to SRI and look at lures by manufacturer and you will find a great article on loaded red fins et. al. Thanks to Joe and DZ.

Water will evaporate.oil an epoxy don't mix.u gotta clean lik AH says.I usta epoxy a small screw or a small set screw the kind u use a allen wrench for in the hole.easier way to remind me that its loaded.There are many plugs that cast well an fish good in a good wind or a heavy surf.not sure it's neccesary to load em any more.But i still have em.

Good idea drill and tap, small size stainless set screw and a little loc tite. Paul

http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/surf_plug_loading.shtml
Another view on loading plugs

Is a ml the same as cc?

Is a ml the same as cc?

Yes

How are you guys sealing the holes

I tried to seal my own with epoxy and the epoxy kept falling i the hole and not setting up


someone suggested hot glue

The thickness of the plastic on the Red fin is thin making the glue gun not practical but I actually tried it. What I did to prevent the epoxy from falling in the hole insert a round toothpick in the hole. I then push the toothpick in the hole just far enough where it doen't fall inside the lure. Then I put the epoxy in and around the hole. This prevented the epoxy from falling in the hole.

The next time I may jam a toothpick in the hole and superglue it now that the syringe that I modified has the same size needle(W40 straw) as a round toothpick.