How to Make

Fishing Lures
By

Vlad Evanoff
 How to Make Fishing Lures

Contents
1 Tools ..................................................................................................................3

2 Fresh Water Plugs ...........................................................................................12

3 Fresh-Water Spin Bugs....................................................................................23

4 Salt-Water Plugs ..............................................................................................33

5 Spoons.............................................................................................................43

6 Spinners...........................................................................................................49

7 Jigs ..................................................................................................................58

8 Metal Squids ....................................................................................................68

9 Eel and Eelskin Lures ......................................................................................75

10 Other Lures ....................................................................................................82

11 Sinkers...........................................................................................................87

12 Leaders and Connections ..............................................................................92

13 Care and Repair of Fishing Lures ................................................................100

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 How to Make Fishing Lures

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. So the best procedure is to obtain as
many of the necessary tools in advance before you start making your own lures.

Most anglers will already have some of the tools described here. The rest can be
bought without too much of an investment, and the others can be acquired as the
need arises for them. Unless you want to make all the lures in this book, you
won't need every single tool listed here. If you read the chapter on the particular
lure or lures you want to make, you'll get a good idea of the tools you'll need.
Then make a list of the tools which will be needed to make those lures. Naturally,
many of the same tools will be used for most of the fishing lures. But some lures
will require special tools which must be bought or obtained.

The biggest single item needed for making fishing lures is a bench, table, or
desk. Fortunate, indeed, is the man who has a basement, den, or special room
where he can have a permanent workbench and various power tools to pursue
his hobbies. For many this is out of the question, and they have to do their work
on a kitchen table or desk which must also serve for other uses. This tends to
discourage many who are irked by the chore of taking out and putting away tools
and materials every time they want to work on fishing lures. If you have no
permanent workbench the best solution is to keep your tools and lure-making
materials in a chest, cabinet, or drawer where they are available quickly.

After you have such a bench, table, or desk you need a vise (Fig. A) which will
hold the various lures for drilling, filing, bending, and other operations. Almost
any bench vise of good size will serve the purpose. Unless you have a
permanent workbench, this vise doesn't have to be fastened to the table or desk
until needed.

A small anvil is also useful if you plan to make many metal lures or parts for such
lures. It is used for cutting, bending, punching, and riveting. However, if you get a
big bench vise of the machinist's or utility type you can use the anvil surface
found on such vises. Or you can use a small block of iron with a smooth surface
as a makeshift anvil.

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Figure A. Bench vise.

A hammer, of course, is a basic tool for any kind of work, and for making fishing
lures, about two or three hammers will suffice. If you already have a claw
hammer (Fig. B), you can use it for many lure-making jobs. However, you should
also get at least one ball peen or machinist’s hammer which can be used for
shaping metal, driving punches, cold chisels, and other uses. A 12-ounce ball
peen hammer is a good size for all-round work. Another type of hammer which is
good to have is a soft-faced hammer. These are made of plastic or have rawhide,
fiber or lead faces. The soft-faced hammer is used for bending and shaping
metal and leaves no tool marks. A wooden mallet (Fig. C) is also needed if you
plan to shape your own metal spoons or spinners.

Figure B. Claw hammer (above) and ball peen hammer.

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Figure C. Wooden mallet.

At least two saws will be needed. If you already have a hand saw (Fig. D), it can
be used for working with wood. Since most lures are small, however, a back saw
which has a thin blade and fine teeth is even better than a large hand saw with
coarse teeth for accurate cutting. The other saw which is needed is a hacksaw
(Fig. E) that is used for cutting metal and other hard materials such as plastics.
There are many types of hacksaws on the market, but the adjustable frame with
a pistol grip is best. You will also need several kinds of blades to use with the
hacksaw. These blades have from 14 to 32 teeth to the inch and come in all-hard
or flexible tempers. Each type is best for a certain job, depending on the metal or
material you are cutting. If you have one or two blades of each kind you'll be
prepared for any cutting job.

Figure D. Hand saw (above) and back saw.

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 How to Make Fishing Lures

Figure E. Hacksaw.

Some kind of drill is needed for drilling holes in wood and metal. If you have a
home workshop with a drill press you can use it for most of the work to be done.
It is especially useful when drilling holes in metal. A portable electric drill (Fig. F)
is also a big aid when drilling, metal, especially if you have to drill many holes.
However, when making fishing lures most drilling is done in wood or softer
metals such as brass and copper. Here an ordinary hand drill (Fig. G) will serve
the purpose. Such a hand drill will usually take drills up to ¼ in. in diameter.
When buying a hand drill it's a good idea to get the best you can get. A cheap
hand drill may not work properly or will soon break or wear out.

Figure F. Portable electric drill.

Figure G. Hand drill.

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 How to Make Fishing Lures

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. You
should get a complete set of drills up to about ¼ in. in diameter. The smaller
sizes are the ones you will use most often. It's a good idea to buy two or three
twist drills of the same size in the smaller sizes so that if you break one you'll
have a spare.

Figure H. Types of pliers.

A set of different kinds of pliers (Fig. H) is needed for many jobs encountered in
making fishing lures. Combination pliers which have a slip joint which permits the
jaws to open wide at the hinge to grip large diameters are useful for holding and
bending metal.

Flat-nose pliers are also useful for holding or bending thin sheet metal or wire.
They have a flat gripping surface between the jaws which will hold thin metal or
wire firmly without damaging it too much.

Round-nosed pliers are needed for bending wire into various curves and eyes.
They are especially useful in making spinner shafts and wire leaders. Both jaws
of these pliers are round and tapered toward the end. Curves or eyes of small
radius are bent with the tips of the jaws, while those of greater radius are bent
with the base of the jaws. Even so, you'll need two pairs of round-nosed pliers to
handle most of the work. One pair can be the regular size used for heavy work,
while the other pair should be the smaller jeweler size round-nosed pliers. These
are used for making very small curves or eyes and for fine wire.

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Diagonal cutting pliers are used for cutting fine wire, nails, pins, and screws. The
angle of the jaws on these pliers makes it possible to cut close to a surface.
These pliers are designed for cutting mostly the softer metals and wire. However,
they can be used for steel piano wire or stainless steel wire if they have very hard
cutting jaws. Because of this you should buy the best diagonal pliers you can get.
Cheap ones will not do a good cutting job, and the edges of the jaws will soon be
nicked and ruined if used on hard wire.

For cutting sheet metal into various shapes you'll need hand snips (Fig. I).
Although a pair of straight snips can be used both for straight cutting and for
large curves, duck bill snips are more suitable for all-round work. The duck bill
snips will cut straight lines or curves in either direction. These snips do not
provide too much leverage, and cutting thick metal is hard work. If you want to
make it easier, you can get aviation metal snips which have a compound lever
action. They will cut thicker metal with much less effort.

Figure I. Hand snips.

You will also need an assortment of files to use on wood and metal. Files can be
used to shape wooden fishing lures; for finishing metal molds, jigs, and other
lures, for cutting tempered steel wire, hooks, metal hardware; and for finishing
metal lips, propellers, spinners, and spoons. Files are also needed to keep other
tools sharp and in proper working order.

There are many different types of files in use but four will take care of most of
your needs (Fig. J). The flat file is one of the fastest cutting general purpose files
you can use. It has a broad surface and removes wood or metal quickly. You
should get three flat files with different cuts. One should be a fine single cut
which is used when a smooth finish is required. Another flat file should be a
double cut type which is used for removing wood or metal at a fast rate. This file
leaves a rough surface which must be finished with a smooth file. The other type

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of flat file should be a rasp which is used for rough work when you want to
remove a lot of wood.

Figure J. Shapes of files.

Still another file you need is a half-round file which is also a good general
purpose tool. It has a flat face for flat filing and a curved side for filing curves.
This file can also be obtained in different grades of coarseness.

A triangular or three-square file is used for filing metal smooth where small
surfaces or corners must be worked. It can also be used to cut through heavy
wire, rods, fishhooks, and other metal which cannot be cut with ordinary pliers.
The triangular file is also handy for sharpening chisels, knives, and other cutting
edges.

The round file or "rattail" file, as the name implies, is round and tapered toward
the end. It is used to enlarge holes and for filing small half-round curves.
You'll also need an assortment of screw drivers of various lengths and blades.
The standard screw driver with a handle, shank, and blade will be the one mostly
used and should be obtained in the smaller sizes. You rarely use big screws
when making fishing lures, so smaller screw drivers will be used most of the time.

The screws used in making lures are either plain or nickel-plated roundhead
brass screws. The sizes mostly used are No. 1 by in., No. 2 by in., No. 2 by
½ in., and No. 2 by in. They should be brass because iron screws rust and
weaken the wood, then pull out.

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An electric soldering iron will be required for some jobs. Soldering irons come in
various sizes, but the 90- or 100-watt iron is a good general purpose type (Fig.
K). With this, of course, you'll need soft solders which are alloys of lead and tin.
They can be obtained in wire, ribbon, or bar form. The wire solder is the most
convenient since it has a hollow core like a tube which contains a flux. If you use
bar solder you'll have to buy a flux such as rosin or soldering paste. This is used
to remove the oxide coating from metals so that the solder will take.

Figure K. Electric soldering iron.

Then we have various punches, used for different purposes when making fishing
lures (Fig. L). The most useful is the center punch which is used to make a mark
showing where to drill. For drilling wood you can, of course, use an ordinary ice
pick or awl to make a starting hole. But for metal you need the center punch
which is struck with a hammer to make such an indentation. These punches
come in various diameters and tapers, and two or three sizes will handle most
jobs. Another handy punch is a starting punch which has a long gradual taper
and a blunt point. This is used for clearing holes and can also be used to open
the eyes on big hooks.

You should also possess at least one flat, cold chisel, which is used for cutting
sheet metal, lead, tin, and other metals where other cutting tools cannot be used.

Figure L. Center Punch and Starting Punch.

Finally, you’ll need a sharp knife, single edge razor blade, scissors, dividers,
calipers and a metal rule.

If you really plan to go into making wooden plugs seriously you’ll find a wooden
or metal turning lathe invaluable for turning down such lures. Of course, this is
quite an investment, and unless you really plan to make many fishing lures, it
doesn’t pay to buy a lathe especially for this purpose. But if you already have one
you can use it for such work.

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Somewhat less expensive but very handy is one of those hobby motorized tools
which hold a large variety of small rotary tools. It can be used for drilling,
grinding, polishing, and carving. This tool is especially useful for finishing off
metal molds.

