Wooden Fishing Lure

วันพุธที่ 14 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2555

7 Tips To Making Your Own Wooden Fishing Lures

I have not had much to do with making my own wooden lures even though I have been fishing for a lot of years and against my better judgement, decided to give it ago. As anglers and fishos, we all know what it is like, the cost of replacing lost lures. Little did I know what I had gotten myself into!! so I thought I would put something together to give any budding lure designers a helping hand.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make your own top water wooden fishing lures and did not know where to start? If you have thought about it and like me thought, "it's just going to be to hard", well don't, because I have done some hard yards and have put together several inportant tips that will put you on the road to making your own Wooden Fishing lures that work perfectly the way you want them to, are professionally finished, cost less and give you that great sensation when you catch your first fish on a lure that you have made.

If you are like me and been arround a few years and have been fishing since you could walk, you will know what it is like over the years to loose that favourite lure that wasn't cheap to buy or to loose that new lure that you are trying for the first time and seeing it swim away in the side of the fishes mouth, Another missed Photo Op. or see it smashed after one hit!!

There is just so many lures to choose from when you walk into the tackle shop today, I can stand there for hours admiring them all. I want them all!!! but it comes down to how deep are your pockets. Sometimes I wonder if I should invest in a Fishing Tackle Shop then I could get the Fishing Lures at cost!

But that thought is quickly put out of my mind because I would have to work more and that might mean I would loose valuable fishing time. So I think I'll give making my own wooden fishing lures ago it cannot be to difficult right? I mean what could be more satisfying, then to catch that perfect fish on a lure you built yourself. Not only that, I can build up my fishing tackle and my lure box and not hurt my wallet as much which means I can use the money I save to buy other fishing gear. That sounds like a plan because you can never have enough fishing gear.

So enthusiastically I started and a short time later decided I needed to give myself a server slap in the face!! What was I thinking? there were so many things I did not think about and when I finally got my first lure in the water I nearly broke down and wept. The thing would not swim properly and the paint was coming off after only a few casts. At this point I was ready to chuck it in and thought what a wast of time but after giving it more thought, (which I should have done in the first place), I decided to sit down and make up a plan which took into consideration the basic things that I had not thought about and problems I had not thought of!!

Anyone who has ever attempted to make wooden fishing lures will understand the months and sometimes years of trial and error that go into consistently getting it right. Along the way we all experience failures.

The lures that don't swim properly and/or have a poor action

Lures that spin when retrieved or trolled

Lures that won't dive or aren't properly balanced

Lures that won't dive deep enough

Lures that have the wrong angle of attack

Lures that don't swim straight and just can't be tuned to swim straight

Lures that don't have the intended combination of action and dive depth

Lures that don't perform properly once the terminal tackle is fitted

Lures that just aren't strong enough to cope with fierce fish or tough conditions

Lures that perform OK, but don't have the quality paint job of professional lures

On and on the list goes

So with these problems in mind I decided to put some steps in place that would if not eliminate then minimise the issues you will have making your own lures.

The best and most important thing you can do is research and remember 'If you dont quit, you will succeed.

Tip # 1 - Types

Go to the tackle store, get online it doesnt matter how but spend some time studying the different kinds of wooden lures that you can buy or make and what makes them work. Even if you never get started making your own lures, taking the time to do this will improve your lure fishing success, because you will get to know how to pick the best lure for any set of circumstances. For example, knowing the combination of body shape, bib size and angle, bib shape, tow point location, internal weighting and hook selection that's required to make a deep diving lure (for example) will save you hours of wasted time and frustration making lures that just won't do the job. Likewise, if you need a shallow diver, jerk bait, casting lure or bibless minnow. You need to know how and why they work so that you can custom make wooden lures to meet your exact needs.

Tip # 2 - Style

There are so many different types of wooden lures you can make. Minnows (floating, suspending or sinking), bibless lures, jointed minnows, topwater lures (fizzers, buzz baits, prop baits, chuggers and skipping poppers), stickbaits, jerkbaits, sliders,...etc, etc. These different lure styles all require similar wood working skills, but there is a world of difference in the way they are designed and built. Pick a style of wooden lure initially, and persevere until you work out how to consistently make that style of lure over and over again. When you can consistently make a wooden lure that not only swims, but has exactly the action you require and consistently catches fish, then it's time to start making another style.

