Must Have Lures For A Lurebuilder

[Tsurikichi]

Hey There

 

I´m new to this awesome forum. You guys are great. I´m also new into luremaking, as well as into hardbait fishing. I was fishing plastics for a long time. So my hardbait collection isn´t that huge.

 

So my Question is: What "commercial" plugs should you have to learn the most from.

 

If some of you could give some examples, maybe for each type/style of hardbait.

 

hope you got my question and can help me =)

 

if it matters, what i think does i´m making balsa lures, hope some other wood in near future too.

but i think i could also learn from plastic lures.

 

thanx

tight lines Tsurikichi

Edited February 23, 2016 by Tsurikichi

[BobP]

I use both balsa and plastic baits as pattern models for my wood baits.  But working from custom wood baits is easiest because you don't have to deal with ballast shifting designs used in plastic baits.  The best way to do this is to buy one or more crankbaits that you like and are popular.  Then you can make accurate body templates, lip measurements, and ballast weights to ensure your version is true to the original.  You can't do that from internet pics and descriptions.  Some of my personal favorites are the Zoom WEC E-1 square bill (a fat balsa square bill), the Gary Dees D-Bait (a flat sided balsa bait), and the Little PT shad by Tennessee Tuffy (a generic flat balsa bait derived from the Little Petey, a bait derived from numerous Tennessee custom makers).  These are all baits that work well in my region of the U.S.      

[hazmail]

Rapala and Nilsmaster (both from Finland --I think!!!) , these were my ''mentors'' back in the 70's-80's Tsurikichi -  Here the larger Nilsmasters were renowned Barramundi catchers  back then, and if you can buy them still are.

Although balsa is not real durable, it is quick and easy to shape and allows you to make prototypes easily--

Just remember when you DO graduate to carving harder/ heavier wood, balsa which is also very buoyant generally will give you a lot more and different action than the heavier woods .

Enjoy your journey.

Pete

[clemmy]

It depends on what you are fishing for and how.

Ultimately I would look at a lure you already fish, so you know it's behavior a little. Then put lighter hooks, heavier hooks, add some lead tape or suspend dots or lead wire, and see how this changes it. Then maybe a bait or 2 that are supposed to be for the same practice (I.e.squarebill shallow runner, or what ever). Note how the run different from your familiar lure, and try to figure out why. Or ask us for ideas why.

Then try making your own model sealed, no need to paint. Leave line tie longer than you think you need so you can bend to adjust. Try different lips and tow points. Once you figure out that, make a model of your experimental lure, incorporating the changes.

Hope it works and hope the fish agree!

Craig

[Tsurikichi]

Hey

thanx a lot for all your helpfull tips!

At the moment i´m focusing on topwater stick or pencil baits and lippless cranks. Those are originally U.S. lures, so they weren't invented by rapala, am i right ?

Am i right that rapala was the first who used a lipp ?

 

The most i will fish my selfmade lures for Zander and Asp in quite heavy streaming river. I think there are a lot of lures which don´t work under that conditions.

 

But i have also the possebility to fish stillwater and not that hard streaming canals, so i also like to build stuff i can´t fish in the hard stream.

 

So suggestions for my special needs, and also general are welcome, and i hope will also be interesting and helpfull for other people.

 

Looking forward to read your posts !

 

always tight lines Tsurikichi

[BobP]

The Rapala floating minnow was one of the early lipped baits.  Doubt it was the first, but it was one of the baits that make crankbaits popular in the U.S.  I have an original from the 1960's but they still sell the heck out of that model.  The problem with them is they don't cast very far, even with light line and a spinning rod.  Don't know what waters you fish but if you need long casts, you'll want a bait more in the 3/8 - 1/2 oz range for better efficiency.