When whittling or shaping wooden plugs or other lures by hand you find a set of
wood-carving tools very useful. These have small chisel type blades which can
be used to cut grooves, cups, holes, and similar indentations. The gouges which
are part of these tools are especially useful for this work.

Then there are various materials such as wood, metal, paints, lacquers,
varnishes, hooks, screw eyes, wire, and other fishing lure parts which you will
need. These will be described in the following chapters in detail, as the need
arises for them. They can usually be bought in hardware stores, fishing tackle
stores, or mail-order houses. Mail order houses often carry a large stock of
fishing lure parts. Write for their catalogs to get descriptions of the lure parts with
prices.

You can also get many of these parts online at such stores as BassPro or
Fishing USA; another good shop is Staminalnc.co

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 modem wooden fishing plug
had its beginnings around 1900, and in the following years several companies
started to manufacture these lures for black bass. Later they made larger and
stronger plugs for pike, muskellunge, and salmon.

Plugs are now widely used in fresh-water fishing, as a look at any fishing tackle
store showcase or counter will reveal. Today there are many different types,
sizes, shapes, and colors of plugs on the market. The angler who wants to make
his own plugs can duplicate many of the more popular models. However, there
are a few basic types, and the construction of these will be covered in this
chapter.

To make plugs you will need wood which can be cut into small blocks and then
shaped to the size and form you require. The best all-round wood for making
fishing plugs is cedar. Straight-grained white cedar is excellent since it is light,
strong, and easy to work. It also stands up better in the water than most woods.
Red cedar can also be used instead of the white variety. Other woods which can
be used for making plugs are basswood and birch.

(Tip: In a hurry to get started? Try an old wooden broom handle, so long as it's
not rotted.)
Most of these woods can be obtained at a lumber yard in large blocks or round
logs. They can then be sawed with a circular saw or hand saw into convenient
small blocks about 6 in. long and about 1 1/2 in. square. It's also a good idea to

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talk to woodworking friends, many of whom have piles of scrap lumber that are
suitable for lure-building.

The fastest way to shape wooden plugs is with a lathe. With a wood turning lathe
or even a metal-turning lathe, for that matter, you can shape the plugs quickly
and uniformly in fairly large quantities. If you already have such a lathe, so much
the better.

When turning down plugs with a lathe, mount one of the wooden blocks between
the centers. Measure and mark the length of the plug you are making on the
wood block with a pencil so you know where both ends will fall. Then start the
lathe and, using the wood-turning tools, shape the wood to the correct diameter,
taper, and shape of the model you are copying. After this is done take some
sandpaper and sand the plug very smooth as it is turning. Then cut the finished
plug off from the rest of the wood.

If you have no lathe you can turn out plugs at a fair speed with ordinary hand
tools. You can whittle plugs from the softer woods with an ordinary sharp knife if
you prefer to work that way.

However, a somewhat easier and quicker method is to secure the block of wood
in a bench vise and then use a rasp to take off the corners. If you cut the block of
wood almost the diameter of the finished plug, you will have less filing to do. In
other words, if the finished plug will be an inch in diameter, start with a block of
wood of about the same diameter or a bit more. Then you only have to round off
the corners with the rasp. After using the rasp for the rough work finish shaping
the plug with a wood file. Then it can be made smooth by using different grades
of sandpaper.

2 Fresh Water Plugs

Several basic body shapes are used in making fresh-water plugs. An old-time
favorite is the "wobbler" type shown in Fig. 1. This plug is simple to make since it
is uniform in thickness with a rounded tail and a grooved head. It should be about
3¾ in. long and ¾ in. in diameter. The dimensions given for all the wooden plugs
here are the so-called "bait-casting" size. These are fairly large fresh-water plugs
suitable for use with bait-casting, spin casting, or spinning rods. They weigh
about of an ounce when finished. If you want smaller plugs strictly for use with
light spinning tackle, make them about one third smaller than the dimensions
given here.

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Figure 1. Wobbler plug.

A simple way to make the wobbler type plug is to cut the head at a 45-degree
angle, as shown in Fig. 2. However most of these plugs are made with a grooved
head. To do this, cut the plug at the same angle, and then carve out the head
with a rotary file mounted in a drill press or hand motor tool. If you haven't got
such power tools, use a small gouge to cut out the groove.

Figure 2. Simple wobbler plug with 45° angle head.

To complete the wobbler plug you'll need three treble hooks and four screw eyes.
To start the screw eye in the wood, first take an ice pick or awl and push it into
the wood where the screw eyes will go to make small holes. Then put the screw
eyes into the holes and twist them in. The screw eye which goes at the head of
the plug (where the fishing line is tied) is forced in "as is." Pliers can be used to
screw it in. The other three screw eyes hold hooks and if the screw eyes are
closed they must be opened. Then slip a treble hook over the eye and close it. If
you want to give the plug a professional look, slip small disc or cup washers over
the shank of the screw eye before you force then into the plug (see Fig. 3). Two
treble hooks are attached below the plug and the third at the rear or tail.

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Figure 3. Treble hook on screw eye.

Screw eyes make inexpensive simple hook hangers and are strong enough for
most fresh-water plugs. However, you can also use special hook hangers to
attach the treble hooks. These are small metal saddles with a stop that prevents
a hook from fouling with other hooks or the fishing line on a cast, or when the lure
strikes the water. The hook hangers have two small holes on each end and are
attached to the plug with small screws, as shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 4. Hook hanger.

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Next we have the surface plugs which ride on top of the water and create some
kind of commotion, such as a splash or ripple. One of the simplest of these is the
"popper" type. It is easy to make a popping plug, using the same plug body as
the wobbler plug described above. You simply turn the plug around and attach
the hooks on the opposite side, as shown in Fig. 5. Here you do not necessarily
need a grooved head. A head cut at a 45° angle will provide plenty of splash and
commotion when jerked. This plug is also made with three treble hooks.
However, if you are making a smaller version of this plug for use with spinning
tackle, it can have only two trebles – one at the belly and the other at the tail.

Figure 5. Popping plug with three treble hooks.

The typical popping type of surface plug is shown in Fig. 6. This plug has a wide,
cupped head and then tapers to a narrow tail. It should be about 2¾ in. long with
the head section 1 in. in diameter and tapering to a tail bout in. thick. This
lure has one screw eye at the head in the center of the cupped head and two
treble hooks, one at the belly and the other at the tail. Because of its shape, this
popping plug is most easily made when turned down on a lathe. However, if you
don't mind the work involved, whittle or file it down with hand tools.

Figure 6. Popping plug with three treble hooks.

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Another type of surface plug which was popular many years ago and is still a
good fish getter is the "collar" type shown in Fig. 7. It is easily turned down on a
lathe in a short time. Make it about 3 in. long and ¾ in. in diameter, the collar
extending about ¼ in. from the rest of the body. Since this collar encircles the
plug it makes a foolproof splasher, no matter how it lands in the water. When
jerked it will throw a spray which attracts fish. This plug has one screw eye at the
head or nose and two treble hooks, one at the belly and the other at the tail.

Figure 7. Collar type plug.

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, a
much better and stronger method is to rig this plug with a wire running through
the center, as shown in Fig. 9. When making this plug, drill a hole through the
center, from the head to the tail. If you have a drill press, do this with an extra
long drill and a jig which will hold the plug body in the correct position. You can
also drill such a hole very easily with a hand drill – if you do it before the plug is
shaped. In other words, drill the hole in the rectangular block of wood through the
center, then rasp and file to finish the plug. To find the center of the block of
wood, draw an X from corner to corner.

Figure 8. Propeller type surface plug.

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Figure 9. Assembly of propeller plug.

The propellers for this plug can be cut out of sheet brass, as shown in Fig. 10.
You can do some of the cutting with hand snips, then use flat and triangular files
to finish the job. A hole must then be drilled in the propeller. Finally, twist the
blades in opposite directions and slant them back so they ill spin.

Figure 10. Shape and size of propeller.

To assemble this plug you need some wire such as the heavier gauges of
stainless steel wire. Cut a short length of about 7 or 8 in. Then, using the round-
nosed pliers, form an eye on one end (instructions for doing this can be found in
Chap. 12). But before you complete the eye, slip on a treble hook. Then slip on a
washer, which will act as a bearing for the propeller blade. This can be a disc or
cup washer, a grommet or a bead, whichever is handy. Next, slip on the propeller
blade, add another washer, and run the wire through the wood plug body from
the rear or tail. Slip on another washer, then the second propeller blade, and
finally the remaining washer. Now form the second eye in front, to which the line
will be attached. To complete the plug, screw in another treble hook at the belly.

Another effective plug is the "darter" type shown in Fig. 11. This plug is 3¾ in.
long with a head about ¾ in. in diameter and tapers to a tail in. thick. The head
slopes downward, starting about one inch from the end. Then a small notch is cut
or filed at the nose of the plug. This plug also has three treble hooks attached,
two at the belly and one at the tail. The screw eye for holding the fishing line is
screwed in at the top of the head where it slopes.

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Figure 11. Darter type plug.

The strictly "underwater" plug shown in Fig. 12 is an old-time favorite that has
taken fresh-water fish consistently through the years. The large bait-casting size
in this plug consists of a body about 4 in. long, ¾ in. in diameter, and the tail
tapers to of an inch. The head part is round with a concave cut on top. This
can easily be done with a half-round file or by holding the plug against a
revolving grindstone.

Figure 12. Underwater plug.

The underwater plug requires a metal lip which makes it dive, wriggle, and travel
under the surface. The shape and dimensions of this lip are shown in Fig. 13. It
can be cut out from sheet brass, and two holes are drilled to cake small screws
for fastening the lip to the wood body. Although a straight metal lip will give the
plug some action, better results are obtained if the lip is bent like a shallow plate
or saucer. This can be done by hammering the metal lip gently with a ball peen
hammer. The hammering can be done against a block of hard wood which has a
depression gouged out to take the metal lip.

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Figure 13. Metal lip for underwater plug.

When assembling the underwater plug, start by screwing in a screw eye under
the head to which the line will be attached. Then fasten on the metal lip with two
small screws just behind this screw eye. Next, about an inch behind the metal lip,
screw in one of the treble hooks. A second treble hook is attached about mid way
between the first one and the tail, and the final treble hook is attached to the tail.
The "jointed" plug is easily made by using the same body as the underwater plug
described above. Only here you cut the wood body in half, as shown in Fig. 14.
The two parts are then connected by screw eyes. The rest of the plug is
assembled the same way as the underwater type, except that only two instead of
three treble hooks are used.

