Making fishing lures that work well enough to catch the same big fish your expensive brand name lure does is really quite easy, and fun too. To make a lure requires no special tools, and all of the various parts you need for lure making are readily available from online discount sellers such as eBay and Amazon. These online stores also have books available which go into much more detail on how to make fishing lures.
The first step in making your homemade fishing lure is to determine what type of lure you are going to make. I found one of the easiest lures to make is the basic Rapala, or Rebel minnow-type lure. This submarine shaped lure is simple, small, and easy to shape, even with a common pocket knife. Using one of you own lures as a model, or a photo from a fishing lure book can help make sure overall shape, and hook placements correct.
Wooden fishing lure blank before any carving
Now that you have chosen what type of lure your going to make, its time to choose your wood. You will need a piece of wood about 4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches square. I use wood from an old cedar tree in my yard. Its naturally water resistant and holds eye hooks well. Most lure makers though, prefer basswood. It is a good choice because it resists splits, is easy to carve, and holds paint well. You can just as easily get a block of wood from your local lumberyard or hardware store. Small blocks of wood called blanks are also available at hobby stores.
Hand carved wooden fishing lure
The next step in making a lure is to rough shape the piece of wood. If you own a small jig saw you can knock out this step pretty quickly. If not, a good hobby knife, wood carvers knife, or even a sharp pocket knife can be used for this step. At this stage you are just looking to take off the sharp corners, and work the wood into the submarine shape.
Once you have your basic shape, start smoothing the wood out with some heavy sandpaper. Use a vice to hold your work steady while sanding . Progress through the various grits to obtain a smooth finish. A drum sander attached to a Dremmel tool can speed this process.
Attempt to get the lure as symmetrical as possible, but don't worry if it's a little lopsided. Sometimes the lures which are a little lopsided attract more fish. I suppose their uneven action imitates the movements of a wounded fish better.
Carved and painted homemade fishing lure
Now that we have created our blank, we can place our eye screws for the hooks. Check a lure similar to the one you are making to determine where to your place the eye screws. Once you have marked the spots, use a finishing nail and tap in the pilot holes. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to turn in your eye screws.
For the lip you will need a 1/8" piece of plexi-glass or other plastic. To install the lip or bill, again use your model to determine approximate location. Use a small coping saw or rotary bit on a Dremmel to shape your bill. Once it is cut out, lay a sheet of sandpaper on a work surface and rotate the bill across the surface of the sandpaper until smooth.
With the lure sanded smooth it is time to paint. Although many serious lure makers prefer vinyl paint, it is fine to use a good acrylic enamel, and a quality clear coat for the finish. Both can purchased online or at your local auto parts store.
Homemade fishing lure painted with hooks
The last step would be to use a little Super Glue to secure the lip within the slot, install your eye screws, split rings, and hooks.
I'm sure that once you feel the excitement and satisfaction of catching that lunker on a lure you made, you'll be hooked.
- Homemade Bass Crankbait
Homemade bass lure