Lure Making

[ikeslayer]

hey are there any lure makers out there. I made a couple of prototypes of big top water stick baits. ONly problem is that i am afraid that they screw eyes will not hold up. I could open them just by pulling on them when they were in a lure. I know (i hope) i am a lot stronger than a fish but i am not sure if i am using the right screw eyes. Looking online at a lure making sight and it says that there are open and closed styles don't know if that would make a difference or not. Tell me what you all know thanks. ike

[RuKiddingMe]

Do a search in Google for Stamina Inc. they carry Lure Making supplies and they also have a bunch of stuff specifically for Musky lures. I would think that if you go with the .092" x 3/4" or 1 1/8" screw eyes you won't have any problems at all.

Good luck post a pic of these customs, I like custom Ski baits.

RU

[riverrat56]

I would imagion you would want a shorter eye bolt with wider threads to grab more wood, sorry i don't know where you could get some though. I'd like to see some pics of you lures.

RR56

[BrianLucky13]

I have been making some muskie lures too. Its kind of fun and i think it would be a blast to actually catch something on one. Ive had the same problem as you, if the screaws will hold. It makes a huge difference if you pre drill the hole then put wood glue in the hole then put the screaw in.

It would be nice to find longer eye bolt to go in there farther but the longest ones ive found is about a half in inch.

It only takes about an hour to make like a 6-8 inch lure. Then to paint it, it takes longer cause the paint has to dry.

I havent used any of the ones that I made yet but it will be kind of neat to see if they swim right and catch fish!!!

[ikeslayer]

Look at RuKIDDINGME's post and go to that HSOforum. They have excellent selection of eye screws that are long and stainless. Good stuff thanks RU

[Scoot]

Fellas,

What wood are most of the muskie lures made with? I think basswood is common, is that right?

[RuKiddingMe]

Scoot,

The Musky baits are made out of a variety of woods, it all depends on the weight you are looking for along with wood density.

I think Pine and Maple are common selections for Musky lures.

RU

[BrianLucky13]

Ive been using pine wood. I think its one of the lightest plus it is easy to carve and sand down.

[RuKiddingMe]

Ikeslayer,

Your welcome,some great stuff in their catalog.

Remeber to post some pics of your cutoms. If you need snd them to me and I can get them posted for you.

RU

[MinnesotaMuskie]

I made one from Oak...yes Oak. I was young and dumb...boy could I get distance.

That one is hanging buy the fireplace @ the lake...it looks pretty and that is it

[BigGuy]

As for the eyes --check out mooreslures.com

When installing the eyes--drill,blow out with air,drop of epoxy,then install--they won't come out.For more help or ideas go to icicleground.com

[BrianLucky13]

Thanks a lot BigGuy for the information. It will help a lot!!!

[kato811]

wow looks like theres a lot of us who like to carve lures here . stamina is a good company ive had good luck with them they always got the things here on time . i use cedar to carve mine

[BigGuy]

Cedar,Pine,White Oak,Ironwood,anything that floats or sinks and holds paint------with a coat of epoxy that makes even pine hold-up for years.

[Just4fun]

Cedar is used quite often as it has a natural rot resistance. The main issue I have with cedar is that if you want a diving lure it has to be weighted more than the oaks, hard maple, and birch. When making surface plugs, the different woods will give you different action. It really becomes a matter of hit or miss. I like cedar for most of the plugs I make. Right now the only plug I make, not of cedar, is a slow sinking plug I have been playing with for a while. I added a list of Specific Gravity of woods. Remember, the lower the Spec Grav the more weight to get it under. It doesn’t have to sink, but it needs enough weight to keep it from rolling on it’s side.

Specific Gravity

Water 1.00

Oak 0.63

Maple 0.63

Birch 0.62

White Ash 0.6

Black Walnut 0.55

Black Cherry 0.50

Eastern Red Cedar 0.47

Alaskan Yellow Cedar 0.44

Yellow Pine 0.42

Poplar 0.42

Butternut 0.38

White Pine 0.37

Basswood 0.37

Western Red Cedar 0.34

[kato811]

j4f what are ya sayin ? LOL not to make my duck outta oak

[Just4fun]

If you make it out of oak then see what it does. I am not one to tell anybody what to do. Just thought you might be interested in this wood info. I know there are some surface plugs out there made of high density woods, like a weagle.

[kato811]

jon i might have to try one out of some diffrent woods just to see what they do. ive got scraps of about every kind laying around my shop. im working on a dinasor now for the grandson. think muskies would bite on a t-rex LOL

[Just4fun]

T-rex teeth going against muskie teeth. Would be interesting to see. But what kind of leader would one need?

[castmaster]

why have to worry about screw eyes coming out at all? make a "paper clip" stlye connection directly to you thru wire, or just use a high strength welded barrel swivel. drill a hole from the bottom side of the bait connecting to the one for your thru wire, insert the swivel, and put your thru wire in so it goes through the ring on the swivel. then attach a split ring and hook to the ring on the bottom side of the bait. no harder than drilling and installing screw eyes and far stronger.

[kato811]

castmaster most of us dont have the fancy an expensive wire twisting tool yet LOL gotta make do with what we got

[Cooter]

Don't need a wire twisting tool. Round bend pliers and a reg. pliers is all ya need.

[castmaster]

as cooter said... you dont need the wire twist tool. either make your own twists with the pliers, or else form the loop at each end, and then solder shut like the le lure baits are done.

[kato811]

thanks guys i never thought of doing that

[Just4fun]

I started out by pounding a large nail thru a board and using that to form my loops. Then with a couple small vice-grips wrapped the wire. I had to C-clamp the board to a table with .051" wire.