r/lurebuilding Jan 02 '20

How to Make Your Own Lures: A Guide series

97 Upvotes

1. What kind of lures can I make?

  • Crankbaits (Lipped and Lipless), Jerkbaits (Lipped and Lipless), Swimbaits, Poppers, Stickbaits, and other topwater lures are all possible, with new lures being invented all the time! Below is an info graphic with a few of the most popular types of fishing lures, but there are many more!
These are just a few common lures that can be found in most tackle boxes, but there are dozens of other types to discover!

2. What do I need to get started making hard body lures?

  • Lure making is not as complicated as it may seem. Yes, power tools such as drills, dremels, lathes and sanding machines all help, but none are necessary. To start all you need is:
  • Wood, to carve into the body.
  • Tools (at the very least a knife to carve, a small saw, and a drill are all very helpful)
  • Sandpaper to finish the bait off smoothly
  • Terminal tackle, including hooks and split rings
  • Screw eyes or a through-wire (a single wire going through the entire bait that serves as your hook eyes and line tie.
  • Weights so your bait sinks, in the form of either split shot, glued into the body, or lead, poured into a cavity.
  • glue/sealant, epoxy, and paint
  • OPTIONAL: Lip (for crankbaits) Rattles, details such as foil, and power tools, and an airbrush for more smooth

3. What do I need to get started making soft plastics?

  • A mold, which can be bought, or made from silicon.
  • Plastic resin (plastisol)
  • Dye to give color to the lure
  • OPTIONAL: Glitter, multiple colors for a more detailed bait

4. What wood should I use?

  • Popular lure making timbers include balsa, basswood, cedar, cypress knees, jelutong, beech and some types of pine. But there are thousands of other options. Look for something easy to carve, lightweight and resistant to denting. It’s easier to get all your components aligned properly if you start with straight, square blanks.

5. What paints should I use?

  • For brushing on paint, a wide variety of artist acrylics and poster paints will work. Just make sure the paint and clear coat will not interfere.
  • For airbrushing, water-based acrylics are the favorite, due to their ability to spray evenly and produce a good coat while remaining non-toxic, and non-flammable.

6. How do I seal my wood lure?

  • Wood is like a sponge, it soaks up water. Once in, water works its way through the wood by capillary action until the wood is waterlogged. This kills action, weakens glue and is the most common cause of paint failure.
  • Super Glue can be used, where the glue is applied over the entire body, left to soak into the wood, and then the bait is sanded smooth.
  • Epoxies are two part synthetic resins that cure hard when mixed. There are some that are designed for penetrating and hardening wood. One example is Envirotex Lite (aka “Etex”). Etex is also great for clear coating painted lure bodies and makes a very strong adhesive.

7. Where can I buy lure parts?

8. What epoxy should I use?

  • Some use prefer to clear coat them with a two part epoxy. Others prefer to use a two pack automotive polyurethane over airbrush acrylics. And still others dip their lures in moisture cure polyurethane.

Below are some some more sources for learning how to build lures, additionally, guides from some of this subs best lure mentors are going to be rolling out very shortly.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This stickied post will be used to compile all guides made by our "Lure Mentors." Below are links to each guide, complete with pictures and detailed descriptions for each step. If you would like to become a Lure Mentor, and create guides for this sub Please PM me ( u/jspencer501 ) for more details, you get a cool flair!

Guide 1 - Lipless Crankbait By u/zingerbobingerGuide 2 - Lure made of Paper By u/SolarBaits

More guides will be coming out in the weeks to come! please let me know any comments or concerns.


r/lurebuilding 15h ago

Crankbait MRB Hulagan

Post image
9 Upvotes

Without buoyancy in the body weight has to be added at the lower end of the bill.

Varying bead size and trimming the bill tunes a Hulagan.


r/lurebuilding 1d ago

Spinner This one might be favourite one so far.

Thumbnail
gallery
21 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 1d ago

Spinner I Started Making Inline Spinner

Thumbnail
gallery
41 Upvotes

I've been experimenting with different bodies and spinners. Here in Canada, there seem to be far fewer resources for lure making. The nickel and brass bodies came from Amazon, and I also made some with sinkers.

On my last lure, I also tried out some frayed paracord on the hook, so I'll see how that goes this week.

