carve it out with a small woodworking type chisel etc, lead is pretty easy to work with

Sounds like a good idea. My only problem is that I hope to keep as much of the weight from the spoon as possible, but I can probably get around that.

What if you get a mould for a slightly bigger spoon sinker and bash the flat side, this should displace the on the curved side but keep the curve.  i hope you understand what I am getting at.  not sure how you stop the hole from closing up though

maybe just have to go up one size spoon to accomodate the loss you scoop out, but there might be easier ways, thats how i would do it though myself

Gus, I was thinking that if I used a mould I may be able to not fill the mould right up so that there is a natural indentation in the sinker (does that make sense).

Matt, I like your thinking there.

I want to shape a spoon to fit under the jawline of a garfish to baitcast for big late winter tailor.
The gardie will be ganged and the spoon will be attached to the gardies head by ghost cotton, or a rubber band, or light wire (I haven't worked on that bit yet).

pour lead then glue a small wooden convex piece to th elid so when you close the mould it automatically creates the concave form in the lead.

If you know what I mean.

Sorry rushed typing, just heading out...

I could then shape it exactly how I want it.

Any reason it has to be a spoon? E.g. if you got a barrel sinker you could cut into it and split it partially leaving open a V shape. Though i'm not sure why the sinker has to be right on the head instead of being fixed just in front of it?

I think it may swim better with the spoon shaped under its head. I may be wrong, but I thought I would give it a try.

Your suggestion with the barrel sinker is similar to something I am already using - and it does work well - but I want to see if I can take it that next step.

how about using a larger 1 oz soft plastic jig head as leading gang hook??

colin what about using a lead head jig with a small skirt on it, but use a gang set of hooks of the jig to give better coverage

I like your thinking there.

My grand dad used to make his own custom shaped sinkers using plaster. (Plaster of Paris) He used to make a block of plaster then cut it in half, carve out the required shape and made a pour channel then put a couple of dowels in the mould for quick and easy assembly when he put them together for the lead pour. I did see quite a few of his moulds crack though, and he put down to too much heat. He basically had to let the mould cool after each pour which takes a while being plaster. Dont know if this helps Colin, but i have seen it done.3

Mark

I was trying to come up with an idea to make a mould to fit. That might be the answer.

try a large ball bearing and whack it with a hammer?

Die grinder mate! piece of piss. With the gardies mate ill show you a sweet way to do it which makes them heavy enough to cast but wont kill the action. Give you a call tomorrow with the secret!!!!!!!!!!!lol.

Sounds good mate.

...usually means NO weight. If you're using light enough tackle, the weight of the gardie by itself should be enough to get where you're going?

But there is a spot I have been eyeing off where the extra weight will help me cast to a reefy area (particularly as it normally works best in that area when a south wester is blowing) - and if I rig this up right I will be able to drag the gardie along the edge of that reef.

silly but Dad actually used a spoon (don't ask me how he adapted, but used to comment Dad why a spoon) when casting out with his beach rod, he always got skippy, herring and nice fat whiting, it sounds silly but it worked for him especially to get out  past the surf. 

I can see a plan for a home made lure coming up with that. I would only need to drill a few holes, fit on some split rings, trebles and a swivel and I reckon it would go alright.

I recently had a ball catching herring on a key ring that Mako Magic has turned into a lure.

when i was in shark bay a few years ago, my uncle made up all these homemade lures to try, most of them worked, but suprisingly the most successful was a an old spoon that he cut the handle part away from the spoon part, then joined them back up with a split ring. this gave it like a really wobbly action (because of the joint). then he put some hooks on it and it was ready to go. we caught some massive tailor on that particular lure

...45 years ago, a fork, knife and probably a coffee cup would've worked!

Blake, that "jointed spoon" contraption sounds like it would be a real winner...might try that one down at Dunsborough next year during salmon season!

 Go to one of the big american fishing tackle websites, like Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops, type "spoon" into the search engine and see what comes up. "Spoons" are metal lures, usually with either a concave or convex shape...the most well known in the states would be the Dardevle but there are many different versions. Halco twisties have "spoon-type" characteristics.

I am keen to do something with the spoons and maybe a fork too. And with a bit of grinding, a stainless steel knife handle could be worked into a metal slice. Hope the wife doesn't catch me raiding the silverware (Lol).

what about putting the spoon sinker in a dessert spoon then bashing it with a ball hammer, that way it cant go flat. cheers Peter. T

Good one mate.