New crankbait builders

[whittler]

There is a lot of interest in building your own crankbaits, topwater and swimbaits on not only this site but several others as well. Here is my take on how to do it but also how to ask the questions that can get you the kind of information you need.

Most posts start like this, I want to build a swimbait/crankbait, what do I need and that's all the information given. The addition of what tools you have available and what your experience level will help a great deal along with an idea of what you are ready to spend to achieve you goal. Trying to mimic Big-M' or BobP's work with only a pocketknife and sandpaper will be tough. For a basic starting toolset you should have a knife, Exacto or utility knife will suffice to get started and a drill with a few small bits, coping saw, a pair of wire cutting and needle nose pliers. Add to that sandpaper of various grits, and above all a Plan. Not going to get into finishing just building.

Materials needed can be about any type of wood to start, with Balsa or Basswood being my first two choices. Balsa is a great choice for cover type baits it is very light and responsive in the water, plus being very easy to carve. Basswood is heavier and a good choice for midrange and deepdivers, plus it is tougher than balsa. Both of these woods have a very minimal and straight grain, which aids in carving and finishing. For your prototypes use what you have and as your skills improve then start looking into better wood or even PVC.

If you are making lipped baits there are really only three good choices, Lexan, circuit board and metal. Styrene/Plexiglas type plastics will break very easily and except to make a prototype/experimental bait should be avoided.

Pick a bait design you like and use it as your starting point, trying to make a dozen different designs to start out can be a real hassle. Draw a pattern and cut several blanks from your chosen wood. With blanks in hand you can try different lips shapes and angles, different weighting options and line tie positions, all these things are critical. If nothing else remember that everything on the bait should be straight and centered, lips line ties and hook hangers.

Once your baits are carved and assembled, seal them, don't worry about paint or top coats yet, test them and see what the various lip angles, weight position, amount of weight, and lip styles actually do on a bait. Once you have learned these things you are then you are ready to not only build some baits but what to do with baits that don't work as expected.

Lots of help is available, just ask. There is nothing magic about building baits just practice and learn from your mistakes.

[Steven Ladner]

Very informative post. If you guys have any questions, just ask. That's what this section of the forum is for, and there's plenty of knowledgeable builders that will be glad to help. I'm of no help though, as I just paint them.

[BIG M]

Great post John.   

[ernel]

The one thing I will add, is patience and plenty of it. Any product you are in a hurry to reach the end result will more than likely not be very productive.

Failures will occur, and that is to be expected. Death rolls and lures that won't run true no matter how many times you tune them are just a part of the learning process in the beginning.

Even after you are experienced, you will still have failures as you try to build a lure that has an exact wiggle, and then even an exact wiggle at a certain depth, or deflect a certain way once it strikes cover. Constantly trying to push the envelope for a lure that is exactly what you want it to be is when it this hobby becomes an obsession.

Eric