Figure 14. Jointed underwater plug.

As mentioned before, the dimensions given here are for the larger bait casting
size. These plugs will run from about ½ to ¼ ounces in weight. You don't have to
follow the dimensions given here; make the plugs smaller if you want to! The
small spinning-size plugs can be made one-third smaller and these will weigh
between ¼ and ½ oz.

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The treble hooks used on the larger bait-casting size plugs should be either sizes
No. 1 or 1/0. For the smaller spinning size, plugs No. 2 or 4 are more suitable.
Such hooks can be bought in fishing tackle stores, or order them by mail.

If you haven't got the time or desire to turn out the plug bodies with hand tools
you can order different types and sizes of finished wood bodies from some of the
mail-order houses. These wooden bodies are already shaped and sanded
smooth so that all you have to do is assemble the parts, such as the hardware
and hooks. If you want to make plastic plugs, order such bodies from the mail-
order houses. Some of these plastic plugs come complete, all ready for adding
the hooks and other metal parts. Others come in two sections and must be
cemented together.

Before making the wooden plugs described above, decide how they will be
painted. If you plan to dip the plug bodies in enamel or lacquer or spray them
with an airbrush, this should be done before they are assembled. If you plan to
paint them with a small brush, assemble the plugs first and paint them later.

If several wood bodies are to be painted at the same time, you'll find the quickest
method is to dip them into a can of white lacquer or enamel. Before you do this,
screw in a small screw eye or hook into the tail for holding while dipping and
hanging while drying. See Fig. 15. For best results, the lacquer or enamel should
be fairly thin and after the plug body is dipped once it should be allowed to dry,
then dipped again, as many times as is necessary for a good, thick coat. Usually
this base coat will take three or four clippings.

Figure 15. Screw eye or hook holding plug body while it is being painted,
sprayed, or dipped.

You can also spray on solid colors such as white or silver with an airbrush, or by
using one of those pressurized paint cans which can be bought in almost any
hardware store. These are handy to use and the colors dry fast.

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If you paint the wood bodies by hand with a brush, you’ll find enamel is best. It
can be applied fairly thick and usually two cots of white will do the job.

After you have applied the white base coat and it is dry, you are ready to apply
other colors. A simple way to make a red-and-white plug is to use a strip of
masking tape all around the plug about an inch from the nose. See Fig. 16. Then
spray or paint the head part with bright red. When it dries you can remove the
masking tape and you'll have a clean, sharp dividing line between the red and
white.

Figure 16. Tape around a plug, when painting or spraying a read head.

Another good color combination for fresh-water plugs is a lure with a light blue or
green back and silver sides. This looks like many of the minnows found in fresh-
water rivers and lakes. To apply these colors, start with n all-white plug and
brush on light blue or green enamel. When the color is still wet, brush on silver or
aluminum paint along both sides of the plug. Where the silver meets the light
blue or green, blend colors until they are well mixed.

To make a natural fish scale finish on a wood plug, spray blue, green, or brown
over the top or back and sides of the basic white-coated body. Leave the belly of
the plug white. When this dries use a cloth netting tacked loosely on a wooden
frame to apply the scale finish. Hold the plug against this netting from the
opposite side while you spray on the silver with an artist's air brush. To get the
best results you need an artist's airbrush such as the Paasche type (Fig. 17).
With the airbrush you'll need a tank of compressed air or a compressor motor.
The artist's type airbrush results in fine work and you get the best results with it
when making scale finishes or other patterns. With such an airbrush, also, you
can work out various color combinations on your plugs and give them a real
professional look. But if you have no airbrush, don't despair – with a little practice
you can do a pretty good paint job with a brush.

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Figure 17. Artist airbrush.

After the plugs are painted you may wish to give them a more complete look by
adding eyes, although eyes are not necessary to catch fish. Most store-bought
plugs have glass eyes. These are similar to the eves used by taxidermists and
can be obtained from them. They are mounted on wire which is clipped off with
cutting pliers, leaving a short length of wire of about ¼ in. long. Then drill holes in
the plug, put in some quick-drying cement, and insert the glass eyes into the
holes. You can also paint the eyes with a small, pointed brush or dab them on
with a flat head nail dipped in yellow paint. After the yellow dries use a smaller
flat head nail dipped in black to apply the pupil of the eye. See Fig. 18.

Figure 18. Using a flat-head nail to paint eyes on a plug.

The fishing plugs described above and suggestions for making them are just a
starter for the ambitious "do-it-yourself" angler. Many different kinds of plug can
be made or created. The angler can experiment with plug weights and shapes
and work out a lure most suitable for the waters he fishes. One angler may want
big, strong plugs to use for such large fish as muskellunge, pike, Pacific salmon,
etc. Naturally, he will use larger plug bodies, stronger, heavier hooks and heavy
hardware and fittings. Another angler may want small, light lures to use for such
small fish as trout, bass, and panfish. He will make much smaller plugs and use
lighter hooks and hardware. Still another angler may want to create a plug which

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resembles some particular minnow or small animal which fish feed on in the
waters he fishes.

All of these anglers can usually meet such demands more exactly by making or
designing their own fishing plugs.

3 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 1uch tackle can easily
make bass bugs which are heavy enough to cast.

Such lures (which I will call "spin bugs" to separate them from the regular cork or
plastic "bass bugs") should weight at least ¼ oz. or a bit more to cast well. They
are usually bulky, having hair or feathers which hold them back during the cast.

Spin bugs or bass bugs are usually made to resemble some kind of insect or bug
which has fallen into the water. These are generally such big insects as
dragonflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, and grasshoppers. Such insects float and
kick around on top of the water, so spin bugs which do the same are the best
fish-getters. However, some of these lures are also made to resemble minnows,
small fish, or frogs.

The simplest type of spin bug one can make is a small popping bug much along
the same lines as the popping plugs covered in the previous chapter. However,
the spin bugs are much smaller, shorter, and have fewer hooks. And they will
have hair or feathers added to imitate the legs or wings of a bug or insect.

The popping spin bug illustrated in Fig. 19 can be made from soft, light wood
such as cedar or basswood. It should be about 1½ in. long and in. in diameter.
The head slants downward at the regular 45-degree angle. You need two small
screw-eyes and one treble hook to finish this bug. One screw eye goes at the
head for the fishing line, while the other one holds the treble nook at the tail. The
screw eyes and hooks should be smaller than those med for the regular fresh-
water plugs discussed in Chapter 2; a No. 2 or No. 4 treble hook is a good size to
use. The hooks should be sharp, fine-wire types of the best duality. You'll hook
more fish with needle-sharp hooks than with dull, cheap ones.

Before the treble hook is put on the screw eye it should be wound with bucktail
hair, as shown in Fig. 20. First cut your bucktail hair so that it is only slightly
longer than the shank of the hook. Next, get some fly-tying thread and make a
few turns with it around the hook shank near the eye. Now form three or four
pinches of the bucktail hair and have them ready. Take one of the pinches of
bucktail, lay it against the hook shank, and wind several turns of thread around it.
Add another pinch of bucktail next to the first one and wind some thread around

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it. Keep doing this until the hook shank is completely covered by the bucktail.
Finish off the wrapping with more turns and bind it with a whip finish or a series of
half hitches. Then coat the thread wrapping with fly-tying cement or with one of
the clear, quick-drying cements which come in tubes.

Figure 19. Popping spin bug.

Figure 20. Tail hook wound with bucktail.

Figure 21. Winding bucktail hair to make wings.

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Figure 22. Using the front part of a plug body to make a spin bug.

To make the wings of the spin bug which project from the sides, use bucktail or
other hair. Take two pinches of the bucktail and wrap the butts tightly with fly-
tying thread, as shown in Fig. 21. Then dip or dab the windings with clear,
waterproof cement. After they dry, drill two holes in the wood body if the bug, one
on each side. When you do this, make sure that the holes are just big enough to
take the butts of the bucktail wings snugly. In other words, it should be a tight fit.
Then dip the butts of the wings in clear cement and insert them into the holes.
You can also force a drop or two of the cement into the holes with a stick or
brush. When the cement dries the bucktail wings will be held firmly in place.

Another type of popping spin bug can be made, using the plug body of the
popping plug described in the previous chapter. Only here you cut off the tail
section so that the bug is short, as shown in Fig. 22. This bug can also have a
treble hook wound with bucktail hair and wings at the sides.

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. To attach this
hook, first drill a shallow hole underneath the body, about half inch from the tail
end. This hole should be large enough to take the round eye of the hook. The
next step is to slit a narrow groove in the wood, running from the hole to the end
of the body. This will accommodate the hook shank. See Fig. 24. Now wind some
bucktail on the hook shank, about a half inch from the eye of the hook, then force
the hook eye and shank into the hole and slot. After this, get a small screw and
screw it through the hook eye. This will hold the hook firmly in place. See Fig. 25.
Then get some plastic wood and fill up the hole and slit to conform to the round
body shape of the bug. To complete the bug, wrap on two bucktail or feather

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wings on the top or sides of the bug body. The tying thread can be wound
completely around the body. Then dab some clear cement on the winding and
paint over this winding when the cement dries, so that it doesn't show.

Figure 23. Popping spin bug with a single hook.

Figure 24. Hole and slot in a bug, to take a hook.

Figure 25. Single hook inserted in hole and slot.

Such single hook spin bugs can easily be made weedless by adding a wire hook
guard made from fine stainless steel or piano wire. Use a nail or thick wire to
form the eye of the guard, as shown in Fig. 26. When making the single hook
spin bug, this wire is slipped on the small screw first, then the hook. In other
words, the same screw holds both the wire guard and the hook in place.

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Figure 26. Adding a wire hook guard to make a spin bug weedless.

The next spin bug is a silent type which has a pointed nose instead of a cupped
or slanted head. This type of bug resembles a minnow or some other kind of
small fish more than it does a bug. It swims through the water creating a ripple
like a minnow cleaving the surface of a stream or lake. The construction and
dimensions of this lure are shown in Fig. 27. The wood body should be about 1½
in. long and ¾ in. in diameter. The quick way to make this bug is to fasten a
screw eye in the nose and another one at the tail, for free-swinging treble hook or
a single hook. The treble will hook more fish, but the single hook will snag less in
the weeds. To give this bug a minnow appearance, the hook should be wrapped
with four or six rooster hackle feathers, long enough and wide enough to cover
the treble (or single) hook. When tying these feathers on the hook, wrap a few
turns of the thread under them to make them splay out. In other words, try to
make the hackles slant out away from the hook. This will give them a "breathing"
action in the water. If you want to, tie in another hackle feather near the hook
eye, then wind it around the hook to form a collar of hackle.

