azfisher

Take more notes than you think you'll ever need. Can't tell how many times I've referred back to them for one thing or another.

Basswood would be my first choice...

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1879037218983988

https://payneoutdoors.com/kgb-swimbaits-frog-fetches-over-1600-on-ebay/

KGB frog went for $$$$, don't remember where is was sold...

Now I see in the link no longer available...sucks

I've had a number of Decoy egg snaps break, similar to the OP. I had supplied Decoy #3 snaps on a small W&C I make. When swim testing the baits before shipping at a local urban lake, I'd use one snap to test up to 20 baits at a time, so I don't have to re-tie every time. Now I'm a big dude with pretty big hands and can't open and close them without a small pair of pliers. I know using the pliers is hard on that small diameter of wire and will eventually cause a weak spot. I've had them break after swapping out as few as 4 baits. I've had two new snaps break on a cast and I brought back exactly what the OP has in the pic, had one break on a fish also. Obviously they are not made for what I'm doing with them, constantly opening and closing them. So I looked on Ali express for some type of similar replacement that was stronger/cheaper than Decoys. These are what I found and thought I'd give them a try. Their size 3 is almost indentical sizewise to the Decoy, but the wire is significantly larger in diameter. I didn't like the wire sticking out to snag weeds and stuff, but they are far more weedless than anticipated. They wound up being strong as hell and I have not broke one yet. You have to use pliers to open and close them. The snap on my test rod has been opened and closed at least 40 times and still feels tight. They are cheap AF also. I was scared of the price, that they would be junk but was really surprised. The only issue I had was ordered 200 of each size and only received 100 ea and no reply from the seller when contacted about the issue. But for $2.39 for 100 snaps I didn't sweat it to much. .https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000126411768.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.d12d4c4dfCMRKA

Lure Parts Online, Jann's Netcraft and Barlows will all have stuff to get you going. Check out Makelure on Youtube for some how-to vids.

I've used medium plastisol for soft, floppy tails, saltwater plastisol with hardner added for a little stiffer glide type tails. I've also used Alumilite Flex urethane from 30-60. I poured the Flex stuff in silicone molds. The plastisol I've poured into a silicone mold and also injected it into a Alumilite Vac-50 mold I made for a 5 pc fin/tail set. I've made both types of molds with POP also, but they never held up well. The tails I made out of salt water plastisol with some hardner added seem to be close to the consistancy and flexability of a Slammer tail to me. I use Smooth On Mold Max for the molds. Hope this helps...

Az and Mex don't share any waters except where the Colorado river enters Mexico. The only "Pirate" issues I've ever heard of is when the newlyweds were "Attacked" on Falcon Lake in Texas back in the 90's I believe. Now, when I've been fishing in Mexico, that's a whole other deal...

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Spro_BBZ-1_Baby_Shad/descpage-SBBZ1BS.html Had decent luck with these...pretty cheap for SB prices

Hudd walker

yep

Try posting in the Black Market or contact this dude...

It's just kinda of where I draw the distinction. When I think "Swimbait", it sure ain't a Yum Dinger, swimming or not. To me a Hudd shad is but a Keitech isn't, just where I'm at

Blackdog, Huddleston and Toxic are all swimbait manufacturers. Keitech and Yum are soft plastic companies that have a swimming bait in their line up. My .02...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Quality-High-Density-Lead-Tape-100-x-5-1g-Per-1-Inch-Golf-Tennis/324305390153?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Or this stuff, 1 inch equals one gram. I used the Storm Suspend dots and strips but had issues with the backing adhesive not holding up even when stored inside. This new golf tape seems to have a stronger adhesive, I'm liking it better than the Storm products.

I use these, they stay on pretty good, come in several different colors....https://www.lurepartsonline.com/Willowleaf-Blade-Stickers

Here's a great book that will shed some light on your question and those to follow... https://lunkercity.com/products/in-pursuit-of-giant-bass