Conference wahoo::fishing-v2

    	You might want to consider making your own lure bodies. One of the
    ways that you may be able to do that is by making a plaster mold of
    your favorite lure body/s and then create the bodies by injecting some
    two part boat flotation foam. 

    	For that matter, you could probably just make a clay mold very quickly 
    of each half of the lure then stick the clay together to form the mold.
    Although the mold wouldn't be reusable, the amount of time it takes to 
    make a mold like this is so small that it wouldn't matter. The clay
    would probably allow you to make some subtle changes in the lure design
    too.

    	I've used the two part foam before. This stuff is fairly dense and 
    obviously has good buoyancy as well as being waterproof. A good coating 
    of clear epoxy resin would add the weight and toughness needed for a lure 
    body. The bills for the front of the lure (i.e. diving plugs) could either 
    be molded in or cut from plexiglass and epoxied in place.

    	You may need to consider connecting all of the hook eyes together
    with some preformed wire that you place in the mold before injecting
    the foam in. The foam could be injected using the same double-plunger
    syringe type thing used for 2-part epoxy glue.
    
    	The advantage in doing it this way is you can replicate an already
    tested lure design. This should make for a decent swimming lure.

    	One other consideration is to go to the local hardware store and
    see if you can get a cedar broom handle. You can form wooden plugs
    fairly quickly using a cheap sander attachment for a drill and some
    60 grit paper. Use a C-clamp to clamp the drill to a table and it frees
    up both hands to form the lure body.
    
    	RAYJ

    
    
    	Hole Shot....there is a firm [or was] in Waseca Minnesota called
    	Herter's.  In days gone by, my Dad and I purchased unpainted decoys
    	from them.  They dealt in a variety of sporting areas...as an
    	outside shot...you may want to contact them.
    
    	Gitzit'

    Try Rietta Ranch Flea market in Hubbardston (Rt#68) on Sunday. There's
    an old timer from Gardner who sells all types of "hobby supplies" and
    many are wooden. While I'm sure you'ld find many styles (ex. pencil,
    oblong,ect.) suitable for lure manufacture, he'd probably be willing
    to work to your spec. This will probably be the last weekend for the
    market... and get their early (before 11), as many dealers pack and 
    leave by noon. If I go, I'll inquire for you.
    
    Let me know if you'll have any for sale.
    
    Good luck

     I plumb forgot about Herter's, HSJ. I'd make that my first choice.
    FinnySports used to advertise in the classified section of various
    fishing magazines.
    
    --The Bandit

Thanks all for the prompt feedback.  I'll check out the suggestions.

RAYJ... I'd prefer to not get into msking molds and pouring, etc.  I'd just 
as soon carve wooden plugs or buy unpainted bodies.  Over the past couple of 
winters, I've made 8-10 wooden lures, some out of white or sugar pine and 
some out of old birch broom handles.  Most of the wooden bodies I've made
have been poppers, Zara Spook look-a-likes, Devils Horse, or Torpedo prop 
baits.

Lacking a lathe, getting theses bodies rounded uniformly takes some time 
with a sander clamped in the vise.  All things considered, they actually 
came out pretty good.  I even made one deep diver fashioned after a Mann's 
Deep Pig 20'.  The body was pine and the bill a thin piece of oak.  It 
actually dives quite deep and has a real wide wobble.  Retrieve has to be 
slow otherwise it will roll on me.  Most of the fun is in seeing it work.  
Now to catch fish on it.

I've already painted a 1/2 dozen Rebel/Rappala like bodies in various 
Rainbow Trout patterns.  Since the plastic bodies I used were cheap and 
don't swim well, I'll epoxy clips to them and turn them into hat 
decorations.  Actually, I'm quite pleased with the way they've turned out 
and several others who have seen them liked them.

Sell them?  This is a hobby, partly to pass some time during non-fishing 
periods, partly to for the self-satisfaction of catching fish on my own 
creations.  Given the time I spend on each body, masking, painting, and 
spraying hi-gloss coats, I'd have to charge far more for them than similar 
commercially available lures to make it worth while.  I make consider, 
however, selling some of them as hat decorations (or Xmas tree ornaments) 
for $8-$10 if anyone is interested.