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Figure 27. Silent type spin bug.

To make a stronger bug of this type, run a wire through the wood body from nose
to tail and form eyes at each end to take the line and the hook. And, instead of
using hackle feathers, tie some long bucktail hairs around the hook shank.

A somewhat heavier and larger type of spin bug can be made, as shown in Fig.
28. This is also a minnow type of lure since it is shaped more like a small fish
than an insect. However, if you want to do so, it can be dressed up with wings or
other hair or feathers on the body, to resemble a very large bug. The way it
stands with a streamlined body and only a few feathers on the hook makes it an
excellent casting lure when used with a spinning outfit. The body can be about
2½ in. long and ¾ in. in diameter at the thickest part in the center. It tapers to a
rounded nose and tail on both ends. Small screw eyes can be used at the nose,
under the belly and at the tail to hold the two treble hooks. The rear treble hook
can be wound with short bucktail hair.

Spin bugs can also be made to imitate small frogs, which are a favorite food of
black bass, pickerel, and pike. You can easily make such a bug as shown in Fig.
29. The wood body should be 1¾ in. long and about in. wide; in depth it can be
about in. thick. The head is cut out, as shown in the side-view drawing in Fig.
29. To make this lure you need a regular length shank hook with a hump such as
those used for tying cork bass bugs. First, wrap the hook shank with fine fly tying
thread, and then cut a slot in the belly of the wood body to accommodate the
hook. Make sure that you cut a groove deep enough to take the hump of the
hook. The next step is to put some clear quick-drying cement both on the
wrapped hook shank and inside the slot of the wood body. You can use a thin
knife blade to push this cement into the slot. Force the hook shank into the slot of
the wood body and fix it in its permanent position. When the cement dries, fill the
slot with plastic wood. To finish off this bug, drill holes near the head to add a
couple of short pinches of bucktail hair to simulate legs, and then drill two more
holes near the tail and insert two longer pinches of bucktail to simulate legs.

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Figure 28. Minnow type spin bug.

Figure 29. Frog type spin bug.

The spin bugs described above are made from wood and have enough weight to
cast with a light spinning or casting outfit. You can also make them from cork, but
you'll have to add some lead to provide enough weight for casting. For this you
will need some sheet lead and lead wire. If you have trouble getting sheet lead
you can always get some lead sinkers and pound them flat with a hammer. Lead
wire can be obtained from some of the mail-order supply houses.

Before we go into the methods of loading a cork bug with lead we will describe
the basic construction of such a bug. You can obtain cork cylinders or cork bass
bug bodies, already shaped and sanded smooth, from the mail-order houses and
fly-tying suppliers. They come in various lengths and thicknesses, but for best
results use the largest sizes.

To make a cork bug you'll need long shank double-hump hooks, as shown in Fig.
30. Sizes 1/0 and 2/0 are best for spin bugs. The hook shank is then wrapped
with fine fly-tying thread along the section which will be buried in the cork body.
This wrapping provides a better gripping surface than the smooth metal of the
bare hook.

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The next step is to cut a slot along the bottom of the cork lengthwise, to take the
hook. This can be done with a single-edge razor blade, or you can use a small
saw such as a hacksaw. This slot should be just deep enough to bury the hook
shank in the body. See Fig. 31. Another method often used is to cut out a
triangular wedge along the bottom, as shown in Fig. 31. Whichever method you
use, coat the wrapped hook shank with clear, waterproof cement and, if you have
a slot in your cork body, also force some cement into it. Some anglers prefer to
use a waterproof marine glue such as the plastic resin type instead of the clear
cement. Both are good, although the plastic resin glue is somewhat stronger and
more permanent.

After the hook shank has been covered with cement and you have worked some
of the cement into the cork body, force the hook into the slot. Then wrap the cork
body fairly tightly with some cord to press the slot together while the cement
dries.

If you cut a triangular wedge out of your cork body, coat your hook shank with
cement or glue and push it in place, into the cork body. Then add more cement
or glue to the area which has been cut out and also to the wedge itself. Put the
triangular wedge back in place and tie some cord around the cork body to hold it
in place while drying.

To add lead weight to a cork spin bug, use a cork body shaped like a bottle
stopper. In other words, don't round off the tail part but leave it flat like a cork
bottle stopper. Then cut a round piece from a sheet of lead to fit neatly at the tail
end of the cork body. If you are using a single hook on your spin bug, cut a small
slot in the lead so that the weight can be slipped over the hook. Then drill a hole
in the center of the round lead weight to accommodate a small screw. Now coat
both the tail end of the cork body and the lead weight with cement and screw the
lead piece in place on the cork. See Fig. 32.

If you are making a spin bug with a treble hook instead of a single hook, you go
through the same steps. Of course, you do not need a slot in the lead weight now
– only a small hole in the center of the round lead. You slip this lead onto the wire
used in the "through-the-body" construction of this type of spin bug, then form a
wire eye at the tail to take the hook. You can also cement or glue the lead weight
onto the cork body, but the wire eye will keep it in position.

When making a spin bug with a pointed or rounded tail, wait until the lure is
finished with feathers or hair. Then get some of the lead wire and wind it around
the hook shank next to the cork body, or wind the lead wire around the cork body
itself. See Fig. 33. In any of these operations, always make sure you do not add
too much lead weight. Otherwise, the cork body will sit too low in the water or will
be cocked at the wrong angle.

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Figure 30. Long shank double-hump hook.

Figure 31. Cork bug bodies prepared for the hook.

Figure 32. Adding a lead weight to a cork bug.

Figure 33. Cork bugs weighted with lead wire.

To finish off the cork spin bugs, add hackle feathers at the tail and wings on the
body, as described for the wood type spin bugs above.

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In painting any of the wood or cork body spin bugs use enamels or lacquers. If
you want to, dip the body three or four times in the color. Or, if you have an
airbrush, spray the bugs. A quick way to paint them is to use the fast-drying
"dope" used by model airplane builders. This comes in many colors and you can
add one coat after another in a short time. Wood will require only two or three
coats, but cork is more porous and rougher and may take more coats.

You can use any color combinations you want on bugs, but the most effective
ones are usually black body and wings, brown body and wings, or yellow body
and wings. A bug with white body and white tail or wings is easily seen and is as
good as any. When making the silent minnow-type bug, use silver or gold paint
on the sides of the body. The frog-type can have a white or yellow belly and
green back with black spots.

You can also give spin bugs a fuzzy or hair finish on the body. This is done by
first painting the bug the color you want, then giving it a coat of clear cement or
celluloid enamel. Then, while it is still wet, sprinkle with bits of hair, wool or floss.
These materials, of course, have to be prepared in advance by cutting or
chopping up the hair, wool, or fur finely.

Still another finish on spin bugs can be obtained by using flitters. These are small
metallic chips of gold or silver which can be scattered on the wet coat of cement
or clear celluloid enamel of the bug body. They are given a coat of clear lacquer
afterwards, to prevent the metallic chips from tarnishing. Although many bugs
made professionally have glass eyes, these are not really necessary. It is much
quicker and less expensive to paint on the eyes or dab them on, as described
and shown in Chapter 2. You can also obtain decal eyes from some of the fly-
tying and mail-order houses and attach these quickly.

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4 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. But you're
lucky if you don't lose some salt-water plugs in a few days of fishing. The fishing
line may break on a cast, or the plug gets tangled in rocks, piles, or weeds. Also,
the big salt-water fish are always breaking lines and taking the plugs with them.
Finally, the wear and tear on salt-water plugs quickly ruins the paint and the
wood body and rusts the hooks. A saltwater fisherman continually has to replace
lost or ruined plugs.

Furthermore, fishing with salt-water plugs is comparatively new. Fishing with

such plugs didn't really become popular until after World War II, so there is still
plenty of room for experimentation. Many salt-water anglers, especially surf
anglers, are always trying to create new plugs or improve the old ones. They add
stronger hooks, rearrange hooks, make plugs of different shapes, sizes, and
weights, and try out different color schemes.

Salt-water plugs can also be made from cedar, and this is the best wood to use
for the smaller type plugs. This light wood has the buoyancy to support metal
parts such as lips, screw eyes, screws, and hooks without sinking. The use of
cedar is especially important when making surface plugs. But cedar may be too
light for the larger-sized salt-water plugs, unless loaded with lead. Hence, many
surf anglers who use big plugs make them from heavier woods such as birch, fir,
maple, and walnut. Even such hard woods as ash, oak, and hickory have been
used when a heavy salt-water plug is required. However, these woods are tough
to cut, drill, or shape with hand tools, and they do not support too many hardware
parts without sinking. In fact, when making any salt-water surface plugs it is
necessary to check carefully to make certain that the wood body will support the
metal plates, screw eyes, hooks, and other hardware without sinking. All surface
plugs should float for best results. I find it's a good idea to assemble all the metal
parts which will go on a certain plug and strap them on the wood body with a
rubber band. Then place the wooden plug body in a pail or bathtub filled with
water. If it doesn't sink or submerge too much, you are safe in using all that metal
on the plug. Otherwise, you have to make a larger wooden body or use lighter
screws, screw-eyes, metal plates, or hooks.

In salt-water fishing the deadliest type of plug is usually a surface model. The
easiest plug of this type to make is the simple popper shown in Fig. 34. This plug
can be about 6½ in. long and have a diameter of 1 in. The head can be straight
cut at a 45-degree angle. The plug is equipped with three 5/0 extra-strong treble
hooks. The quickest way to attach these hooks to the body is by means of screw
eyes, which should be fairly large and of heavy wire with long, deep threads. The

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best screw eyes are made of brass since they don't rust in salt water. However,
you can use galvanized iron screws if they are heavy and strong. If this popper is
made from a heavy wood it will cast far without additional weight. But if you use
light wood or want as heavy a plug as possible, add some lead to the tail end of
the plug as shown in Fig. 35. You drill a hole and plug it up with a round chunk of
lead. If you make a tight fit you can tap in the lead after putting some cement in
the hole.

Figure 34. Simple type of salt-water popper plug.

Figure 35. Position of lead weight in plug body.

Heavy screw eyes will usually prove satisfactory as hook holders and for
attaching the line to the plugs described here. For stronger plugs, however,
attach the hooks by using hook hangers similar to the one used for freshwater
plugs. For salt-water plugs, such a hook hanger must be heavier than that used
for fresh-water plugs. You can make such hook hangers by using a brass piece
1½ in. long by ¼ in. wide and 1/32 in. thick. File the brass in a bench vise as
shown in Fig. 36. Then bend it with round-nosed and flat-nosed pliers so that the
finished hook hanger will look like the one shown in the illustration.

