How to Carve Fishing Lures

Most people when they decide to get into learninghow to make fishing lures at home depends a lot on
how to make fishing lures at home have done soyour skills at fine sanding. Once sanded and shaped
because of the wonder that is a crankbait. I know Ithen it's time for sealing the wood and painting and
marveled over the contents of my tackle box manyfinishing the crankbait. The topic of how to carve
times wondering at how those wooden fishing luresfishing lures really is beyond the scope of this article
were made. I remember trying my hand at it when Iand the person wishing to get into tackle making
was a boy with no help from anyone just plain trialshould look up some more material on websites and
and error in trying to figure out the lost art of tacklebooks to learn more but hopefully these few tips will
making.give you some ideas.
Most people when they decide to get into learningLearning how to carve fishing lures is something that
how to make fishing lures at home have done soisn't difficult to learn and here's a few tips to help
because of the wonder that is a crankbait. I know Iyou so that your first wooden fishing lures turn out
marveled over the contents of my tackle box manyas professional looking as the main brand name
times wondering at how those wooden fishing lurescrankbaits.
were made. I remember trying my hand at it when IMost wooden fishing lures are made of Balsa or
was a boy with no help from anyone just plain trialBasswood, but that's not to say you can't make a
and error in trying to figure out the lost art of tacklereally fine looking crankbait out of such woods as
making.white and red cedar and others. In fact it was only
Learning how to carve fishing lures is something thatabout 30-40 years ago that a lot of top quality
isn't difficult to learn and here's a few tips to helpwooden lures were made from these woods. So if
you so that your first wooden fishing lures turn outyou don't have access to Balsa or Basswood then
as professional looking as the main brand namegive white or red cedar a try, I'm sure you will like
crankbaits.the results.
Most wooden fishing lures are made of Balsa orI like to use my scroll saw for the rough in of the
Basswood, but that's not to say you can't make acrankbait before I get into the carving and shaping
really fine looking crankbait out of such woods asout the details. Now using a scroll saw may take a
white and red cedar and others. In fact it was onlylittle more finesse then a small band saw, so if you
about 30-40 years ago that a lot of top qualityhave a bandsaw then use that, I don't so I use my
wooden lures were made from these woods. So iftrusty scroll saw. The trick is to draw on the wooden
you don't have access to Balsa or Basswood thenblank the lures profile both side and top profiles so
give white or red cedar a try, I'm sure you will likethat when you cut the rough shape out with either
the results.your band saw or scroll saw you have a real blocky
I like to use my scroll saw for the rough in of thelooking crankbait.
crankbait before I get into the carving and shapingFrom this stage how to carve fishing lures can take a
out the details. Now using a scroll saw may take acouple different directions. Some like to hand carve
little more finesse then a small band saw, so if youout the rough shape into something more refined,
have a bandsaw then use that, I don't so I use myothers like to use wood rasps and the like to achieve
trusty scroll saw. The trick is to draw on the woodenthe same thing. For me it depends on my wood
blank the lures profile both side and top profiles sochoice if I'm using the easier to carve woods like
that when you cut the rough shape out with eitherBalsa and basswood, I'll whip out my swiss army
your band saw or scroll saw you have a real blockyknife and whittle out my block rough crankbait into a
looking crankbait.more refined shape. If I'm using cedar then I might
From this stage how to carve fishing lures can take ause a combination of rasps and knife work in my
couple different directions. Some like to hand carvetackle making process. Either way the idea is to
out the rough shape into something more refined,round off the edges and start to bring the crankbait
others like to use wood rasps and the like to achievealive.
the same thing. For me it depends on my woodOnce the shape is basically formed then it's time for
choice if I'm using the easier to carve woods likesanding. A lot about wooden fishing lures and learning
Balsa and basswood, I'll whip out my swiss armyhow to make fishing lures at home depends a lot on
knife and whittle out my block rough crankbait into ayour skills at fine sanding. Once sanded and shaped
more refined shape. If I'm using cedar then I mightthen it's time for sealing the wood and painting and
use a combination of rasps and knife work in myfinishing the crankbait. The topic of how to carve
tackle making process. Either way the idea is tofishing lures really is beyond the scope of this article
round off the edges and start to bring the crankbaitand the person wishing to get into tackle making
alive.should look up some more material on websites and
Once the shape is basically formed then it's time forbooks to learn more but hopefully these few tips will
sanding. A lot about wooden fishing lures and learninggive you some ideas.