Minnow baits

[hydro]

I was out at the lake last week and succeeded to lose a couple of those pricey Rapalas. Got me thinking, why could't I make them myself? Just for fun I made a pattern and fabbed up one each in three sizes. Made of redwood to be light and easy to shape, a wire through for strength, and a plastic lip to test the wobble factor. I had to modify the lip on the larger sizes to get the wobble right, but now I have working templates for three sizes that I can make again. Here they are ready to prep for final paint.

[bemidjibasser]

sweet! nice looking baits. You going to try to make a suspending model too?

[mainbutter]

Those look really nice!

[hydro]

I got around to painting the baits last night. I decided to mimic a spotfin shiner minnow that is an important walleye forage in these parts.

[rushing]

Good job! Nothing like catching fish on something you made! Good luck!

[Rodbldr4fun]

You guys are convincing me to take another disease up!

[Borch]

They look good.

[Westsidefishing]

Great job Hydro!!

[mainbutter]

You guys are convincing me to take another disease up!

And it's so easy to spend all your time (and money!) on it once the ice comes, if fishing hard water isn't your thing.

I spent waaaaay too much time and money on making lures last winter, but it sure was fun! I'm sure I'll start it up again in another few weeks and I start dreaming of a hot June evening chucking big swimbaits for pike.