hey everyone, who out there enjoys making their own big bass lures? if you do make them what kind do you make, do you sell them? i have been making for the past couple years versions of the a.c. and a couple that looked like generic's before they were on the market, also mouse/rat lures and some jigs. all i had very good luck on, including a 10+ largemouth estimated by the guard, brother, and myself on the first outing with the jig. well if any of you share the same passion for lure making that i do, i would love to here from you.

Limit your kill, don't kill your limit.
-Scotty

Hey Scotty,

With the advent of all the noise makers in most of the tackle manufacturing companies baits, I decided to chase one of my passions and start making hard baits out of the oldest material around-WOOD.

Most of the baits I make are top water and consistently catch me fish in high pressured areas. They cast great, and float in the water not over it. The wood displaces a lot of sound by pushing more water, the same way a fleeing bait fish would. Sometimes on agressive fish we all know that a noisy bait is the ticket. Just look at the rattletrap, but quiet baits have their place too. I can adjust the bouancy of the bait by either screwing in a stainless screw then snipping off the end, or my favorite is to drill a small hole and add melted lead. I can place it in the part of the bait that I want, to give it whatever type of action I desire.I like to mess around with different color schemes using acrylic paints. Before you paint the bait it is a good idea to soak a couple of layers of water seal, or mix up a small amount of rod finish with acetone then brush it on. This will help keep out moisture and keep the lure from cracking. Poes should take notes on this one. You can swirl and blend colors real easy by making the paint thin with water. Dabb it on with cotton swabs, or splatter it with a stiff bristled oil paint brush. This technique will allow you to apply numerous blends of colors until you get the bait that you know you like. After the lure drys I spray a thin coat of lacquer finish on. I Then coat the lures with a couple of finishes of rod coat. I have a rod finishing motor that turns the bait slowly so I can put on a thick coat. Between coats I will leave the baits in the oven with just the pilot light to offer a little bit more hardening of the material. This way I know the finish is completely dry before I add the next. If it's humid out you will find this a necessity. The lure is now bullet proof. The lacquer keeeps the rod finish from running the paint. I use screw in hardware from NetCraft. They have a complete line of lure making supplies.
They take a lot of time, but make treasured gifts to your fishing freinds-especially when they catch fish. I also pour my own jigs and paint them the same way. You can match the jigs this way to any type of skirt or trailer. For those that think it does'nt matter, well that's just that many people I won't worry about.
If you don't want to pay the big bucks for a pup fish try making your own version out of wood. They get bit and cast better. Good Luckand remember PRACTICE AND TEACH CATCH AND RELEASE !!!!!!!!!!

BURGIE

Hey Burgie,
I was wondering if you have had any luck with making the pupfish. I tried a couple of times and it doesn't really get much action, I know there needs to be weight in the rear and I've done that but it just won't work. I really would like to be able to make one because I won't have to worry about breaking it since it is out of wood rather then plastic. Any help would be appreciated.
See Ya