Figure 36. Making a hook hanger from brass stock.

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To make the salt-water plugs still stronger, use the "through-wire" construction
method shown in Fig. 37. Here you drill a hole through the center of the plug
body from the nose to the tail. Then drill larger-diameter holes in the belly of the
plug which meet the smaller hole through the middle of the body. Next, make
some hook hangers from brass or stainless steel wire. See the illustration of such
a hook hanger in Fig. 38. Then get about a 10 in. length of brass wire or stainless
steel wire, form an eye on one end, and insert the other end of the wire in the
nose of the plug. Attach a treble hook to one of the hook hangers and insert this
into the hole at the belly of the plug. At the same time, push the wire rod through
the plug to catch this hook hanger through the double loop. You can easily test to
see that the hanger is caught on the wire by pulling on the treble hook. After the
first treble is caught, insert the second hanger and hook and catch that with the
wire and then push the wire out through the rear of the plug. To finish it, form an
eye at the tail, but before closing the eye slide on another treble hook.

Figure 37. Through-wire construction and wire hook hangers.

Figure 38. Two types of hook hangers used with through-wire construc-
tion plugs.

Instead of making a wire hook hanger, you can use barrel swivels for hook
hangers, as shown in Fig. 38. They have two eyes; the eye inside the body of the
plug is caught by the wire and the eye outside the plug holds the hook. To attach
the hooks you must either obtain treble hooks which can be opened at the eye or
cut the eye with strong cutting pliers or hacksaw. You can also attach the hook to

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the barrel swivel eye by first forcing on a split ring, then attaching the hook to this
ring. If you use brass split rings you can solder them so that they can't open.

Another strong way to attach a treble hook to a wooden plug is to drill holes in
the belly and tail of the plug to take hook hangers. Then drill smaller-diameter
holes from one side of the plug body to the other. Care must be taken here to
meet the larger hole. Then insert the hook hanger, or barrel swivel with treble
hook, into the big hole. Finally, drive a brass or copper pin through the small hole
to catch the hook hanger or barrel swivel eye.

Another large popper which you can make is shown in Fig. 39. This has a
tapered body about 7 in. long and a diameter of 1¼ in. at the head. The head is
cupped or gouged out to create a commotion and splash in the water when the
plug is jerked. This plug can have three 5/0 or 6/0 treble hooks, two at the belly
and one at the tail. They can be attached by any of the methods described
above. The plug can be loaded at the belly or tail with lead, if you want.

Figure 39. Popper with cupped head.

A somewhat smaller popper is the bomber type shown in Fig. 40. This one is
narrow at the head and thicker in diameter at the tail. Because of this shape, it
casts like a bullet even into a stiff wind. The plug shown here is heavy enough to
use with a conventional surf rod or with a surf spinning outfit. It measures about 5
in. long and has a diameter of 1¼ in. at the tail and in. at the head. The head is
cut at a slant of 45 degrees. Two 5/0 treble hooks are attached, one at the belly
near the head and the other at the tail.

Figure 40. Bomb type popper.

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The large surface plugs described above are mostly used for surf fishing or
casting, or trolling for big fish with fairly heavy tackle. If you want to make up
smaller salt-water surface plugs to use with light spinning or casting tackle just
make a smaller version of any of the models above. For example, if you want a
small surface popper of the type shown in Fig. 41, make it the same way as the
large one (Fig. 39), but smaller and lighter. It could have a body 4 in. long with a
diameter of in. Instead of using three treble hooks, you need only two and
these can be smaller. Size 1/0 or 2/0 hooks are best, but make sure they are of
heavy wire and strong.

Figure 41. Small salt-water popper.

Another effective surface popper can be made by using the same size plug body
as the fresh-water wobbler plug shown in Fig. 1. However, instead of using it as
shown, turn the body around and use it as in Fig. 42. Now, instead of diving or
wobbling, it becomes a small surface popper which throws a big splash when
jerked. It also can use two treble hooks in sizes 1/0 or 2/0.

Figure 42. Popper made from wobbler type body.

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.

Other surface salt-water plugs include the swimming type shown in Fig. 43. This
plug can have a body about 6½ in. long and a diameter of 1¼ in. at the head. It
tapers at the tail to about in. This plug has a metal lip of the type and size
shown in Fig. 44, which can be cut from sheet brass or stainless steel. If you use
stainless steel, you can use a lighter gauge than if you use brass because it has

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more spring. The metal lip is bent and a hole is drilled as shown. For this plug the
through-wire construction is most practical to hold the metal lip and the three 5/0
treble hooks in place. The wire used for this construction is bent into a loop to
form the eye in front of the lip and plug, as shown in the illustration. To assemble
this plug, first cut a slit at the head of the plug body to accept the metal lip, then
drill a hole for the wire to run through the body. This hole is slightly off center at
the head of the plug and through the center at the tail.

Figure 43. Swimming type surface plug.

Figure 44. Metal lip for swimming type surface plug.

Still another surface plug is the flaptail type with a revolving tail. This is shown in
Fig. 45. It can have a body 6½ in. long and a diameter of 1 in. The tail tapers to
about in., and the head is cut slightly at a slant on top. This plug has a metal
tail of the type and size shown in Fig. 46, cut out of sheet brass. To attach this
tail to the plug, use a small metal bracket about 1¼ in. long and ¼ in. wide. This
can also be cut from sheet brass. After it is cut out, it is bent about of an inch
from the end, after a hole has been drilled. A long brass wire nail is inserted in
this hole. Before you do this, however, add a small brass nut or washer next to
the head of the long nail, to serve as a bearing. Then slip the metal tail on the
nail and form an eye with pliers to hold the tail. Next, drill two holes in the bracket
and fasten it with two screws at the tail of the wooden plug body. The details
showing how this part is made are in Fig. 47. To finish off this plug, add two
treble hooks at the belly and a screw eye at the nose to which you tie the fishing
line.

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Figure 45. Flaptail surface plug.

Figure 46. Metal flaptail.

Figure 47. Metal bracket for holding flaptail.

Another very effective salt-water surface plug is the "torpedo" type shown in Fig.
48. This plug can be about 4½ in. long and in. in diameter at its thickest part. It
tapers at both ends and has two treble hooks in sizes 1/0 or 2/0, one attached at
the tail and the other at the belly. A screw eye is attached to the nose for the
fishing line.

Salt-water anglers have also found the "darter" type plugs very effective for many
fish. You can make a small one to use with light spinning or casting tackle in the
same size as the fresh-water darter shown in Fig. 11. But for the salt-water
model, you should use longer and stronger screw eyes with heavy wire hooks.
To make a larger darter plug for surf fishing or to use with heavy saltwater tackle
follow the dimensions shown in Fig. 49. The body can be 6½ in. long and an inch

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in diameter. The tail tapers to about in. The top of the plug slopes downward
toward the nose, where there is a triangular cut. A screw eye is screwed in this
cut to hold the fishing line. Three treble hooks in size 5/0 are attached, two at the
belly and one at the tail.

Figure 48. Torpedo plug.

Figure 49. Darter plug.

A large "wobbler" plug suitable for surf fishing is shown in Fig. 50. It can have a
body 7 in. long with a diameter of 1 in. at the head and tapering to about in.
at the tail. The head is cut at a slant of 45 degrees. This plug also carries three
5/0 treble hooks, two at the belly and one at the tail. A large screw eye at the
head holds the fishing line.

Figure 50. Large wobbler plug.

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Finally, we have the "underwater" plug shown in Fig. 51. This has a body 7 in.
long and a diameter of 1 in. at its thickest part. It tapers sharply toward the
head and more gradually toward the tail. This plug has a metal lip of the size and
shape shown in Fig. 52. If you use the through-wire construction method all you
have to do is bend the lip as shown and drill a hole for the wire loop which will
form the eye.

Figure 51. Underwater plug.

Figure 52. Metal lip for underwater plug.

Another way to attach this lip is shown in Fig. 53. You make and bend the metal
lip the same way, but drill three holes as shown. Then get a long brass wire nail,
insert it into the single hole in the center of the lip, and bend with round-nosed
pliers to form an eye for the fishing line. To attach this lip to the plug body, cut a
slit to take the metal lip and drill two holes through the nose of the plug to meet
the holes in the metal lip. Use two round-head brass screws to fasten the metal
lip in place. See Fig. 54. This plug also takes three 5/0 treble hooks, two at the
belly and one at the tail.

Figure 53. Metal lip for underwater plug.

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Figure 54. Using screws to attach lip to plug.

Salt-water plugs can be painted or sprayed in the same way as the freshwater
plugs, using the methods described in previous chapters. Choose any color
combinations you like, but for surf fishing you'll find the "blue mullet" finish one of
the best. To get this finish, the plug is first painted white, then a blue back is
added blending into the white along the sides. Another popular salt-water color
combination is blue and silver, the blue on the back and the silver along the
sides. A silver scale finish can also be sprayed. Or it can be a solid silver finish.

When making your salt-water plugs it is very important to use the best quality and
strongest salt-water treble hooks you can obtain. Strong hooks are the only ones
which will stand up any length of time in salt water. Light wire hooks are easily
straightened out by big fish, and rust weakens them in a short time.

The basic salt-water plugs described above will take care of most fishing needs.
But don't let that stop you from experimenting with different shapes, sizes, or
weights. Although it is easier to duplicate existing models of plugs, more
satisfaction is obtained if you design your own. And there is always the chance
that it will turn out to be a better fish-getter than existing plugs on the market.

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5 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.

The spoon is also one of the oldest fishing lures used by man, having its origins
in the dim past. The lure we know as the spoon was used a long time
Julio T. Buel dropped a teaspoon into the water. As he watched it twist and turn it
gave him an idea. He started experimenting and soldered a hook to the end of
another teaspoon and attached his line to the handle, which was partly cut off. It
caught fish and then he went into the business of making spoons for fishermen.

You can make a spoon lure of sorts by merely taking a teaspoon or tablespoon
and cut off the handle. Holes can be drilled at each end for holding the hook and
line. Such a homemade spoon lure will catch fish, but is too deeply dished and
the action is not the best. A much better spoon can be made by following the
design shown in Fig. 55. This is one of the basic designs patterned after the
famous "Dardevle" copied by many fishing tackle manufacturers.

