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Home made fishing tackle Here is a simple project that you could do in a weekend. The best part is that the lure can actually catch fish! |
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To start, you'll want: · a small block of wood · a drill & bits · sandpaper · a coping saw · glue · pliers · paper clips · a carving knife · paint - 2 colors · polyurethane or wood sealer · treble hooks · split rings |
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I started out with a small block of wood about 3/4" x 3/4" x 5".In my case, I used scrap pine. You can use whatever you'd like - experimentation is part of the game. I like woods that are light and float easily. Start out be tracing your design's outline on the wood block as shown in figure 1. Next, you'll want to determine where the eyelet holes for the split rings and treble hooks will be and drill out room for the metal that will hold them. This is shown in figure 2. I just eyeball it. Once these are drilled out, you're ready to carve. Carve out your lure into rough shape as shown in figure 3. I use a coping saw to get the rough shape, then a carving knife (or pocket knife) and a rasp or coarse sandpaper to make your piece of wood begin to look like a lure. Note that my lure is shown still attached to the block of wood at this time. This makes carving easier because you can clamp the lure into a vise while working, but you'll want to cut it off before the next step. Once the lure is roughed out, you can insert the wire hardware that will support the hooks. I use simple paper clips and bend them into elongated U shapes as shown in figure 4. I use a thin applicator to spread yellow woodworker's glue into the holes and push the wires in. As shown in the picture, I try to interlock the horizontal and vertical wires for strength, but I have yet to have a fish destroy a lure. After letting the glue dry, I sand the lure to final shape, making sure it is smooth and as hydrodynamic as possible, so that it moves through the water like a minnow. Then it is onto painting. Shown in figure 5, the lure is painted. I paint the entire lure white, using spray paint. What is not shown is that I use the eyelets at either end of the lure to suspend it between pieces of scrap wood. I tie fishing line to each end and use a third piece of string tied to the bottom eyelet to turn the lure as needed to make sure it is totally coated. Then I let that dry. After it is dried, I spray paint the top of the lure with black paint, blending in the sides. I let that dry, then I coat the lure with 2 coats of polyurethane. In figure 6 you see the completed lure with hooks and split rings. I get the split rings at the hardware store or craft supply shop. Then go fishing! |