In any event, thanks for the info and keep it coming.  If anyone is in TTB 
(Nashua) and would like to see some of my work, let me know.

-HSJ-

    The master catalog for BPS also lists lure parts.  The interesting
    thing is the parts cost more than finished lures, which I why I haven't
    tried to make my own.  If you find a source of supply thats cheap, I'd
    be interested in trying this myself.
    
    brian

Brian,

The Netcraft catalog lists minnow style plastic bodies for about $9.50 for a 
quantity of 12.  These are not the bodies I originally ordered from them but 
they _say_ thay they are much better quality than what I ordered (it 
figures).  Brass or stainless split rings are cheap and buying treble hooks 
in 25 packs are inexpensive as well.

Forgetting the sunk cost of the airbrush and paints (~$150) and not 
including your time, cost to make a finished lure is less than 1/2 the price 
of a store-bought lure.  Netcraft now carries Rattle-Trap style bodies (with 
rattles even) for about 75 cents apiece.  With rings and hooks and paint, 
you should be able to knock out a decent lure for less than $1.50.

-HSJ-

    Anyone out there build there own spinnerbaits? (Cliff Ealy, you still
    out there?)
    
    This weekend while straightening out the fishing stuff I wound up with
    about 20 spinnerbaits, most of which are in poor condition.  Most of
    the skirts are junk and many of the blades are rusted.
    
    Rather than tossing them and replacing them I'm going to buy the
    materials and equipment it takes to rebuild them.
    
    BPS offers a spinnerbait kit for $30, anyone out there have one of
    these?  It includes some sort of hand tool that may just be scissors,
    hard to tell from the photo.
    
    -donmac 

    Don,
    	Look in Cabelas.  They have a ton of stuff for doing your own
    spinnerbaits as well as other lures.
    
    				B.C.

    	The Massebesic Circle (Wildlife Taxedermy) sells skirts and may
    also sell the blades as well. Might be worth while to get them locally
    when you consider the shipping/hadling charge.
    
    	RAYJ

Don,

I usually wait until the show at the Centrum in February to stock up on 
replacement blades and skirts.  There's at least one booth down back that 
makes custom spinnerbaits.  They also sell all sorts of blades and skirts
in different sizes and colors.  

BPS and Cabellas both carry kits and materials to make your own skirts.

-HSJ-

    Don't forget split rings, split ring pliers and swivels - and make sure
    you use natural rubber skirts (They can pick up rust, and are more
    fragile but have more "Lifelike" action).
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

<I usually wait until the show at the Centrum in February to stock up on 
<replacement blades and skirts.  There's at least one booth down back that 
<makes custom spinnerbaits.  They also sell all sorts of blades and skirts
<in different sizes and colors.  

Don,

    Barnicle Bills in Littleton (Rt119 I think) stocks the spinnerbaits made by
the guy at the Centrum. If nothing else you can get the guy's name and address
over there.  I think he lives in Westford... 

    Not recycling spinnerbaits is a sin...  Get changing those skirts & blades.
Heck; about 1/2 of my stock gets new skirts each year and I change the blades
as the spirit moves...

Al

    I too have bought replacement skirts and have changed and painted
    blades.  Most of the replacement skirts I've come across have been poor
    quality, although I'm sure good ones can be found, espcially for a
    price.
    
    Anyway, I've seen all the supplies and accessories in the catalogs and
    was hoping to find someone who actually makes their own skirts (ie buys
    bulk rubber, collars, cuts the rubber etc).  I was planning on watching
    the folks at the show constructing spinnerbaits.  A fellow noter, Cliff
    Ealy used to make his own spinnerbaits, they came out pretty nice.  I
    recall winning at least one tournament on a bait of his.  Besides
    allowing me to create the exact fullness and colors I want in a
    spinnerbaits, I think it'd be fun. 
    
