Beginning Lure Making

[Bruce LeRoy]

I'm looking to get into making lures of all types and would like to know if there are any suggestions as to what I would need (jig pouring, painting, tying; spinnerbait pouring, painting, skirt making; pouring plastics, mold making; crainkbait painting, mold making, weighting) and where are the best places to find such materials and supplies. Also, any tips or pointers would be more than welcomed or any reccomendations on books or dvds. Thanks and good fishing,

Mike C

[loodkop]

Lure making is a very wide topic. I would suggest that you start out with one aspect ( eg jigs or soft plastics) instead of trying everything at once. Try something you like to fish and use a lot for a start. Tackleunderground is a good website and has some excellent tutorials. Some of the suppliers I have dealt with are Lurecraft, Janns Netcraft and Barlows. Any of these can provide what you need to get started. Most lure makers specialize so if you have more specific queries I'm sure somebody here will be able to help out. Ps with regards to books there are a couple around but I find the internet a more valuable resource. Hope this helps.

[smalljaw67]

Lure making is a very wide topic. I would suggest that you start out with one aspect ( eg jigs or soft plastics) instead of trying everything at once. Try something you like to fish and use a lot for a start. Tackleunderground is a good website and has some excellent tutorials. Some of the suppliers I have dealt with are Lurecraft, Janns Netcraft and Barlows. Any of these can provide what you need to get started. Most lure makers specialize so if you have more specific queries I'm sure somebody here will be able to help out. Ps with regards to books there are a couple around but I find the internet a more valuable resource. Hope this helps.

X2!!! I've been making spinnerbaits and jigs for over 15 years and I make those as they are what I like to fish most often. Loodkop is spot on when he says about picking one thing and go with it before moving on because the start up cost for making jigs alone isn' exactly cheap. There is also a lerning curve, some think to make jigs you simply melt lead and pour it into a mold and while that is the main concept it isn't always that easy as there are different hardness levels in lead depending on the source and while pure soft lead will pour very easy, it will also make for a jig that will dent just as easy so some harder lead from say wheel weights needs to mixed in and then you need higher temps to pour but that is for another topic. Anyway, go to Tackleunderground, you'll get all the answers you need there.

[Jig Man]

I can see about 10,000 bones for startup with all you have listed. Like the others recommended, pick a few of them, go to tackleunderground and read about them. You will get a feel for what the making entails and the startup costs.

It will be cheaper for example if you chose jig making to buy already poured and painted heads then add the skirts. You can always get into the acutal pouring if you choose.

Good luck. Making baits is fun but I can't say any cheaper than buying unless you use a bunch of one bait.