To make a fresh-water spoon from scratch you have obtain brass or copper
sheet metal in various thicknesses. The smaller-size spoons which run only from
1½ to 2½ in. in length use thinner-gauge metal than the larger spoons which
measure from 3 to 5 in. in length.

This metal must be cut out and filed out to the size desired, then bent and
hammered into the proper concave shape. This is a lot of work if done with hand
tools, and takes time even with the aid of power tools. Then the holes to take the
hooks and line have to be drilled. If the hook is soldered to the spoon, that's
another operation. Next, you have the spoons plated in nickel, chrome, gold, or
silver. Or, if you want to use the brass or copper of the original metal, you must
polish or buff it.

Frankly, when one figures the time, energy, and money spent in making fresh-
water spoons from the raw material it really doesn't pay – not unless one is
willing to go to the expense of having a die made to stamp out the spoons on a
punch press. With such a die one can stamp out enough spoons to last a lifetime.
Such a die runs into quite a bit of money and unless you need hundreds or
thousands of spoons it isn't worth it.

Fortunately, you don't have to go to the trouble of shaping your own fresh-water
spoons or spend money for expensive dies. Some of the mail-order houses carry
spoons in various sizes, shapes, and weights. They are all complete with shiny
gold, silver, brass, copper, chrome, or painted finishes and can be bought

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cheaply, especially in larger quantities. You can buy a dozen of the spoons and
the other parts, such as split rings and hooks, and then assemble the spoons.

Figure 55. Common type of fresh-water sport.

Split rings come in various sizes; the smaller ones are used for small spoons
while the larger ones are needed for the bigger spoons. They are usually made
from spring steel or solid brass. The steel split rings are plated and are suitable
for fresh-water spoons, but for salt-water the solid brass rings are much better.

Fig. 56 shows how to use a knife blade to spread a split ring apart so that it can
be forced into the hole on the spoon. Once you have the split ring started, just
keep turning it until it snaps on completely. You can put two split rings on most
spoons, one in front for the fishing line and the other in the back, to which a
treble hook is attached. The treble hook can be plain or it can be wound with
bucktail hair.

Figure 56. Using knife blade to open split ring.

Although spoons with metal finishes are the most popular you can paint them in
various colors – such as all white, all yellow, or red and white stripes – if you
want to do so. Usually only the convex side is painted, the concave side retaining
the metal silver or nickel finish. You can also paint or spray the convex side with
a natural fish-scale finish. For painting by hand with a brush, enamels are best.
For spraying, use the quicker drying lacquers. Clear lacquer or varnish can also
be sprayed on a metal finish to keep it from tarnishing.

Although it doesn't pay to cut or stamp out your own fresh-water spoons, it's a
different matter when we come to the larger salt-water spoons. These are more
expensive and it often pays to make your own. Also, you cannot buy the larger
metal spoon bodies already stamped out and plated, as you can the smaller
fresh-water ones. So you either buy the finished spoon or make your own.

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For pounding and shaping salt-water spoons you need a wooden anvil, which is
nothing but a rectangular block of wood. Any block of hard wood such as oak or
Douglas fir, about 12 in. long and 5 or 6 in. thick, is suitable. Toward one end of
the block, drill a big hole and insert a peg of hard wood. You can also dig out
some shallow holes and grooves along the working faces of the wood block. See
Fig. 57. When shaping a spoon lay the sheet metal on the peg or over the
shallow holes and pound it with a wooden mallet. See Fig. 58.

Figure 57. Wood block for shaping spoons.

Figure 58. Using the wood block to shape a spoon.

As an aid in shaping the metal, make some punches out of hard wood. The sheet
metal is placed over the hole or groove on the wood block and the punch is held
at the spot where you want the metal to be formed. Then strike the wood punch
with the mallet to shape the spoon.

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The metal for making spoons can be sheet brass, copper, or stainless steel.
Stainless steel is being used more and more, and is especially suitable for salt-
water spoons because it doesn't corrode or tarnish. But stainless steel, especially
in the heavier gauges, is very hard and springy and tough to work with hand
tools. If you have a workshop with power tools you can work with stainless steel.
But if you do not have power tools and must use hand tools, you'll find it easier to
work with brass, copper, or other soft metals.

Spring brass is a good metal and if you obtain sheets of this material in 1/32 in.
thickness you'll be able to make varied sizes of spoons for salt-water fishing. Of
course, slightly lighter gauges can be used for the smaller spoons and heavier
gauges are more suitable for the larger spoons. The metal used should have
enough spring so that it doesn't bend out of shape too readily when a big fish is
hooked.

The first step in making a spoon is to draw and cut out a pattern of the shape and
size you want from a piece of cardboard or heavy paper. This way, all your
spoons will be uniform in size and you don't have to make a new drawing to
follow each time. Then trace the pattern outline on the sheet metal. The lighter
gauges of brass or copper can be cut with ordinary hand snips, and the heavier
gauges can be cut with aviation snips. The duck bill snips are best for cutting the
curves. You can also use a hacksaw or other metal saw to remove excess metal.
When cutting out the spoons the best procedure is to cut just outside the tracing,
leaving some metal. In other words, cut the spoon slightly larger in size than the
finished one will be. Then file the spoon down to the finished size.

The shape and size of the spoon will depend, of course, on the type of fishing
you do, the weight desired, and the size of the fish to be caught. The blade can
be long and narrow, bigger at the head or at the tail. It can be short and broad
and rounded at both ends, or you can shape it like a fish, with two fins and a tail.
You can take almost any spoon and make a duplicate of it, or you can design
your own. Fig. 59 shows some of the different shapes which can be used when
making spoons.

Two basic types of spoons are usually made for salt-water fishing. One is based
on the principle of the reverse S curve. See Fig. 60, left. Here the spoon is
curved in one direction at the head and in the opposite direction at the tail. Both
the head and tail are also hollowed or dished. The type of action you want will
depend on how much of a curve you give the spoon. A spoon with a slight curve
will have a somewhat faster wobble or wriggle than one which has extreme
curves. The spoon with sharp curves and deep hollows will have more throw or
sway when reeled or trolled. Naturally, experimentation will show just how much
to curve or dish a spoon. Before you shape too many spoons, try one out in the
water to see if it has the desired action.

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Figure 59. Shapes of spoons.

Figure 60. Two basic curves of spoons.

The other basic type of spoon is Fig. 60, right. Here the spoon is curved and
diminish both from the head to the tail and from side to side. This type usually is
wider at the head and tapers toward the tail.

The size of the spoon will depend on the type of fishing you do and the fish you
seek. Small spoons measuring only 3 or 4 in. long are best for casting and
trolling for small salt-water fish. Medium-sized spoons from 4 to 8 in. can be cast
with heavier outfits or trolled for bigger fish. Some of the larger spoons, such as
the so-called "bunker" spoons, run up to 12 in. in length and are used for big fish
such as striped bass.

The hook used on a salt-water spoon should be strong enough and heavy
enough to hold big fish. A single hook is better than a treble hook.

There are various ways to attach the hook to a spoon. The easiest and quickest
way is the method usually used on fresh-water spoons, explained earlier. You
drill one hole in the head and another in the tail, and insert split rings. Then you
slip a big single hook on the split ring at the tail. Solid brass split rings should be

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used for salt-water spoons, and as an added measure of security the rings
should be soldered after they are on the spoon.

Another strong way to attach a hook is to cut a slot in the tail end of the spoon
and insert the hook shank through it. You also drill a hole in the body of the
spoon where the eye of the hook falls, insert a small bolt through the hole and
the hook eye, and fasten it in place with a nut. This is shown in Fig. 61. The
advantage of this method is that you can quickly remove an old rusted hook and
attach a new one, if needed. For best results, use brass hardware to hold the
hook.

Figure 61. Attaching hook to spoon.

If you use brass or copper sheet metal to make your spoons you can use them
as they are by polishing them. A metal polish which can be bought in any
hardware store can be used for this. However, the most effective finish for salt-
water is a nickel-plated or chrome-plated spoon. For plating, you have to take the
spoons to a shop which does metal plating, and do this before you assemble the
spoons. Some anglers also paint their spoons silver, white, or yellow. Lacquers
or enamel can be used for this. Of course, if you made your spoons from
stainless steel all you have to do is polish them to a high gloss.

Naturally, home-made spoons will not look exactly like commercial ones. There
will be slight imperfections in construction or the finish. But don't let that worry
you. The fish don't know the difference and take them just as readily as the ones
bought in a fishing tackle store.

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6 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.

Here again, it doesn't pay to make the spinner blades themselves. The time and
effort spent in cutting them out isn't worth it because you can buy all the spinner
blades you want from many of the mail-order supply houses. They have them in
stock in various shapes, sizes, and finishes and also carry the other parts
needed such as wire, swivels, beads, clevises, body forms and weights, and split
rings. You can buy the spinner blades by the dozen, gross, or thousand lots.
Some of the blades cost about one cent apiece in the larger quantities. These
are already stamped, shaped, and plated. You couldn't possibly make them for
much less by cutting out the blades from sheet metal and then plating them. By
buying the finished blades and the other parts all you have to do is assemble the
spinners.

Spinner blades come in various shapes such as the Indiana, Colorado, Willow
Leaf, June Bug, Kidney, and Propeller types. See Fig. 62. They usually run in
size from No. 00 to No. 7 and up. The lower the number, the smaller the blade.
Numbers 00, 0, and 1 are small sizes suitable for trout and panfish, while the
larger sizes are best for bass, pike, lake trout, and salt-water fish. You can get
the spinner blades in various finishes such as gold, nickel, brass, and copper.
Some are also made with hammered finishes. Still other blades are made from
pearl or mussel shell.

Figure 62. Shapes of spinner blades.

To make completed spinners you also need spring steel or stainless steel wire
for shafts. The spring steel wire is usually coated with tin and is quite suitable for
fresh-water spinners. The stainless steel wire is better for saltwater spinners.

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This wire is supplied in various diameters from .018 to .035, the thin gauges
being used for small spinners and the heavier gauges for the larger fresh-water
spinners and all salt-water types.

You also need beads, which are used on the wire shafts to act as bearings.
These beads are made from different materials and come in various sizes. The
light beads, made from pearl, glass, plastic, or hollow metal, are used for most
spinners where no extra weight is required. The solid brass beads are used for
spinners which will be cast. Instead of solid metal beads you can use body forms
made from solid metal to provide the weight. See Fig. 63. They can be ordered
from fishing lure parts suppliers, or you can make your own by obtaining solid
brass rods, then cutting them into short lengths and drilling a hole through the
center.

