r/lurebuilding • u/Fishy_Fish_Boy • 9h ago
r/lurebuilding • u/jspencer501 • Jan 02 '20
How to Make Your Own Lures: A Guide series
1. What kind of lures can I make?
- Crankbaits (Lipped and Lipless), Jerkbaits (Lipped and Lipless), Swimbaits, Poppers, Stickbaits, and other topwater lures are all possible, with new lures being invented all the time! Below is an info graphic with a few of the most popular types of fishing lures, but there are many more!

2. What do I need to get started making hard body lures?
- Lure making is not as complicated as it may seem. Yes, power tools such as drills, dremels, lathes and sanding machines all help, but none are necessary. To start all you need is:
- Wood, to carve into the body.
- Tools (at the very least a knife to carve, a small saw, and a drill are all very helpful)
- Sandpaper to finish the bait off smoothly
- Terminal tackle, including hooks and split rings
- Screw eyes or a through-wire (a single wire going through the entire bait that serves as your hook eyes and line tie.
- Weights so your bait sinks, in the form of either split shot, glued into the body, or lead, poured into a cavity.
- glue/sealant, epoxy, and paint
- OPTIONAL: Lip (for crankbaits) Rattles, details such as foil, and power tools, and an airbrush for more smooth
3. What do I need to get started making soft plastics?
- A mold, which can be bought, or made from silicon.
- Plastic resin (plastisol)
- Dye to give color to the lure
- OPTIONAL: Glitter, multiple colors for a more detailed bait
4. What wood should I use?
- Popular lure making timbers include balsa, basswood, cedar, cypress knees, jelutong, beech and some types of pine. But there are thousands of other options. Look for something easy to carve, lightweight and resistant to denting. It’s easier to get all your components aligned properly if you start with straight, square blanks.
5. What paints should I use?
- For brushing on paint, a wide variety of artist acrylics and poster paints will work. Just make sure the paint and clear coat will not interfere.
- For airbrushing, water-based acrylics are the favorite, due to their ability to spray evenly and produce a good coat while remaining non-toxic, and non-flammable.
6. How do I seal my wood lure?
- Wood is like a sponge, it soaks up water. Once in, water works its way through the wood by capillary action until the wood is waterlogged. This kills action, weakens glue and is the most common cause of paint failure.
- Super Glue can be used, where the glue is applied over the entire body, left to soak into the wood, and then the bait is sanded smooth.
- Epoxies are two part synthetic resins that cure hard when mixed. There are some that are designed for penetrating and hardening wood. One example is Envirotex Lite (aka “Etex”). Etex is also great for clear coating painted lure bodies and makes a very strong adhesive.
7. Where can I buy lure parts?
- Below are a few popular websites, Alternatively, some fishing stores and even big box retailers such as walmart may carry some of this stuff, and be sure to support your local tackle shops if possible!
- Mud Hole Tackle
- Angler's Workshop
- Jann's Netcraft
- LurePartsOnline
8. What epoxy should I use?
- Some use prefer to clear coat them with a two part epoxy. Others prefer to use a two pack automotive polyurethane over airbrush acrylics. And still others dip their lures in moisture cure polyurethane.
Below are some some more sources for learning how to build lures, additionally, guides from some of this subs best lure mentors are going to be rolling out very shortly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This stickied post will be used to compile all guides made by our "Lure Mentors." Below are links to each guide, complete with pictures and detailed descriptions for each step. If you would like to become a Lure Mentor, and create guides for this sub Please PM me ( u/jspencer501 ) for more details, you get a cool flair!
Guide 1 - Lipless Crankbait By u/zingerbobingerGuide 2 - Lure made of Paper By u/SolarBaits
More guides will be coming out in the weeks to come! please let me know any comments or concerns.
r/lurebuilding • u/Howie089 • 4h ago
Jig I need help finding a mold for this style of jig.
The inside of it is hollow if that helps
r/lurebuilding • u/Independent-Group670 • 6h ago
Jig Do it molds
Has anyone used a jig hook other than mustad for the do it ultra minnow 2oz-4oz mold? I want to use gamakatsu hooks but the shank on the 7/0 is drastically smaller than the mustad counterpart. Maybe im using the wrong model but any help would be appreciated
r/lurebuilding • u/Gerrythesail • 1d ago
Jerkbait Selfmade jerkbait from wood (pre paint and epoxy) action test
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
My fist ever self made lure from wood
Tub test I put a pic of it in the comments
r/lurebuilding • u/SpinDoctorLarry • 19h ago
Swimbait Swimbait lip repair
Hey everyone. How difficult is it to replace the lip on a floating rapala sizes 07 and 09? I also have some knock offs similar with broken lips. I am located in Canada and wonder if they can be purchased or has anyone created some homemade ones? Thanks!!