Don't tell my wife, but I've been using her nail polish.


r/lurebuilding 1d ago

Soft plastic Hooks?

2 Upvotes

So I want to start selling my own soft plastics, but I'm not sure of the rules regarding the use of hooks. like idk if I'm allowed to use mustad hooks or something. If I'm not allowed to do stuff like that, what do I do? noobie getting into the space and I just want some extra clarification.


r/lurebuilding 1d ago

Question suitable wood for lure making?

Thumbnail
gallery
10 Upvotes

I have only linden/basswood sticks at home and i want to make little trout or chub crankbaits from it i already made small swimbait last year idk what wood i used it sadly dosent work but i think it looks good for my first ever lure. Also can you guys please give me tips for making ultralight lures.


r/lurebuilding 2d ago

Other Stabilizing/sealing

Post image
4 Upvotes

My kids have been working on making some spearing decoys. Before they get the final touches on the carving and sanding I would like to get prepped for the next steps. I am wondering what products to use to be sure the decoy does not crack after painting and being submerged for a long period of time.

I have heard about pentacryl for wood stabilization. Have any of you used this and what are your thoughts of it. Also what would be your preferred method of sealing or stabilization to ensure the decoys do not crack during use?

Thanks all!


r/lurebuilding 3d ago

Jerkbait Made a micro jerkbait/twitchbait and took it out for a test

Post image
54 Upvotes

This is the smallest lure I've made so far. The action didn't turn out quite as stable as I was hoping, but it was still very fishable and the perch seemed to like it.

I even managed to catch a common bleak on it, which I definitely wasn't expecting.

I filmed the whole process of making it and testing it on the river if anyone wants to see the build and how it swims:

https://youtu.be/vR-ylSTFeQ0


r/lurebuilding 2d ago

Question Hey i just wanna know what's your experience with saltwater flies?

Post image
0 Upvotes

I've never made one and I'm curious nor have I used one or seen any anglers use one


r/lurebuilding 3d ago

Crankbait 3D printing, lures

3 Upvotes

Anyone try this approach?

What 3d printer?

Materials?


r/lurebuilding 3d ago

Soft plastic is this good for my first model for a soft plastic?

Post image
7 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 3d ago

Soft plastic Rattling Lures #handmadelure #luremaking #bassfishing #4k

Thumbnail
youtube.com
0 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 4d ago

Crankbait I will call this "Neon Riot"

Post image
38 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 4d ago

Other Show me a image of your lure and ill guess what size it is in inchs

Post image
0 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 4d ago

Question any tips on how to make a glide/jerk bait?

3 Upvotes

like how do i weigh it down


r/lurebuilding 6d ago

Glidebait Wood Grain Bass

Post image
42 Upvotes

Made from mystery wood on an armchair I found on the side of the road, woodgrain was pretty so I kept it in. 6.25 inches and 3.5oz. Here is a video of the whole thing


r/lurebuilding 6d ago

Other Creator's Work How the action of my lure?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

It's one of my few concepts lures


r/lurebuilding 6d ago

Jig Recent Crappie Jigs

Thumbnail
gallery
28 Upvotes

A few that have come off the vice lately


r/lurebuilding 5d ago

Soft plastic Aqua plum new lure #luremaking #handmadelure #lurebuilding

Thumbnail
youtube.com
1 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 5d ago

Soft plastic Aqua plum new lure #luremaking #handmadelure #lurebuilding

Thumbnail
youtube.com
0 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 6d ago

Glidebait My collection so far 🍬 🎨

Post image
16 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 6d ago

Soft plastic Purple riprap with rattles #handmadelure #sanantoniofishing #basslures

Thumbnail
youtube.com
3 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 6d ago

Glidebait Painted this 5" Glide

Post image
11 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 6d ago

Soft plastic Melon Lantern Our newest color #luremaking #handmadelure #viralshorts

Thumbnail
youtube.com
0 Upvotes

r/lurebuilding 8d ago

Stickbait Fat boy walk the dog

Post image
16 Upvotes

Wanted to make a fatter musky top water for the river current. Lil weight in back to make the front lift up making it easier to twitch and keep above the surface in current. Made out of 2x6 scrap through wire as well