| I love crafting, especially woodworking. I am equally, | | | | * Miscellaneous supplies such as pliers, paint brushes, |
| if not more, passionate about fishing. One truly | | | | etc. |
| rewarding experience is the combination of two | | | | 3. Endless Lure Possibilities |
| things I love, which is creating homemade wooden | | | | You can vary every lure you make so that no two |
| fishing plugs. You, too, can enhance your fishing | | | | are alike. Keep in mind, though, if you create only one |
| experience: make your own fishing lures! | | | | copy of a truly hot and successful lure and it gets |
| The incredible experience of creating your own | | | | lost, you may find yourself wishing you had a digital |
| handmade wooden fishing lures is hard to beat. If | | | | photo image of that specific lure or some specific |
| you love fishing, you'll find that landing a catch using a | | | | notes on how you made it. |
| lure you made yourself is an event that is hard to | | | | You can vary the lure by wood choice. You can |
| beat. | | | | choose whether to place a weight inside the plug |
| The possibilities are endless when it comes to | | | | body. You can change the action of the lure based |
| creating your own wooden fishing lures. | | | | on its shape and the hardware used. You can change |
| 1. Homemade Lure Wood Choices | | | | up the lure appearance by the detailing and paint |
| You have the option of using a softwood or a | | | | used. |
| hardwood. Softwoods, such as balsa and basswood, | | | | 4. Budget Minded Fishing Tackle |
| create a buoyant lure so that it will float. The | | | | You can easily "assembly line" your lure making, |
| softwoods are easier to work with, and the resulting | | | | making several at one time, which is very practical |
| lure offers more action in the water. Other popular | | | | since all the materials are out and available. |
| lure softwoods are red and white cedar. | | | | If you make your own fishing lures, you can have |
| Hardwoods are usually harder to work with as far as | | | | several on hand in case one gets lost, or dare I say |
| shaping and cutting, but they have many of their | | | | it, hung in the trees. Nothing is worse for an angler |
| own benefits as well. Hardwoods can be used to | | | | than losing his last lure just when the fish start biting, |
| make suspending lures. Typical lure hardwoods include | | | | but buying up several extra "have on hand" |
| oak, birch, walnut, and maple. | | | | commercial lures gets expensive. |
| 2. Handmade Fishing Lure Equipment and Supplies | | | | 5. The Rewards of Lure Testing |
| You'll find that the hobby of making your own fishing | | | | If you make your own fishing lures, by all means, you |
| lures requires little in the way of supplies and | | | | must test them. That is where the big fun and |
| equipment. The largest investment is your time, and | | | | reward comes in. |
| if you enjoy crafting, it is time well spent. Here's a | | | | So hit the hobby room, spend a weekend cranking |
| general supply list: | | | | out several homemade fishing plugs, and get to the |
| * Scroll saw, drill, carving or whittling knife | | | | lake. Analyze which lures work well, making notes on |
| * Wood | | | | types of fish caught, time of day, the weather, and |
| * Lure Hardware (screw eyes, split rings, treble | | | | so forth. |
| hooks, acrylic if creating a lip) | | | | You'll be an expert lure maker in no time, and oh, the |
| * Sandpaper, masking tape | | | | sweet rewards of catching fish using your own lure |
| * Permanent marker and paper | | | | creations. Happy angling! |
| * Wood sealer, paint, marine varnish, and wood filler | | | | |