r/lurebuilding • u/ABiggerBear • 1d ago
Glidebait Musky trip coming up
Top water frog thing that’s gonna get a spinner tail. A glide bait and a really shallow crank/wake bait
r/lurebuilding • u/DHolum1988 • 1d ago
Popper Popper I made for my brother awhile back
Unfortunately he doesn’t fish much so not sure it will ever catch anything
r/lurebuilding • u/tomlabaff • 2d ago
Popper Lure design
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
I started designing lures recently. Now I gotta learn how to make these irl
r/lurebuilding • u/Meh-56 • 2d ago
Crankbait Finished the deep diver
Have to manage doing a fade with no airbrush, and tried to use some new colors
r/lurebuilding • u/OleDoxieDad • 2d ago
Stickbait My first lure
My wife used her hobby of diamond art to decorate a bobber, I used copper and aluminum wire to create a little current and rig the lure. I plan on redoing it, but going to give it a shot.
r/lurebuilding • u/Silent-Historian-120 • 1d ago
Question best homemade lure creation brands?
ive been wanting to get into making homemade lures like rooster tails or bluefox spinners or bass jig materials? (not looking for bass pro website)
r/lurebuilding • u/Fresh_Use9485 • 2d ago
Jerkbait Cedar musky bait
Tried some foil over cedar. Really like carbon fiber for the bill. Gonna do a walleye next
r/lurebuilding • u/Ok-Maize-8288 • 2d ago
Popper First Lure
Hello! i’m wondering what you’re guys thoughts are on where i get the ring for the front and how to attach hooks? thanks!
I finished this lure with 4 coats of cashew lacquer and i’m going to add another 2 coats to seal the wooden nail holding in the small bbs to make it rattle a little
r/lurebuilding • u/jebbbo • 2d ago
Soft plastic Open Pour curly tail mold?
I have just gotten into lure building, mainly open pour paddle tail soft plastics for pike fishing. Now i want to make my own master and mold curly tail shad, pike sized. Im wondering if anyone here has built an open pour 1part version or do i need a 2-part mold for that?
r/lurebuilding • u/Similar-Cricket5126 • 2d ago
Question Making lures
Hi all, first time posting here so really sorry if this sounds silly.
I have been fiddling around with fusion360 making soft plastics and I’ve designed something I’d love to make. Just wondering if anyone has experience making custom aluminium moulds and how they go about getting them done? I’ve made a mould with my 3D printer as a prototype but now wanting something that’ll look more cleaner and I’m able to use without creating more moulds.
Any companies/ people they know they would be able to refer?
Also, for a mould that can make two soft plastics at once (plastic will be 3 inches long) how much does it roughly cost?
Cheers legends!
r/lurebuilding • u/Personal_Cut7357 • 3d ago
Question In your opinion what scrap material is underrated to make lures?
In my opinion it's the bottom of a can and paper clips, They are surprisingly durable and workable which can make custom spoons or rigs and can make awesome things if paired with big beads which can make a variety of saltwater things
r/lurebuilding • u/tryingnowfailingsoon • 4d ago
Spinner Not a lure, but lure components?
Does that count?
Question for everyone. How do you paint detail on a smooth surface with consistency and without the buildup of coating like I have on these blades (frog spot color)?
r/lurebuilding • u/spinpuzzle • 4d ago
Crankbait Latest build
Today's build finished and ready to go!
r/lurebuilding • u/ConferenceCrazy560 • 4d ago
Question Hi im new to lure Building, do you have any Tipps for a beginne?
Hi im M15 and a pike,perch and Trout fisherman, but im tired of overpriced lure the I will lose sooner or later so I thought I should try to make my own.
I know a Little Bit and I have Seen some things here and there but any Bit of advise would be appreciated.
Thanks for it in advance
r/lurebuilding • u/Defiant-Resident4658 • 5d ago
Soft plastic 3d printed molds for soft plastic
Does anyone have any tips/prints/ suggestions for making molds on a printer? So far I’ve tried a few, all in PETG and absolute terrible results. The only thing I can think to do is take the stl, and transfer it to my cnc and make aluminum molds. But I would like to be able to go from the microwave to the printer. Anyway, having fun with the real molds! Cool hobby
r/lurebuilding • u/KSLUMP28 • 5d ago
Wakebait Top water cork lure
Do you think this could actually work I just made this for fun. I am going to paint it and and the hooks
r/lurebuilding • u/Doggie4781 • 7d ago
Glidebait Keep it a one piece or make it a two piece?
r/lurebuilding • u/BraveSerRobyn • 7d ago
Wakebait Hellrazier-like Topwater Lure
I had never heard of that lure, or even seen anything like it before, so I decided to try to make one... and it works! It rises right to the top and the thump through the rod is insane. I am still working out how to best attach the weight and hook to the blade because I had trouble getting a split ring through the holes. I also need to learn how to tie feather trebles to complete it.