How to Make Wooden Fishing Lures
In saltwater, you want to use patterns that can attract attention to something brighter. You won’t need all of this gear if you’re using a carving knife. Instead, switch to a pair of damage-resistant carving gloves or thumb guards. If you’re unfamiliar with making your own lures, you can’t go wrong by sticking to a safe choice like balsa or pine. That way, you can make adjustments according to your style and what you encounter on the water.
Learn how to make your own wooden top water fishing lures; I will show you how. http://t.co/cD30wc37Zw
— Kermett Adams (@kluremaker) June 22, 2014
Epoxy is easy to work with and is resistant to cracking and staining. It comes as a spray or a liquid to apply with a brush or sprayer. Make sure the entire lure is well-covered in a consistent layer of epoxy. With the paint and eyes complete, the final topcoat of EnviroTex can be applied. Give the EnviroTex 10 minutes to settle and allow any bubbles to come to the surface of the EnviroTex. Take the torch and quickly pass a small flame over the surface of the lure to pop any bubbles in the EnviroTex.
The taper will start at this line and then end at the 3/8 inch circle that was marked in the previous step. Adding tape along the marked taper line can help when tapering to visualize where to sand and where not to sand. Use the circle template to mark a 1 inch diameter circle and a 3/8 inch diameter circle in the center of the wood on both ends.
Another option is to paint some darker stripes down a yellow lure. You may wish to even out the initial coating by applying a second layer of primer. It isn’t necessary, but it’s a good way to correct inconsistencies. If you don’t have a tack cloth, get a microfiber cloth instead. In (0.32 cm) of wood around the pattern so you don’t inadvertently make the lure too small.
Plan on putting one on the back end and another near the front. If your lure is long, consider making another hole ⅓ of the way from the back end for an additional hook. You could also use a tool like a belt sander to more quickly finish the lure. Keep in mind that finishing a small lure with a big belt sander is a little trickier than finishing it by hand, but it is doable. To make the groove in a popper lure, try using a rotary tool like a Dremel.
Dion Liriano is a 51-year-old American zookeeper who has retired from the business. He was once a highly successful director of the Zoo and Aquarium, but he has since hung up his gloves and moved on to other ventures. Dion's passion for animals began at a young age, when he would help his father care for their family pets. This love grew exponentially when he started working at the zoo; Dion quickly became one of the most experienced keepers in the business. He credits his success to the relationships he built with both staff and animals over the years.