Back to Lure Making

 Well now with the cooler weather, I have started making some lures again.  I wanted to work on some diffrent designs.  I use a little lure many of you will recognize.  "Beaver Tails" or "Bugs" work great on the local bass.  I always though they would make a great squid/crab/creature bait depending on the poured color.  I made some polymer clay and made some giant "Bugs" to make molds from and try.  I lost the large bug master when demolding, but it works well.  The mid sized bug, I plan on making a new mold as the lures don't have the shine I am looking for.  I am sure it would work, but I like pretty lures.  I think these will work great flapping on the end of a leadhead.



I also formed up a small Octopus, but am not quite pleased with the form.  I think I may try a few more till I come up with one I like.



BanjoTad asked me to make up a few small shad.  These are around 2" long with a nice large tail.  They should work on a drop shot or trolled.  It is definately harder to pour the smaller baits.  I did do well on the little drop shot minnows in Humboldt Bay this year.  The little blacks tear them up!  Alot of fun for the family on light gear.  May have to call these "Tad-Pols" 



Matt

I like the Octopus!  Are you consider making the squid?

Crap your octopus looks a lot like mine but I've finished the first one and need to refine it.   Good job.  If I can find my camera I'll post a pic in a little.  Andy

HE'S BACK.....Welcome BACK to the madness Matt!!! Nice looking stuff. I had crazy good luck with the p-line squid this season. If you could make something close you'd have a RF and Ling killer.

here is a link

http://www.p-line.com/product_detail.php?id=135

Nice work, Matt.  Looking forward to tricking some bottom dwellers with your creations next year.   

I like that squid EWB!  What size were you using?  I have not had much luck with tubes yet.  I may have to put some thought into those and give it a try.  One of the new hand injected tube molds might fit the bill, if they make them large enough.

I was using some smaller hootchie squids this year with good success on rockfish.  It worked about the same as the small drop shot minnows.

I would love to see what you came up with Andy.  I have a lot more work to do before I cast the octopus (if i ever do).  I am still working on refining the "bugs", and may jump onto the squid next. 

I may have to try a solid squid, minus the top of the head.  That way it would match up with the spires heads.  I could make half the head with the fins, then several seperate legs.  That is along the same line I was thinking of for the octopus, mesh it into a similar colored lead head like my sand dabs.

I have to get some more bondo and plaster for my molds, and plastic for the baits.  My supplies are dwindling!  I have not even broken out the airbrush for my new jigs yet!  I have some pretty cool stencils I made up I can't wait to try.

Matt

Try Fix-all.  Is like super plaster of paris, and is cheap.  We use to use it for filling in holes in floors for carpeting.  Get it at Home Depot.

Thanks Matt good job.  Take your time on the octopus bait it took my pops three months once to finish a crawdad bait.  Let me know if you need any help with anything.  Andy

I will have to check out the fix-all.  I use Durams Water putty a lot and have just started using Bondo with good success.  I have not yet taken the step to RTV silicon, but will have to to continue some of my ideas.  You are limited on what you can do with the hard molds, but they are cheap.

I still use some coffee cups in the shop Andy, that was funny you mentioned it.  I have "upgraded" to pirex, but it isn't that big of an upgrade, they just pour a little better...sometimes.

I just sent off an email checking into a hand injected tube/squid bait and the posibility of having a larger one made.  Not sure if I want to drop the money though. 

I went back out and swept off the Lathe for some knockers and gaffs....yes EWB, I am back. 

Matt

Gotta run but I've been making giant tubes for a while.  I'll show you the secret later no mold necessary.  Ask solsurfer he got a couple free and there pretty nice.  They only go to pro bass guys we sponsor since they are not worth selling because the labor is a pain in the arse.  I have a ton of nice fresh water stuff that's the main part of my business.  No biggie if you doing it for your self.  Gotta run and clean the house my wife's about to kill me.  have you seen my swimbaits and heads on the classified threads?  Andy

Love them home-mades. 

I have done tubes by dipping them, but it is fairly labor intensive and I never got the skirts quite right.  It would probably work well with a decent skirt cutter.  I am open to any tips to do it easier!

I started playing with the squids.  I needed to reduce the arms to ease hand pouring.  I considered pouring the arms as a solid sheet then cutting the arms like a tube.  I may try that later.  I made one around 6" and one around 4".  I will let them dry and mold them.  They are quick jobs but will give me an idea on how well they will pour and work.  My daughter saw me with the clay and of course had to help me make one...and some starfish....



Matt

Those are nice Matt.  My two year old son runs around with every hook and lure imaginable.  Probably borderline abusive but he won't stop.  My eight year old daughter keeps taking my falcon lure boxes and putting them under the bed with her name sharpied on the top.  Try working with clay with a two year old.  Not sure what you are using but super sculpey from Michael's is the best and can be easily worked before and after baking. 

Awesome work there Matt. It looks like I'll be bringing even more cash for next
year get together. You may need to bring a cash register . Nice to see you sharing your new creations once again bro.

Jedmo

MattS quote,
"BanjoTad asked me to make up a few small shad.  These are around 2" long with a nice large tail.  They should work on a drop shot or trolled.  It is definately harder to pour the smaller baits.  I did do well on the little drop shot minnows in Humboldt Bay this year.  The little blacks tear them up!  Alot of fun for the family on light gear.  May have to call these "Tad-Pols" "

WOW Matt, I'm honored
That didn't take long!
Your plastics are looking great!
I took your advice and fished for bass at Lake Shasta on Tue. and had a little luck (see my report)
I need to get you out of the workshop so you can show me how to really fish for bass!
Thanks buddy!
Tad