    -donmac

	A "skirt factory" was on my christmas list this year. It's great!
	They're simple to make, and it gives you the capability to make
	up your own color combinations and vary the fullness and length.
	The rubber seems to be the same as they sell at the local flytying
	shops for making rubber bass bug legs, so you don't have to go too
	far to find it, although their color selections are more limited than
	what you'll find in the mail order catalogues.

I have been hearing a lot of talk and references to hand poured plastic
baits being much better than the injected molded type.  I was thinking
that this would be a great way to spend the next couple of months
getting ready for the new season.  Anyone have any comment on how
difficult it is to handpour, where can I get supplies, etc and how much
better are handpours vrs machine made.
    
    Brian

    	Can anyone suggest what type of paint to use on hand carved wooden
    plugs? I've started carving a few and was curious if there is
    something special I should use on them. I'm wondering if certain paints
    may give off odours or not adhere properly.
    
    fiShOn!
    
    _kev-

    	I've tried doing this myself and just repainting existing lures. I
    used regular hobby paint (laquer based) that I thinned enough to spray 
    through an air brush. In actual usage, the fish didn't seem to be bothered 
    by any paint scent.
    
    	One of the things that I had always thought would work well, but
    never got around to trying, is to put a coating of clear epoxy resin over 
    the whole lure. A lot of the paint I used on repaints chipped/scraped off 
    after a couple dozen or so smallmouths. It seemed to stick OK to the
    bare wood though.
    
    	Something that also worked well for me was to paint the bottom of
    the lure white, the rest of the lure black, and put strips of that silver 
    prism tape on the sides of the lure, then go over the whole thing with
    clear laquer. I'd think the resin would work even better. It's very
    hard to otherwise get a shiny (i.e. chrome like) lure finish. The prism
    tape really does the trick for this.
    
    	Ray

    	While on the subject, I had thought of making some 2-part plaster 
    molds of some of my favorite lures, then use some of that minimal 
    expanding foam to fill the mold. 
    
    	The hook eyes would have to all be attached with some sort or wire
    or line, and set in place before filling the mold. Once done, apply a
    heavy clear epoxy resin coating over the painted lure and it should be
    fairly durable I'd think. I'm not sure how durable the bill (lip) of
    the diving lures would be, but you could always go with a stainless 
    steel or plexiglas lip if need be.
    
    	Problem is, when all is said and done, it's probably going to cost 
    as much in supplies and time then it would be to just buy the lure, but
    then that probably applies to most any lure you make.
    
    	Ray

    I have rebuilt some of my wood lures and use an oil stain that I have
    added in some craw-fish scent. It seems to work but I am not sure that
    it helps but it did not hurt.
    
    I found out the hard way that some liquid scent will remove the
    paint from you Poe's Lures.  I put it in the same box with rubber
    worms and that is a NO NO.
    
    I then striped off the paint (its seem to be an expoxy) and stain
    it with an oil stain mixed with craw-fish scent. The results look like
    a brown craw as the wood was spliced with darker wood on top and
    lighter colored wood the bottom.  This winter I have diped the belly of
    the lure in char lure stain.  The finger splice between the top and
    bottom sections make the lure look like a 'brown' pearch.
    
    john
    
    
    
    
    

    I forgot the colored stain can also be used to dip 
    the blades of a spinner bait, thus you can change a
    silver blade of a spinner bait to char, gold, white ...
    if you like by simple dipping that blade in the liquid
    and letting it dry for a few minutes. It cost about $6
    per bottle and last for over a 100 lures.
    
    You can take a very silver metalic lure and dip it in
    the Charteuse stain and the results will be give it a 
    bottom color simular to a yellow perch.  I do remove the
    hooks as it looks strange to see chartreause hooks :)
    
    It hard at first to get a even coating, but I found if 
    you polish it with a soft cloth you can get a better finish.
    (you must do it while wet or in the first 20 to 30 seconds)
     
    john
    

    RE: 20
    
    John,
    
    	At our next club tourney "Catch me one of them Pearch type fish"
    I'd love to see what they look like 8^) !!!!  I don't do a lot of lure
    detailing, but like someone already said, I too use the paint you buy 
    for models.  I believe it's an oil base due to tthe fact it only cleans
    up with paint thinner..
    
    						Gary