Most new lure makers seem to start with either bibbed (floating/diving) lures or topwater lures like chuggers and prop baits. Both of these styles are relatively easy to make, so they are good starting points. Bibbed minnows are a good place to start because they are one of the most versatile and consistent fish catchers around.

Tip # 3 - Design

If there is a quick way to get frustrated and eventually give up on wooden lure making, it is to start carving a piece of wood without a firm plan in mind. You need to be able to visualise what your finished lure will look like before you start, or the result will almost certainly be a useless lure and wasted time. Search around for some lure templates, or try to shape something similar to your favourite fish catching lure from the tackle shop. If you are new to lure making you will waste less time if you start by making a lure design that is proven to work. Once you have it perfected, you can start modifying your lure template, or creating your own designs without suffering too many failures. Make templates, because doing so means that when you design your own wooden lure and it is catching fish, you can use the template to make more and more of the same lures over and over again, and they'll all be just as effective. All you will need to do is change the paint job and/or maybe target a different species.

Tip # 4 - Timber Selection

What timber to use? When you start out be careful because nothing will dampen your enthusiasm faster than making a beautiful lure, but using the wrong wood and finding it doesn't work properly, is too hard to shape, is unbalanced or paint doesn't stick to it. There are thousands of timbers that can be used to make wooden lures successfully. But there are just as many that don't work so well. Stick with timbers that are light in weight, even if you are going to make sinking lures. Soft enough to easily shape, and yet strong enough to take the punishment.

Balsa wood is great for many freshwater applications, but can be a little too soft for some saltwater ones. Cedars, basswood and pine are generally pretty reliable.

Tip # 5 - The Paint Job

Firstly "dont stress", if the other attributes of the lure are working O.K. the fish will most likely strike at it anyway regardless of how the paint looks. You can get your homemade wooden lures to look every bit as good as any bought one, but it won't happen overnight. Probably more effort, time and tears go into working out a system for painting wooden lures than any other aspect of lure making. The good news is, while you're learning to turn your plain wooden lure bodies into works of art, the fish will be just as happy to eat the practice ones that you learn with. Don't be discouraged if it takes a long time to get the painting process as good as you want it to be. Just keep making and painting lures, and don't be worried about throwing some of your reject paintjobs in front of fish, because if the size and action are right the paintjob really isn't that important!

Tip # 6 - Source the Components

When you start making lures it is importand to find sources for all the materials you will need. Develop a list of all the components and sources for all the materials you need. Compile a list of the company names, addresses, phone numbers and web addresses for everything you will need to get the lure finished.

Tip # 7 - The Right Tools

When starting out you dont have to spend heaps on tools but you will need some basic tools to get started. Having the right tools will save a lot of frustration. You can slowly build up your tools but it is a good idea to source what is required and where you can get them from at the right price. As with the components, develop a list of the tools you will need and again compile a list of names, addresses and phone numbers of where you can get them.

I hope these 7 tips have been helpfull and will assist all the budding new lure makers out there to to give it a go. There is a lot of help out there from the guys that have been doing it for many years and have a wealth of experience. So dont be stubborn like I was and bash away at it. All the info to get you making your own lure professionally and landing that first fish on your own lure is out there. Remember Tight Lines and No Bananas.

Thank You For : http://www.streetarticles.com

How to Make a Fishing Lure From Wood

Fishing is both a recreational activity and a full-fledged sport. Some people take fishing so seriously they insist on making their own fishing lures to ensure they get the best lure possible for the type of fish they plan to catch. Wood lures are sturdy and can be carved into anything so you are free to make whatever you wish.

Instructions

Step 1

Choose a piece of sturdy wood that will withstand the constant moisture from fishing. Draw the outline of the lure on the wood in pencil. With a carving knife, chip away at the edges, so you become closer to the actual outline of the lure. Then in smooth strokes, carve more carefully to the actual shape of the lure.

Step 2

Put on some gloves. Get a piece of sandpaper and sand the edges down. This may take some time as you want to sand all the way down to the drawn lines on the wood so that you are essentially shaping the lure with the sanding process. Sand all the surfaces until you have the shape you desire and all sides are nice and smooth.

