mixb7

Very well said, thank you for the reminder.

Lake Berryessa is an excellent bass lake! I live close so that is my home lake. There is a free launch at Capell cove otherwise it is a $20 fee. Any technique will work. I drop shot or throw senkos in the spring. There is an excellent Kokanee program there so the bass fishing is great.

Great stuff!

I have been making lures for 3 years now and I have learned a lot from the internet, but I first bought an e-book from Kermett Adams which was indespensible on how to do it. You can go to his website ( http://www.klures.com/index.html)and find it there. I have e-mailed him several times and he has answered many questions for me. Big C said it right when "you should start with topwater baits and then move down the water column". Topwater baits are super easy to make and you can hone your skills with those until it's time to tackle crankbaits. They are by far the hardest to make, mainly because you have to get the ballast right, and the bill completely in balance with the rest of the body for it to run right. I know I am still trying to get that correct! There are many guys here on the internet that have figured it out but you really should try some first to figure some things out yourself before inundating someone with questions on how. (I say this only with crankbaits) You have to understand these guys have been tinkering trying to figure out how for many years and for someone to ask after their hardwork could set some off. After saying this these same guys have been enormous in their help on how to do things, I'm just saying try some of the work yourself before asking, that is the fun of it! There are many forums here and videos to learn some things so start there. I hope this hasn't discouraged you but encouraged you to get your hands dirty and give it a try! If it stops being fun there is no reason to continue doing it. You can e-mail me questions if needed and I will help if I can and if I can't hopefully I can direct you in the right place. Hope this helped. Michael Bruner Trinity Lure Company​

Just finished this prototype swimbait. Red Cedar with weights and rattles. Getting the weights just right took some time. The guys that make handmade cranks consistently are geniuses! Hope you enjoy Mike

Snakehead that was awesome! My daughter and I were just rolling with laughter. Thanks for the video. Mike

SW, its just the angle. There are 8 legs there.

Gentleman, I need a little help with finding the old school propellers such as are found on the old Heddon lures. I have searched but have only found one source which includes the eye screws, which gets pricey. I am trying to up my game on prop baits since I am going into an art gallery in April so these would look much better than the ones I am used to getting. Any help? Thanks Mike

Mitchell, These are really nice! I have been making lures for three years and I know the hard work it is to make crankbaits. Those buggers are the hardest to keep consistent. So what I'm saying is anyone can paint a lure, but to make a consistent crankbait is what impressed me the most. Keep up the GREAT work! Mike

Very nice work. I would love to see how that's done on video.

BobP, good concept, I will have to try that. kc if you screw the eyes in a little ways then screw them out them put a little epoxy on the threads then screw them all the way they will hold for as long as you need them. The epoxy clearcoat on the lure will help to hold them in also. This is only for freshwater though. If they are for saltwater the only way is through wire. Hope that helps. Mike

jbass, yes its great to see another Californian also. I have yet to fish Lake Sonoma but would like to do a little dropshotting there someday since it is so deep. Mike

Nicely done

I have been making my own lures for 3 years now. Don't try to make them for money which never was my intention, make them for the fun of it. It is purely a hobby for me, but I have sold a few to friends because they wanted them but the most joy I get out of them is giving them away. I have given away probably several dozen and that never gets old. Making crankbaits is by far the most difficult for me. Like Munkin said above the ballasting and lip placement is truly the key. If guys are set up for making the same ones over and over with jigs they have got that part beat. Nothing against them (they have figured out the hard stuff I didn't want to spend the time on) I enjoy making each lure separate and no two are alike. Foiling is another technique I have not come close to getting a hang of but there are many guys out there that are truly artists with that. In conclusion, find your niche, and stick with that until you are tired of that and want to try a different technique. You will once you do more want to try different things and that is where your creativity will come out. I do suggest also that you a take a few at the beginning and put them in a shadow box. In a few years do the same thing and will see where you have gotten better as you do more. That way you will always remember how you started and not take it for granted.

Wanted to try something different for Halloween so made this Black Widow from epoxy putty and bailing wire. A lot of fun!

Nice work for your first time. You will find that this is very relaxing and a great way to make your own lures. What clear coating are you going to use?

This looks like it would be very relaxing to do.

Very nice work!