Preface - One of the most satisfying experiences a fisherman can have is to catch a fish on a fishing lure he has fashioned with his own hands. The trout angler has excellent books on how to tie his own flies, but little printed information has been available to anglers who want to make their own plugs, spoons, spinners, metal squids, jigs, and other fresh- and salt-water'lures. So that is how this book came to be written.

1. Tools - Before you can make any kind of fishing lures you must have the proper tools. In fact, without the right tools you can't do a good job, and you'll soon become discouraged. On the other hand, if you are equipped with the right tools you'll find lure-making easy and highly enjoyable.

2. Tools #2 - You also need a set of twist drills to use with an electric or hand drill. For the drill press or electric drill- you will need a set of high-speed drills. The high-speed drills can be used for fast drilling without losing their tem­per. For drilling wood or soft metals, carbon drills which are cheaper than high speed drills can be used.

3. Fresh-Water Plugs - The lure known as a "plug" had its origins in the distant past, and no one is sure who made the first lure for fresh-water fishing. The modern wooden fishing plug had its beginnings around 1900, and in the following years several companies started to manufacture these lures for black bass.

4. Fresh-Water Plugs #2 - Another surface plug which has proven effective over the years is the "propeller" type, Fig. 8. This plug has one or two propellers, usually one at the head and another at the tail. When it is retrieved or jerked the propeller blades revolve and throw a spray. Although screw eyes can be used to hold the propeller blades...

5. Fresh-Water Spin Bugs - One of the most effective lures for black bass in fresh water is the so-called "bass bug" which is used with a fly rod. However, these bugs are too light to cast with a casting or spinning rod. But the angler who wants to use such tackle can easily make bass bugs which are heavy enough to cast.

6. Fresh-Water Spin Bugs #2 - A third kind of popping spin bug is shown in Fig. 23. For this one you use the same size wooden body as the popping bug shown in Fig. 19. How­ever, instead of attaching a free-swinging treble hook you add a single hook to the underside of the body. A regular shank hook about size No. 2/0 can be used.

7. Salt-Water Plugs - There are many reasons why you should make your own salt-water fish­ing plugs. First, of course, is to save some money since the larger plugs are quite expensive if purchased. Anglers lose more salt-water plugs than fresh­water plugs. It is possible to fish with one plug in fresh-water for many years.

8. Salt-Water Plugs #2 - You can use the surface popper plugs above as they are, or you can tie some white or yellow bucktail hair around the treble hook at the tail. Do not put on too much hair, especially on the smaller and lighter plugs, or you won't get as much distance on the cast.

9. Spoons - The spoon is one of the best lures the angler can use in fresh- or salt­water fishing. It is compact and heavy enough to cast well especially in the smaller sizes. It can be used when casting or trolling, and attracts all kinds of fish because of its brilliant "flash" and lively, swaying action.

10. Spinners - Somewhat similar to spoons are the spinners which revolve on a wire shaft or a swivel. They are also very effective lures for many fresh- and salt­water fish and an angler should always carry a good assortment of these lures. They are easy to make and very inexpensive when made at home.

11. Spinners #2 - Another popular spinner is the type known as the "Cherry Bobber" or "Cherry Drifter" shown in Fig. 74. This spinner makes use of a wooden, pear-shaped body which gives it buoyancy and prevents it from sinking too fast. You can make these bodies from any light wood, but balsa is preferred because it is easy to work.

12. Jigs - One of the deadliest lures used in salt-water fishing is the jig. It is also becoming more and more popular in fresh-water fishing. This lure, which consists of a metal "head" in which a single hook is embedded also has a "body" or "skirt" of bucktail hair, feathers, nylon, plastic, or other material.

13. Jigs #2 - When the mold has seasoned thoroughly, cut out eyelet grooves and hook slots as well as a carving hole. First you must get samples of the hook size and wire eyelet you will use. The eyelets are easily formed from soft copper or brass wire in the shape shown in Fig. 91. When you have the sample eye­let and hook, place them in position on the plaster mold and trace around them with a pencil to indicate the part which will have to be removed.

14. Metal Squids - Metal squids are used by many salt-water fishermen and are especially popular for surf fishing. They can also be used for casting or trolling from a boat in salt water. Metal squids come in various sizes and weights, and in general look somewhat like a small boat with a V-shaped keel.

15. Metal Squids #2 - Block tin with a small percentage of lead added should be used for pour­ing metal squids. Block tin can be obtained at times from a junk dealer who handles scrap metals. Used alone, it has a tendency to crack easily but adding some lead will make it more flexible and easier to bend without cracking.

16. Eel and Eelskin Lures - Eel and eelskin lures are not strictly artificial lures but are included in this book because they are very effective lures and many anglers would like to know how to rig and make them. Besides, they are used like artificial lures—being cast or trolled and given action in the water. Also many of these lures make use of metal parts besides the eel itself.

17. Other Lures - The chapter will describe how to make other fishing lures, not covered in the previous chapters. One problem often encountered in both fresh and salt water is how to cast tiny lures such a small panfish bug, a tiny spoon, or a light jig, with heavy fishing tackle. Some of these lures may weigh only a fraction of an ounce and are too light to cast with a spinning, bait-casting, or surf spinning rod.

18. Sinkers - Fishing sinkers don't come under the heading of "lures" but since they are widely used and many anglers mold their own, they should be included in this book. Also, making sinkers is similar in many ways to molding metal squids or jigs. By the nature of their use, sinkers are lost even more often than most fishing lures so it really pays to make your own.

19. Leaders and Connections - Leaders and connections such as snaps and swivels also cannot be con­sidered "lures," but they are used with lures and are vital when it comes to catching fish. And most fresh- or salt-water anglers have to tie or make their own leaders. In fact, with increased fishing pressure and more fishermen on lake, river, and ocean, fish are more wary and harder to catch.

20. Care and Repair of Fishing Lures - After the fishing lures are made there is still the problem of taking care of and repairing them so that they are always in good condition. This re­quires some effort and time but is usually easy for the angler who makes his own lures. Since he made them and put them together, he also knows how to take them apart and repair them.

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