Step 3

Draw a dot where you want the hooks to be inserted. With a small handheld drill, drill the holes for the hooks. Sand the top to make it smooth. Then carefully squirt a small amount of superglue in the hole. Press the steel or wire hook into the hole. Squirt a small amount of superglue on the sides of the hook in the hole so the hole is filled. Hold in place so the superglue can dry.

Step 4

Paint the lure with a paint that is water resistant and has a sealant included, if possible. Look at pictures of hooks you like online or in magazines and books. Use these as your model for painting if you need help or aren't sure what coloring and pattern you would like. That's it! You just made your own wooden fishing lure. Good luck fishing.

Thank You For : http://www.gardenguides.com

A fish is any member of a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic craniate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups. Most fish are ectothermic ("cold-blooded"), allowing their body temperatures to vary as ambient temperatures change, though some of the large active swimmers like white shark and tuna can hold a higher core temperature.

Fish are abundant in most bodies of water. They can be found in nearly all aquatic environments, from high mountain streams (e.g., char and gudgeon) to the abyssal and even hadal depths of the deepest oceans (e.g., gulpers and anglerfish). At 32,000 species, fish exhibit greater species diversity than any other group of vertebrates. Fish are an important resource worldwide, especially as food. Commercial and subsistence fishers hunt fish in wild fisheries (see fishing) or farm them in ponds or in cages in the ocean (see aquaculture).

They are also caught by recreational fishers, kept as pets, raised by fishkeepers, and exhibited in publicaquaria. Fish have had a role in culture through the ages, serving as deities, religious symbols, and as the subjects of art, books and movies. Because the term "fish" is defined negatively, and excludes the tetrapods (i.e., the amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) which descend from within the same ancestry, it is paraphyletic, and is not considered a proper grouping in systematic biology.

The traditional term pisces (also ichthyes) is considered a typological, but not a phylogenetic classification.

The earliest organisms that can be classified as fish were soft-bodied chordates that first appeared during the Cambrian period. Although they lacked a true spine, they possessed notochords which allowed them to be more agile than their invertebrate counterparts. Fish would continue to evolve through thePaleozoic era, diversifying into a wide variety of forms.

Many fish of the Paleozoic developed external armor that protected them from predators. The first fish with jaws appeared in the Silurian period, after which many (such as sharks) became formidable marine predators rather than just the prey of arthropods.

วันอังคารที่ 28 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2555

Choosing thе rіght bass fishing bait fοr a given fishing situation іѕ determinant tο thе success οf catching a bass. Speaking аbουt bass baits, live baits аrе still thе indispensable сhοісе аnd proven effective bait іn bass fishing. Bυt thе υѕе οf fishing lures provides ѕοmе advantage over thе live bait bу іtѕ wide range οf varieties аnd practicality. Amοng numerous types οf lures thеrе аrе ones thаt consistently outperform thе others іn catching a bass successfully. Here іѕ thе list:

1 – Plastic Worms. Thіѕ bait ѕhουld bе given credit fοr thе ability tο catching more bass thаn аnу οthеr bait. Thеу аrе highly flexible аnd саn bе used tο fish frοm top tο bottom. Plastic worms offer a wide range οf sizes аnd colors. Thе available size ranges frοm thе tіnу 3 inches long tο a giant worm οf 10 inches long. Yου саn find аlmοѕt аnу desired color οn уουr discretion.

Plastic worms аrе thе appropriate сhοісе fοr fishing іn waters wіth thick weeds even іn thе thickest cover whеrе thе bass аrе hiding аnd wait tο take thе bait. Yου саn rig thеm іn Carolina οr Texas style, οr οn a jig head, weightless οr whateverpresentation уου lіkе tο carry out аnd thеу wіll gеt a bass.

2 – Crankbaits. Thеѕе lure resemble a crawfish οr baitfish whісh аrе thе two preferable foods οf bass. Crankbaits аrе available іn wide range οf shapes, sizes аnd color. Yου саn cast thеm easily аnd wіll bе effective іn аlmοѕt аll kind οf water. Yου саn υѕе thеm tο fish іn fаѕt streams аnd cover water tο gеt аn active bass. It іѕ suggested tο learn аnd train yourself tο fish a crankbait whісh wіll add tο уουr arsenal οf effective lures.