Figure 63. Metal body forms.

Spinners also require clevises, which hold the blade so that it can revolve freely
around the wire shaft. There are two types, as shown in Fig. 64. They usually
come in two or three different sizes for small and large spinners.

Figure 64. Two types of clevises.

Split rings are also needed in various sizes when making spinners. Barrel swivels
such as those shown in Fig. 65 are also required in different sizes. Some of
these split rings and swivels can be bought in fishing tackle stores, but you can
save money if you buy them in larger quantities such as gross lots from a mail-
order house.

Figure 65. Two types of barrel swivels.

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The basic spinner, which can be used for trolling for many fish, is the Indiana
blade on a short wire shaft shown in Fig. 66. To make this spinner, cut off a
length of wire for the shaft and form a locking type eye on one end. For this you'll
need diagonal cutting pliers and the round-nosed pliers (the small jeweler's
round-nosed pliers are best for this work). The first step in making the locking
eye is to form it with the round-nosed pliers about an inch from the end of the
wire shaft. Then form the catch on the end of the wire. See Fig. 67 for the steps
in doing this. Chapter 12 on leaders and connections will also give you tips on
forming eyes and snaps for spinners.

Figure 66. Basic type of spinner.

Figure 67. Forming a locking eye on shaft.

After you have finished the locking eye, slide about two metal or glass beads on
the shaft, then add the spinner blade on a clevis and slide it up the wire shaft. To
finish the spinner, form an eye on the end of the shaft to which the leader or line
will be attached. The spinner is ready for use after you add a plain or feathered
treble hook to the locking eye at the tail.

Another way to attach the hook to the spinner is to use a sliding coil spring or
sleeve which slides on the shaft up to the eye and holds the wire together. See
Fig. 68. These coil springs and brass or copper sleeves can be bought in various
diameters from the mail-order houses. Still another way to attach a hook to a
spinner is to form a permanent closed eye on the end of the wire, then slip on a
split ring with a hook, as shown in Fig. 69. These methods of attaching a hook to

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a spinner are used if you plan to change the hook often. If, however, you want to
make a stronger, permanent attachment you merely form an eye on the end of
the wire shaft, slip on the treble hook, and then close the eye for good.

Figure 68. Using a coil spring or sleeve to close the eye on a shaft.

Figure 69. Permanent eye on a spinner shaft.

The basic spinner above makes use of a single blade. If you want to add another
blade to the shaft, use a slightly longer wire and after slipping on the first blade
add a small metal bead which you then solder to the shaft above the first blade.
Then slip on a loose bead or two and your second blade before forming the eye
at the front of the wire shaft. This is shown in Fig. 70.

Figure 70. Spinner with double blade.

Another popular and effective spinner is the "June Bug" type shown in Fig. 71.
The June Bug blade has an extension cut from the blade itself, and this keeps
the blade revolving at a fixed distance from the shaft. This spinner works very
freely and smoothly even at slow speeds. When making this type of spinner use
the large red ruby cut glass beads as bearings on the shaft, and add a barrel
swivel to which the line is tied. At the other end, attach a long-shank single hook
such as the Carlisle pattern. Anglers usually use this spinner with the hook baited

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with a minnow, strip of fish, pork rind, or a gob of worms. You can also make this
spinner with two blades by using a longer wire shaft and adding a smaller blade
up front, as shown in Fig. 72.

Figure 71. Single-blade June bug spinner.

Figure 72. Double-blade June bug spinner.

The propeller type of spinner shown in Fig. 73 is also good to use for trolling at
slow speeds. You can buy the propeller blades in the largest sizes from the
fishing lure parts suppliers. The two propeller blades used to make this spinner
are spaced so that they revolve freely without interfering with each other. You
have to solder a metal bead to the wire shaft to keep the first propeller blade
away from the rear one. This type of spinner is usually used with a feathered
treble hook attached behind it.

Figure 73. Propeller type spinner.

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. You can also order these wood bodies, all ready shaped from a mail-order
house. The wood body is then painted a bright red-a daylight fluorescent lacquer
is best for this. Likewise, fluorescent plastic beads are slipped on the wire shaft
to act as bearings. A small treble hook is attached to the tail end of the spinner.

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Figure 74. Cherry bobber spinner.

Still another old-time favorite among spinners is the "Colorado" shown in Fig. 75.
Here, instead of using a wire shaft, you use two barrel swivels and two split rings.
The blade, which is the round type Colorado, is attached to the split ring as
shown. The split ring at the tail holds either two single hooks or one treble hook.

Figure 75. Colorado type spinner.

Most of the spinners above are used for trolling, but they can also be cast if you
add a small clincher sinker or other weight to the leader. You can also get some
sheet lead and cut out a small rudder which is then folded over the wire shaft of
the spinner in front of the blade. See Fig. 76. To keep it from sliding down the
shaft, make more turns than usual when forming the eye of the spinner. Then
crimp the lead rudder on these turns with pliers. In addition to serving as a
casting weight, the lead rudder also acts as a keel and prevents the spinner from
twisting the line. You can paint this lead weight in any color you want and even
add an eye on each side.

Figure 76. Lead keel weight and its position in front of the spinner blade.

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You can also make special casting or trolling weights which are detachable and
can be added to the spinner at the front. See Chapter 11 on making sinkers for
details on how such weights can be made.

For easy casting, however, you can't beat the "French" type of spinner shown in
Fig. 77. These usually have short wire shafts on which one or more heavy brass
body weights are added. These body weights come in various shapes, sizes, and
designs shown in Fig. 63. French-type spinners also use a special heavier blade
than the regular kinds. Both the body weights and blades can be ordered from
many of the supply houses. These casting type spinners usually have a small
treble hook attached.

Figure 77. French type spinner.

Other casting type spinners use heavy brass beads for body weight, as shown in
Fig. 78. These beads come in different sizes and are usually arranged as shown
in the illustration. You can also use lead body weights which come in bullet,
torpedo, or double taper shapes. See Fig. 79. They have a center hole and come
in different weights and sizes. You can order such lead weights either unpainted
or painted.

Figure 78. Spinner with solid metal beads.

Another way to make spinners is to use nylon leader material instead of wire to
serve as a shaft. You can buy the nylon material in coils of various diameters and
strengths. Cut off a length, tie a loop for an eye up front, slip on the beads, plus a
clevis with a blade, and then tie either a single hook or treble hook on the tail
end. The larger glass or plastic beads are best for this because they have bigger

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holes through which the nylon leader material can be threaded. If you want the
spinner blade to revolve well above the hook, tie knots on the leader to act as
stops against which the beads will rest. Fig. 80 shows different types of spinners
you can make, using the nylon leader material. You can easily work out many of
your own combinations.

Figure 79. Lead weights for spinner bodies.

Figure 80. Using nylon leader material for spinner.

The salt-water spinners are very similar to the fresh-water types described
above. In fact, you can use many of the fresh-water spinners for salt-water
fishing if you use heavier wire shafts, bigger blades, and stronger hooks.

One special kind of salt-water spinner is the "willow leaf" type shown in Fig. 81.
To make this spinner you will have to cut out and shape your own blades since
they can be bought finished only in the smaller sizes. For saltwater fishing the
willow leaf blade should be at least 2¾ in. long and in. wide. This spinner also
has an extension, either cut out from the blade itself or soldered to it, to keep it
revolving at a fixed distance from the shaft. And instead of using a clevis, the
blade is bent in front and a hole is drilled. Another hole is drilled in the extension
arm and the wire shaft is then slipped through both holes. If you use stainless
steel to make the blade you don't have to plate it, but merely polish it.

When making this spinner or any other salt-water type, use heavy wire for the
shaft. When attaching the hook or swivel to the front and rear of the shaft, you
form a permanent eye. However, if you want to change hooks or swivels you can

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form a locking snap or clasp-type loop as shown in Fig. 82. Full instructions for
forming such a snap can be found in Chapter 12, on making leaders and
connections.

Figure 81. Willow leaf salt-water spinner.

Figure 82. Locking snap on salt-water spinner.

The willow leaf spinner usually has a gang of two or three hooks attached behind
it, baited with a whole baitfish, worms, a strip of pork rind, or squid. Another salt-
water spinner often used is the so-called "fluke" spinner shown in Fig. 83. A pair
of Colorado-shaped blades is used to make this spinner, mounting them on a
heavy wire shaft with big glass or plastic beads. A single long-shank Carlisle
hook is attached behind the blades and this is baited with a live killifish or other
salt-water minnow.

Figure 83. Fluke spinner.

A somewhat similar spinner, which makes use of smaller Indiana type blades, is
the "snapper" shown in Fig. 84. This also has a long-shanked hook, such as the
Bridegport snapper pattern, attached at the rear.

Figure 84. Snapper spinner.

The spinners described and illustrated above do not cover every type made. But
they are the basic types from which you can go on and make endless
combinations of your own.

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7 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. The entire combination makes a
small, compact lure heavy enough to cast well. Whether cast or trolled or jigged
up and down near the bottom it is very attractive to almost every fish that swims.
In fact, if I had to choose but a single artificial lure for salt-water fishing I'd not
hesitate an instant to pick an assortment of jigs. It is also highly effective for
fresh-water fishing. Obviously, the fresh- or salt-water angler who wants to catch
fish should carry an assortment of jigs in his tackle box or bag.

For best results, you need a wide variety of jigs in different sizes, colors,
materials, and weights. You also need many replacements for those jigs which
are lost when they get caught on the bottom or are broken off by a fish. So you
can save quite a bit of money and have a lot of fun making your own jigs. They
are very easy once you know how, and I am surprised more fresh- and salt-water
anglers don't mold their own jigs.

To make the jigs you need some kind of mold. A simple and inexpensive
temporary mold can be made from several kinds of materials, the cheapest and
most popular being plaster of Paris. This white powder can be bought in any
paint or hardware store and is mixed with water. A 5- or 10-pound bag of the stuff
costs very little and will make several molds.

Somewhat similar but a bit more expensive are "water putty" and "crack filler"
which also come in powder form in containers and are mixed with water. Most
hardware or paint stores carry them. Another material which can be used is "iron
paste" or "iron cement," which comes in powdered form too. You also add water
and this makes a heavy paste for pouring the mold. Most hardware stores carry
it.

There are also many kinds of dental cements and plasters which can be used to
make temporary molds. Ask your dentist to suggest one or two of these. Or you
can go to a dental supply house and ask for such a cement.

