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You can also make natural looking molded-rubber lures which so closely resemble frogs, minnows, crayfish, hellgrammites, nymphs, larvae, and other natural baits that they look almost alive. To make such molded-rubber lures you use liquid rubber or latex. You need a pattern or model, and the best one you can use, of course, is the natural bait itself. Plaster of Paris or water putty can be used to make such a mold. The steps in making the mold are very similar to those used in making a metal squid described in Chapter 8. However, there are some differences so we'll again describe the procedure briefly. First, get your natural bait to be copied, such as a frog. Choose one somewhat larger than the finished size you want. Liquid rubber shrinks when it dries so you have to start with a larger cavity in the mold. Then get a piece of glass or metal and form a small box from cardboard or wood on this flat surface. Then take your frog and stuff it with absorbent cotton down its mouth, throat, and belly to fill it out. Now grease the inside of the box and the frog itself with petroleum jelly. Then lay the frog belly down in the box and mix some plaster of Paris or water putty. Pour this into the box over the frog until it is covered by at least a half inch or so. Wait an hour or two for the plaster to dry, and then break apart the box and remove the frog. You may have to cut around the frog's body to free it from the plaster.
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