3 – Spinnerbaits. Spinnerbaits іѕ considered аѕ one οf thе best сhοісе fοr bass fishing, іn spite οf οthеr available choices fοr bass fishing baits whісh wе аrе discussing now. Spinner baits аrе still thе best pick due tο іtѕ ease аnd versatility. Yου саn easily match a spinner bait wіth countless οf fishing situation аnd condition.

It performs well іn аlmοѕt аll types οf cover аnd structure аt аnу season. Whether іn summer, autumn, winter аnd springtime οr whatever water condition, muddy οr clear, warm οr сοld аnd deep οr shallow. Spinner baits саn bе easily adapted аnd applied tο weeds, brush, grass, stumps, standing timber, rock piles, rip-rap, boat docks οr аnу οthеr specific type οf structure οr hiding рlасе.

4 – Topwater Plugs. Catching a bass wіth thіѕ type οf lure wіll bе very exciting. Imagine thе crashing smash οf thе caught bass hitting thе surface. Topwater lures аrе available іn various sizes, color аnd action. Topwater plugs аrе suitable tο bе used during early morning οr late evening hours whеn thе conditions аrе a bit dаrk wіth low light.

Thіѕ lure іѕ аlѕο mοѕt effective іn condition wіth lіttlе wind аnd wіth thе presence οf active ripples οn thе surface ѕο іt wіll nοt frighten thе bass whеn іt cuts through thе water. Letting thе bait mονе through still water wіll arouse thе suspicion οf thе bass

5 – Jig аnd Pig. Thіѕ іѕ аmοng thе best сhοісе tο catch a bіg bass. Commonly used іn game fishing whеrе ѕοmе fishermen won tournaments using thіѕ jig аnd pig. Providing thе look οf a crawfish, thе jig аnd pig іѕ a gοοd treat fοr bіggеr bass whісh іѕ thеіr favorite food.

6 – Bucktail Jig. Thіѕ іѕ very simple lure bυt very effective tο catch аnу type οf fish. It consists οf a plastic straight οr curly tail whісh саn match a lot οf fishing condition.

7 – Tail Spinners. It іѕ a very effective bait tο catch bass іn deep water. Eхсеllеnt fοr сοld water fishing whеn thе bass аrе inactive аnd a bit lаzу tο gο аftеr a bait quite far frοm thеm.

8 – Spoons. Thе weedless spoon type attached tο a trailer іѕ a very effective method whеn fishing іn grassy аnd heavy cover waters wіth better results compared tο οthеr baits. Thеіr flash аnd twist аrе thе effects thаt trigger thе bass tο strike.

Thank for : http://www.bassfishing-tips.net

“Most guys set the hook wrong!”

We spend a lot of time in a boat fishing, much of that time with guys who make their living fishing whether that’s fishing on a professional bass fishing tournament trail or guiding fishing clients on a local lake 350 days a year. These guys have had more than the average angler’s opportunity to learn from mistakes. So we pick their brains, mining for a few nuggets of information we didn’t already know.

But I often ask guys one question over and over regardless of what subject we’re discussing.

“What do you see most anglers doing wrong?”

That question more than any other gets a lot of good responses but I don’t ask it so they can poke fun. I ask it because if we at Wired2Fish can identify the common mistakes and not-so-common ones as well, we can make you a better angler in all facets of the game.

One topic that has come up a lot this year is hooksets. I spent the majority of this year testing some theories on hooksets that I’ve gotten from a myriad of anglers from all over the country. Let me tell you, it’s tough to play with hooksets when the fish are biting and you run the risk of losing them because you’re “trying something different” on them.

But more professional anglers notes that your weekend and beginning anglers set the hook poorly and it results in more lost fish. Which if you’ve fished much at all, there’s really nothing worse than losing or breaking off a fish. But we’ve been given some great advice on how to overcome this shortcoming.

Slack. That is the biggest culprit on a bad hookset. It took one angler changing his thinking over the years and losing a bunch of fish to finally figure out that constant tension is more important than jarring hooksets.

