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Posts: 4266
| Well boys, it's been fun.
I've come to the realization that my hobby of lure making won't even pay for itself any longer, so it doesn't make sense to do it any longer. With guys whining about the cost of lures and the ever-increasing prices of everything that it takes to make lures, I can't even cover the cost of making 100 lures a year. Besides that, my back is becoming more and more problematic, making it a pain just to make and paint lures.
I'm not going to quit completely, but instead of making batches of 10's and 20's, I'm just going to do a couple every once in a while when I feel up to it. I have some 10" and 7" bodies that are ready to paint, so when it warms up and I feel like I can handle it, I'll make a couple, or I'll take requests but can't guarantee turn around time.
I'll still be on the board, willing to help out in any way that I can, but for right now, it's just not worth the pain. Maybe I'll have a miracle performed and I'll regain the body that I used to have, but I'm not betting on it.
So, if guys looking for lures read this, e-mail me and check in on my status.
The rest of you, I'm proud to be a member of The Basement Baitmakers Club.
Beav | |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Sad to hear. I thought that "you bait makers" were ripping us off by charging us $20/baits 
It's a hobby man! Charge what your time is worth and don't look back. Never stop tinkering, that's the part that we all love.
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Posts: 4266
| I'll keep "tinkering", but that's it.
My back is getting worse every year.
Heading out to the garage with a cane in my hand at age 51 was not something that I was prepared for.
I'll just have to rip people off at a much slower rate. | |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | So, who will take up the Chrome Team's work now that Stan retired and Beav's laid up? Someone has to rise to the challenge. m | |
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Posts: 351
| Well I hope you continue to post whatever you build, Beav. I've always admired your work.
I hope you heal as best you can. | |
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| I don't blame you Beaver. With the price of materials going up all the time and no one wanting to pay for the time it takes to make a custom bait not to mention the taxes one has to pay it's not worth it. I think alot of people have this misconception that basement bait makers are getting rich because some of their baits sell for 30 or 40 bucks apiece while in fact they are lucky to be making 5 or 6 bucks an hour. I bet most people would be shocked how much time makers like Snax or Novak have in one of their baits. Then you have the guy posting fish decoys on here. I know he's not getting what he should be getting for them either. He is saying 15 hours he has in the smallie ok 15 x ?.. Well for his talent he should be getting at least 30 bucks an hour. 450 bucks??? From what I see other really nice decoys selling for on ebay I doubt if he's making 10 bucks an hour most of the time. No it's the age of cheap plastic's and mass produced baits. High volume and low prices is where it's at. Good luck Beaver, you made one hell of a nice bait. | |
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Posts: 190
| I am sorry to hear that Beaver but I understand. Best of luck and thanks for all the help, your baits still look awesome!!!!!!!! Doug Bradley | |
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Posts: 4266
| I'm not dead yet!
My back has gotten to the point that it's painful to even sit and paint a lure.
It just doesn't make sense to put myself through what I do for trying to break even and pay for my components. It's always been just a hobby for me anyway. But so was golf and bowhunting, and I had to give them up because it got too painful.
So I'm going to continue to make lures, but it'll be for those "regulars" that I had....they know who they are, and for anyone who would like 1 or 2, but that's about all I can handle physically.
It will be easier for me to make a few lures by request, than to make a bunch of lures and wind up sitting on them.
I only fish my own gliders for a reason. They are all of the left-overs....and they catch fish!
I might be back someday, but for now, I have bodies that I can't even weight because I can't sit and work on them.
Better days are coming. I love making lures too much to ever quit completely. | |
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Posts: 20270
Location: oswego, il | Beav, I hope that miracle as you put it happens. I have occasional back pain I can't imagine what it would be like to have it all the time. I have several perkas, they rock. If it is any consolation, I sometimes need a cane for my brain.  | |
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Hanging it up....more or less