10-18-2012, 12:01 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Making your own lures is not only a good way to save money but it is fun. It is especially gratifying to catch fish on lures you have made yourself. And the fish usually don't care how much the lures cost. If it looks roughly like something they might eat...and it is properly presented...they will usually give it a whack.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been tying flies, making jigs and carving out my own lures for several decades. In my younger years it was mostly to save money. But as my collection of materials, jigs, tools and output began to fill a whole room I realized that I was not really saving all that much. The main reason I continue to make my own stuff is to be able to get exactly the size, shape, color and action I want for specific fishing situations.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can find balsa, basswood and other popular lure-making woods at many hobby shops...especially if they cater to folks who are into making model planes, boats or things from wood. But you can also buy unfinished lure blanks from several online tackle suppliers like Janns Netcraft or Barlows. You can find the unpainted blanks for lipless cranks, minnow divers, poppers, etc. for under $2. These have the rings for attaching hooks and swivels. You can also get prepainted lure blanks that only need the hardware to be ready for the water. They run a bit more but your final cost for a professional looking lure is still usually under $3.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is also easy to make your own spinners and spinnerbaits...once you learn how to work with wire. But that is not what you were asking about.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Don't let anybody discourage you if you want to try making lures. Most of my first ones were simple in shape...carved from plain old wooden dowels. I am attaching a picture. I simply used a Dremel tool to form the body and added screw eyes, swivels, hooks, spinner blades or whatever else. Some radical ideas but I have NEVER made a lure that did not catch SOMETHING.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have long believed that a good fisherman can catch fish on just about any lure...but a bad fishermen often can't catch fish on even the HOT lure that everybody else is using to slay them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have been tying flies, making jigs and carving out my own lures for several decades. In my younger years it was mostly to save money. But as my collection of materials, jigs, tools and output began to fill a whole room I realized that I was not really saving all that much. The main reason I continue to make my own stuff is to be able to get exactly the size, shape, color and action I want for specific fishing situations.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You can find balsa, basswood and other popular lure-making woods at many hobby shops...especially if they cater to folks who are into making model planes, boats or things from wood. But you can also buy unfinished lure blanks from several online tackle suppliers like Janns Netcraft or Barlows. You can find the unpainted blanks for lipless cranks, minnow divers, poppers, etc. for under $2. These have the rings for attaching hooks and swivels. You can also get prepainted lure blanks that only need the hardware to be ready for the water. They run a bit more but your final cost for a professional looking lure is still usually under $3.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is also easy to make your own spinners and spinnerbaits...once you learn how to work with wire. But that is not what you were asking about.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Don't let anybody discourage you if you want to try making lures. Most of my first ones were simple in shape...carved from plain old wooden dowels. I am attaching a picture. I simply used a Dremel tool to form the body and added screw eyes, swivels, hooks, spinner blades or whatever else. Some radical ideas but I have NEVER made a lure that did not catch SOMETHING.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have long believed that a good fisherman can catch fish on just about any lure...but a bad fishermen often can't catch fish on even the HOT lure that everybody else is using to slay them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
[signature]