“I call it snap setting,” said Greg Hackney, Strike King and Bassmaster Elite Series pro and noted big bass in the thick stuff expert. “We’ve all done it and we’ve all seen other guys do it. The fish bites. What’s the guy do? He drops his rod tip and then starts winding a little a bit and then cracks back as hard as he can. Then the fish fights, jumps and gets off. And you’re left wondering how anyone could set the hook any harder.”

It was actually a practice phenomenon that led Hackney to a realization about good hookset form. He was losing some fish in a tournament and couldn’t explain what it was. Was his hook flexing? Was his he just missing the timing on the hookset? Was he setting it too hard? Or maybe to soft?

The next tournament he was practicing and a fish bit and he started shaking his rod trying to get the fish to let loose as he didn’t need to stick him now and wanted to save the fish for the tournament. The fish pulled and bent his rod and never let go. Nothing but straight tension on the line and the fish wasn’t letting go.

The next fish and the same scenario unfolded all over again. Then it dawned on him. In practice, he can’t get the fish to let go, no matter how much he pulls on the line. Yet come tournament time, he sets the hook hard enough to drive a nail into a plank of wood and still loses the fish.

Simultaneously he was working on a new line of heavy cover hooks and lures with Strike King that featured hooks that absolutely would not flex.

Now the two ideas have melded into a lockdown approach to setting the hook.

“When a fish bites a lure, say a jig, and you rare down and use that drop the rod and rapid explosive hookset, I believe a lot of times you’re popping the fishing mouth open because there is a bit of slack in the line and the lure all the sudden pops to the front,” Hackney said.

What Hackney has found, that when a fish bites his jig, he mentally slows himself down and starts reeling into the fish. As he does he brings his rod towards the fish reeling until he feels the pressure start. Sometimes his rod even begins to bend at the tip. As the pressure begins, then he starts sweeping his rod back in what he calls “leaning into them.”

“I just reel and lean into them and I feel like the pressure and the sharp points on these new Heavy Cover hooks and the fact they won’t flex means it’s coming up and forward until it finds something to bury into. With hooks that flex, you will find the hooks sometimes scratch and grab but don’t really penetrate because they lost their piercing angle as they flex.”

Now Hackney said he’s hooking and landing nearly every bass that bites and has never felt more confident about his mechanics and his equipment. Rather than popping the fish’s mouth open he’s getting penetration in the mouth and jaw of the fish like never before.

This really stuck with me because I had come to a similar revelation with drop shotting years ago. When you dropshot in clear Ozark Lakes like Table Rock, Beaver and Bull Shoals, you do a lot of vertical fishing, catching fish you see on your graph. I was really good at finding and catching suspending bass in the top of deep standing timber, but I was only hooking and landing them sporadically.

I thought I had to be a rocket reaction hookset guy to get those deep fish up and out of the trees. So at the first little tick or pressure I’d jerk upward. And I’d land some bass. But I started forcing myself to slow my reaction and just reel and raise my rod tip up high as I reel into them. The line goes so tight it slips the drag. That’s when I’m sure they are stuck. My fishing partners still are blown away at how hard I pull on a drop shot fish with 6-pound line. But you know your hooks, you know your line and you know your drag. If you have confidence in all that, then it works just about every time.

That’s where Hackney is at. He’s got confidence in his rods and reels, his line and his new line-up of Heavy Cover hooks and lures from Strike King that when he reels down and puts pressure on a fish and then leans into them, he’s going to have them stuck every time.

Obviously there will always be exceptions. Sometimes you need to let them eat a 12-inch worm a bit longer and you’ve got to give them slack so they can. Sometimes on a frog bite, you may not want them to bury up in the grass while you wind down on them. So it definitely is something that each angler has to figure out for themselves. But I’ve hooked and landed more quality bass this year than in many years in the past and I think a lot of it has to do with the slow down and lean into them approach with good equipment and sharp hooks.

How do you set the hook? Would take the time to experiment and change your technique if you thought it would help you land more bass when fishing different situations on the water?

Thank for : http://blog.wired2fish.com

วันพุธที่ 30 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2554