How to Make Fishing Lures?

I have loved fishing since my childhood when I used to go fishing with my dad and grandpa, but this fun activity can cost you a lot to have all the essential fishing items. If you go fishing often, you must agree with my previous statement, but what if I tell you you can make fishing lures yourself? Yes, now it’s time to say goodbye to managing your budget or spending your savings to get a high-end fishing lure because we will tell you how to make fishing lures and go home with your bucket full of your target fish.

I know you must be excited to get into this creative world of making customized fishing lures, and we won’t keep you waiting for long. So, let’s get this started.

How to Make Fishing Lures?

Spending hours on a seashore and not being able to catch a fish can be frustrating, but don’t you think the problem can be your fishing equipment? For those who want to enhance their fishing experience, all you need is to learn how to make fishing lures yourself. In this article, we will share all the materials, steps, and everything else that will help you make the best fishing lures.

Tool and Material

The material you will need depends on the type of lure you intend to make, e.g., wooden lures, plastic lures, etc. So choose the material according to your needs as tools required for making lures are more or less the same for each type of lure.

What I like the most about making fishing lures is that it develops the interest of kids in a fun activity like fishing and lets them unleash their creativity to make fishing lures. The tools I use to make the best crappie lures are.

• Electric or Hand drill to make holes.
• Pliers to bend hooks.
• Wire cutters for cutting wires.
• Knife/ Flush cut saw for cutting wood or balsa.
• Scalpel to shape the wires.
• Sandpaper to smooth wooden surface.
• Paint and paintbrushes to color your lure.

Moreover, you will need hooks to put your lures on, so don’t forget to put them near you before you sit to make fishing lures. I sometimes use plastisol to make soft plastic lures.

Types of Lures You Can Try

Before we start, I want you to take a moment and think of stuff you can use to make fishing lures, and we will continue this exciting activity with all the things you have in your mind to make fishing lures. I struggle a lot with the natural baits, and some of them are really expensive, but the DIY fishing lures have made my life easy. The types of fishing lures I usually make are:

• Soft plastic lures
• Spinnerbaits
• Poppers
• Crankbaits
• Stickbaits, etc.

These fishing lures are super easy to make. Let’s learn to make the best trolling Lures with me.

Pick a Size

Now, grab the tools and materials required to make fishing lures yourself. So, what fishing lure are you making?

Is it a crankbait or stickbait? Oh, are you thinking of making soft plastic lures? Wooden lures are a good option, too.

Whatever lure type you are making, just get the materials and choose a size for your lure. If you love to catch big fish, go for three to three and a half inches, while two inches is enough for a small fish.

Define the Shape

After picking and cutting the lure of your required shape, it’s time to shape the lure. Try to copy a natural bait shape to trick the prey. You can use a carving knife, or flush cutting saw to shape the wooden lure and molds for plastic fishing lures.

I also use sandpaper to smooth the edges and shape of my wooden fishing lures. It gives it a nice finish and is easier to work on for further detailing.

Make the Lure Attractive

Once you are satisfied with the shape of your custom-made fishing lure, be wild and think of ideas that will make your lure look super attractive. I usually add wings, carve a design, or anything that adds fine detailing to my lure.

You can make wings from balsa if you are making wooden lures or anything that looks like feathers. Moreover, the wings add some weight to the lure and help it stay stable and not move rapidly when retrieved.

Add Some Life-Like Features

As per my experience; the more natural-looking your fishing lure is, the more chances of it getting noticed and trick fish. I usually add eyes and other small details to make my fishing lure look like a natural bait.

Make holes for the eyes in your lure using an electric drill machine or hand drills. I usually use googly eyes from my kid’s collection and glue them on my lure. So if you have them too, use them.

Lets Paint

I attach hooks and split rings before painting because it makes holding the lure while painting much easier. Now, for the final touches, think about the favorite bait of your target fish. Give your best to make your fishing lure look just like the natural bait.

You can paint it like a frog, crab, shrimp, worm, etc. Let the paint dry, and you are good to go.

Bonus Tips

Although the method of making all fishing lures is the same, I am sharing some bonus tips to give you a rough idea of what you will need to make a particular type of lure. So read ahead.

• If you fish in fresh or saltwater, then go for plastic fishing lures. You can easily make one with melted epoxy or plastisol in a mold. Remove the mold after a few hours and paint the lure.
• To make crankbaits or stick baits, you can use both wood and plastic. All you have to do is carve your desired shape on wood and paint it in the end.
• For spinners and spinnerbaits, you will need steel wires. Shape the wires in the desired pattern or use a mold to hold the wires together. Add accessories and paint the lure. 

FAQs

Can I make my own fishing lures?

Yes, fishing lures can be made at home easily with items made of plastic, rubber, or metals. Just keep in mind the food your target fish eats and mimic that to make your fishing lure that fish can’t resist biting.

What materials are used to make fishing lures?

Fishing lures can be made with plastic, cork, rubber, softwood, or even metal, depending upon its type.

What is the easiest lure to make?

The easiest lure to make is the topwater lure, which can be made with balsa wood or plastic, rattles, etc.

The Bottom Line

Whether you are a seasoned angler or have just stepped into the fishing world, fishing lures are a game changer for everyone and enhance the fishing experience. Fishing lures can be expensive and some need to be handled with care, but you can dodge that by making fishing lures yourself. You can take help from this article and make as many fishing lures as you want by following a few easy steps mentioned in this guide.

So be creative, craft a perfect bait, and enjoy fishing like never before. Thank you.