Handmade baits?

C.Berry

C.Berry

Bad News
Joined
Aug 10, 2008
Location
Blacksburg, Va
Anyone make lures? I've got the bug after seeing a 50" musky tear a 8" swimbait in half on the New River in radford Va, thought id post up my two first wooden baits for some input and to see if anyone has any handmade lures! Took about a week for jointed one and about 3 days on the lipless jerk
 
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I've seen the gliders I just wanted to see if I could make what all these people paying money for so far my jointed one has great swim motion just have to change out the weights to make body level in water
 
Loganwayne said:
Add a spoon nose to it to make alot of noise/ bubbles

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I considered adding a jitterbug lip on it but it glides and swims so good as is I believe I'm gonna leave that one unless it don't catch andthjng!
XJsavage said:
Mad skill!

Best I've done is crimp up my own leaders for saltwater.
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Thanks I'm about to get into wire leader making myself for toothy critters but 50lb Fluro hasn't let me down yet... I've always loved old vintage wood lures so I figured might as well make a few of my own maybe they'll catch fish maybe they'll collect dust!? they'll be vintage one day tho and maybe it'll inspire whoever finds it to make their own lol
 
Alright, now I'm pissed. I have an old lure that I found in my grandads barn about 25 years ago and I knew it was old then. It has to be 1930-40 range, but hand made. It has a loop at both ends and it's a popper in one end and a shallow diving crank bait on the other. Painted an ugly ass metallic green and hand painted red eyes. Looks like it was made from a broom or tool handle. Very cool. It's around here somewhere. I'll find it and post a picture.
 
Is the wood laminated with wire between the eyelet and hooks or are the hooks just screwed into the wood with mini eye screws?
 
mbalbritton said:
Alright, now I'm pissed. I have an old lure that I found in my grandads barn about 25 years ago and I knew it was old then. It has to be 1930-40 range, but hand made. It has a loop at both ends and it's a popper in one end and a shallow diving crank bait on the other. Painted an ugly ass metallic green and hand painted red eyes. Looks like it was made from a broom or tool handle. Very cool. It's around here somewhere. I'll find it and post a picture.
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Some pre 1930 wood lures are going for up to 30k... I'd love to see pics of it!
 
rockcity said:
Is the wood laminated with wire between the eyelet and hooks or are the hooks just screwed into the wood with mini eye screws?
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This one I didnt do a through wire I used half inch screw in eyes and epoxy on them I tested them on a scrap piece of wood hanging free weights on straps and they held two 40lb dumbbell before pulling out lol for saltwater I'd probably use through wire! Unfortunately don't have a bandsaw all of these were done with a old case trapper, vise,sand paper, razor blades and a drill!
 
The smaller jerk bait is a piece of pine which was very hard to use and it's heavy 2oz probably the jointed is spruce neither woods are ideal for lures from what I hear but have great action in water. I'm going to buy some basswood (tilia) and pvc trim boards to make a few also I hear it works great and lasts longer and makes weighting a ton easier bc no water log not sure how true it is but I'll let y'all know soon enough!
 
C.Berry said:
This one I didnt do a through wire I used half inch screw in eyes and epoxy on them I tested them on a scrap piece of wood hanging free weights on straps and they held two 40lb dumbbell before pulling out lol for saltwater I'd probably use through wire! Unfortunately don't have a bandsaw all of these were done with a old case trapper, vise,sand paper, razor blades and a drill!
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Back about 25 years ago when I made and sold maple poppers for saltwater stripers and bluefish (junior high pocket money!), I gundrilled them on a lathe and did a through wire. Broke a lot of bits in maple, then I figured out to use a larger bit and to close out the larger hole with a sleeve ferrule (looks very nice too as a by-product). If you do it right you can loop the wire at the front, and pass one leg out of the rear hole and one leg out of the belly hole (belly hole is angled forward). Then you just twist loops into the wire at the exits and you're ready for trebles and split rings.

All of the freshwater stuff I've done with basswood has just been eye screws, which is plenty strong if you get decent quality hardware. Balsa too, if you get longer shank eye screws. I have laminated before but it's a pain in the ass to carve with a glue seam and (and a grain boundary) and it's usually only necessary if you have a very slender section that could split from sideforce on an eye screw.
I haven't made a bait in almost 20 years, I should really get back into that. I stopped obsessively fishing in high school because we moved to VA and reservoirs aren't as fun. I really stuck to poppers, prop baits, and walkers though, because I was a die hard New England topwater guy.
 
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C.Berry said:
The smaller jerk bait is a piece of pine which was very hard to use and it's heavy 2oz probably the jointed is spruce neither woods are ideal for lures from what I hear but have great action in water. I'm going to buy some basswood (tilia) and pvc trim boards to make a few also I hear it works great and lasts longer and makes weighting a ton easier bc no water log not sure how true it is but I'll let y'all know soon enough!
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Most woods are fine if they're sealed and protected properly. You'll get chips and nicks and bite marks, but the exposed area is small enough that it won't absorb an appreciable amount of water.

I've wanted to try out making some baits out of high density tooling foam for a long time, but haven't got a chance. That stuff carves and sands really well.

Nowadays I'd probably start doing rapid prototyped molds from CAD models and do foam injection.
 
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Here's the suspending one painted with good ole sally Hanson nail polish extra chip resistant!! Haha I seriously never dreamed I'd have nail polish in my shop... works tho
 
Fabrik8 said:
Back about 25 years ago when I made and sold maple poppers for saltwater stripers and bluefish (junior high pocket money!), I gundrilled them on a lathe and did a through wire. Broke a lot of bits in maple, then I figured out to use a larger bit and to close out the larger hole with a sleeve ferrule (looks very nice too as a by-product). If you do it right you can loop the wire at the front, and pass one leg out of the rear hole and one leg out of the belly hole (belly hole is angled forward). Then you just twist loops into the wire at the exits and you're ready for trebles and split rings.

All of the freshwater stuff I've done with basswood has just been eye screws, which is plenty strong if you get decent quality hardware. Balsa too, if you get longer shank eye screws. I have laminated before but it's a pain in the ass to carve with a glue seam and (and a grain boundary) and it's usually only necessary if you have a very slender section that could split from sideforce on an eye screw.
I haven't made a bait in almost 20 years, I should really get back into that. I stopped obsessively fishing in high school because we moved to VA and reservoirs aren't as fun. I really stuck to poppers, prop baits, and walkers though, because I was a die hard New England topwater guy.
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That's cool I'll eventually try the through wire seen a few diff styles out now compared to Vintage lures I grew up seeing! Balsa was another option im looking into! If you find any of the ones you made or make more post em up I'd like to see em!
 
anvilrubi said:
Sally Hansens then coat with clear cure goo.
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I'm considering a epoxy dip in the the devcon brand epoxy after I alter the action and weights I seal it wil sally Hanson clear coat will testing tho
 
mommucked said:
I know for a fact that blue and/or purple glitter, sprayed on any lure will will catch more fish............
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Hell yeah. I used to do fine craft glitter on the saltwater poppers and the overcoat with epoxy. Pearl on the belly, silver on the sides, and green or blue on the back. Sometimes blue and purple on the back, sometimes blue and black. Sometimes some red on the head area or throat. Sparkly like a '80s bass boat. Glitter is fun, just ask me or a kindergartner.
 
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