The first step in making a jig mold is to obtain a pattern which can be copied. For
this you can buy a finished jig in a tackle store. Then remove the hair or feather
dressing and file off the hook close to the jig head.

You can also fashion your own jig by using a soft wood to carve out a pattern. In
fact, almost any wood can be used to carve out a pattern, but the softer woods
are easier to work with. Other substances suitable for making patterns are

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plastic, wax, soap and modeling clay. If you use wood for a pattern, sandpaper it
smooth when finished and then varnish or shellac it to waterproof it. Fig. 85
shows some basic jig heads which can be followed when making a pattern.

Figure 85. Basic jig head shapes.

After you have the jig pattern you are ready to make the mold. For this you need
a small container such as a cardboard box approximately 3 in. long, 2 in. wide
and about 1½ in. deep. If you can't obtain such a small box you can make one,
using heavy cardboard or thin sections of wood. Cut out the four sides to form a
box and place them on a flat surface such as metal or glass. Then anchor the
box in place using scotch tape at the corners and sides. Modeling clay can also
be used to hold the box sides to the metal or glass base. See Fig. 86.

Figure 86. Making a box from wood or heavy cardboard.

The next step is to coat the inside of the box and the jig pattern itself with
petroleum jelly to prevent the plaster from sticking. A thin coat is all that is
necessary. Now mix some of the plaster of Paris or water putty in a container
with water. You can do this with a stick but your hands are much better for
breaking up any lumps. Keep adding water and plaster until you get a heavy

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consistency – one which still pours freely, however. And be sure you make
enough to fill the box half full.

Now pour this plaster into the small box until it is half full. Then sink your jig
pattern halfway into the wet plaster. You should allow a space of about in.
between the rear end of the jig and the box side and 1½ in. from the opposite
end of the box side to the jig. See Fig. 87.

Figure 87. Position of jig pattern in mold box.

Next, sink two flat-headed nails into the wet plaster, allowing about ¼ in. of the
pointed ends to project. They can be placed diagonally opposite near the
corners. They will act as locating pins when using the two mold halves when
casting. See Fig. 88.

Figure 88. Position of nails which act as location pins.

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You now have half the mold completed and must wait until the plaster sets before
you pour the other half. When it hardens (usually in about an hour), coat the
entire surface and inside of the box with petroleum jelly or a heavy oil. After this,
mix more plaster of Paris or whatever substance you are using to make the mold.
Then fill the box to the top with this mixture.

After this second pouring of plaster sets, in an hour or so, you break apart the
box holding the cast. Then separate the two halves of the mold with a knife
blade, as shown in Fig. 89. This must be done with care in order not to break off
any section of the plaster mold. You'll notice a line indicating where the two
halves meet and by slowly working a knife blade between them at several points
you can usually separate them with no trouble. The original pattern will be found
adhering to one of the halves, and this must be worked loose very carefully. You
will then have two damp plaster halves as shown in Fig. 90. Set them aside to
dry and season for about two weeks. This is important because if you try to pour
hot metal into a damp mold it will spatter all over and will also crack the mold.

Figure 89. Using knife to separate halves of mold.

Figure 90. Plaster mold, separated.

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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. Wood carving tools are ideal for
removing this plaster, to make room for the eyelet and hook, but you can also
use a small, sharp knife. A larger knife can be used to carve out the funnel-
shaped pouring hole. This is done to both halves of the plaster mold, as shown in
Fig. 92.

Figure 91. Shape of wire eye.

Figure 92. Plaster halves of mold prepared for wire eye and hook.

For casting the jigs you will need some lead or block tin or a combination of the
two such as bar solder. Scrap lead or tin can often be bought from a junk dealer
or a plumber. Solder bars are sold by plumber's supply houses or hardware

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stores. The greater the proportion of tin you use, the lighter the jig will be both in
weight and appearance. A jig cast from almost pure tin will be very white and
silvery in appearance and does not have to be painted. A jig cast from lead will
be dark and will turn black later. Such jigs are heavier and are usually painted.

Melt the lead or tin in an iron ladle over a gas range or an electric stove. Before
putting the two plaster mold halves together, pour some of the hot metal into
each half to warm it, or place the plaster mold close to the flame or heat to make
it warm. The next step is to place the wire eyelet and the hook in the groove and
slot. See Fig. 93. Then put the two halves together, hold them with the pouring
hole up, and pour the molten metal as quickly as possible right up to the top of
the pouring hole. See Fig. 94.

Figure 93. Hook and wire eye in place.

When you notice the hot metal harden you can lay the mold on its side to cool off
a bit. After the first jig is poured you'll usually need a glove or rag to hold the mold
for subsequent pourings. It gets pretty hot and unless the plaster mold is very
thick you won't be able to hold it in your bare hand. If you want, you can grip the
two plaster halves together with a C-clamp and hold the clamp, to keep your
hand from getting burned.

After about a minute, depending on the size of the jig, you can separate the mold
and take out the jig. It should be perfectly formed with no bad spots. If it isn't
perfect, the lead or tin wasn't hot enough or the mold was too cool. After a little
experimenting you'll be able to tell just how hot the molten metal must be to pour

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right. For the best results, pour when the lead or tin has a bluish or purplish color
on top. Every so often it's a good idea to scrape the scum off the surface of the
lead in the ladle.

Figure 94. Pouring molten metal into the plaster mold.

As you pour the jigs, keep cutting off the excess lead left at the pour hole with
diagonal pliers and add it to the molten metal in the ladle. Once you start pouring
it's best to continue until you have poured enough jigs for your needs. If you have
two or three molds you can alternate between them.

You can save time by designing your mold so that it takes the special jig hook
shown in Fig. 95. Then you don't have to use a separate wire eyelet and hook.
The bend in the hook makes it possible to cast it in a jig so that it serves both
purposes. These special jig hooks are now available from most hook
manufacturers and supply houses. They come in light wire patterns which are
best for fresh-water fishing, and also in heavier wire patterns such as the
O'Shaughnessy which are used for salt water. Naturally, the size of hook you use
will also depend on the size of the jig and the fish you are after. The small hooks
are used for the light jigs and fresh-water fishing while the bigger hooks are for
the heavier jigs and salt-water fishing.

A mold from plaster of Paris or water putty is generally good for casting about
two or three dozen jigs before it breaks up. Small chips or holes in the plaster
mold can be patched up with wet plaster or water putty. When doing this, make

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sure you wet the section of the mold to be filled before applying the liquid plaster.
But if the mold breaks up too badly it's better to make a new one.

Figure 95. Special jig hook.

If you do a lot of fishing and need many jigs you can easily make a permanent
mold which will last for years. All you do is go through the same steps in making
the plaster halves. When the plaster mold is dry you carve out the groove and
slot for the hook as well as the pouring hole and then send both halves to a
foundry and have them copied in bronze. When you get the bronze halves back
you must smooth the inside or the cavity with emery cloth. The bronze mold can
be held together with a C-clamp for pouring. Or, if you have the tools, you can
tap holes in both sections of the bronze mold and add a hinge and handles.

You can also buy ready-made metal molds complete with handles, in different
sizes, weights, and shapes. When one takes into consideration how many
thousands of jigs they will turn out over the years they are well worth the cost. In
fact, it is often cheaper to buy one of these ready-made molds than to bother
making your own permanent metal mold. Unless, of course, you have a special
jig design you want to use. Then the best idea is to make up a few of those jigs,
using a plaster mold. If they turn out O.K. you can then have a permanent mold
made at a foundry. But for ordinary fishing purposes you can usually make all the
jigs you need with a plaster mold.

After the jigs are poured they require some finishing. A metal mold usually pours
more perfect jigs than a plaster type, but even these still require some work. Most
of the excess metal can be clipped off with cutting pliers or with a knife, and a file
can be used to remove the rest. Then give the jig a smooth finish by rubbing it
with fine steel wool. If it is made from tin you can also buff it or polish it.

The final step is to tie on a body or skirt of bucktail hair, feathers, or nylon.
Bucktail hair and feathers can usually be bought in small packages in almost any
fishing tackle store, or you can send away for these materials to one of the fly-
tying supply houses. Save money by buying a whole bucktail. The natural
bucktail is white and brown. You can use the white hair both for fresh-and salt-
water jigs, and some of the brown for fresh-water jigs. Yellow bucktail is also
popular for all kinds of fishing, and many other colors are available. You can also
buy the white bucktail and dye it yourself. All-white and all-yellow jigs are the

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most popular both for fresh- and especially for salt-water fishing, but when tying
the jigs you can blend several colors to imitate fresh-water minnows.

When tying bucktail hair around the jig head, do it in stages. The first step is to
get some heavy silk, nylon, or linen thread. You can also use heavy button cord
or sewing thread if you want. White is the best color to use unless you want to
match the head or hair with an identical color. Cut off about a 2-foot length of this
thread, wrap a few turns of the thread around the jig head where the bucktail will
go, and cover this wrapping with clear quick-drying cement. Now quickly take a
pinch of hair, lay it against the cement, and wrap a few turns of the thread around
it. See Fig. 96. Then add another drop or two of cement, lay another pinch of hair
against it, and tie a few more turns of thread around the hair. Keep doing this
until you build up a thick body of hair around the hook, concealing most of it
except the point and the barb. See Fig. 97. It is a good idea to make up several
pinches of hair in advance and lay them on the table to be used as needed.
When you have the full amount of bucktail hair wound on the jig head, finish the
job by wrapping the rest of the thread as tightly as possible over the jig. Then end
it by tying a series of half-hitches. Finally, cover the thread wrapping with a heavy
coat of clear quick-drying cement.

Figure 97. Finished jigs with different skirts.

Instead of bucktail hair you can use feathers of various colors on the jig. See Fig.
97. Neck or saddle hackle feathers are best for this. Although various colors of
feathers are used, white and yellow are the most popular for both fresh- and salt-
water fishing.

Nylon can also be used on a jig, in various colors and lengths. It comes in the
natural translucent color, in different diameters and lengths, and is dyed with
special nylon dyes available from supply houses. The small diameters and
lengths are best for small jigs, especially those used in freshwater fishing, and
the thicker diameters and longer lengths are used for the larger salt-water jigs.

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When tying the nylon to the jig great care must be taken to do this as tightly as
possible, because this material has a tendency to slip out from under the
wrapping. For best results, try to get the "crimped" nylon which holds better than
the smooth kind.

The final step in making jigs is to paint the metal head in whatever color you
prefer. Of course, the jigs cast from pure tin or an alloy which is mostly tin can be
left unpainted. The silvery appearance is attractive to many fishes. However, if
you cast your jigs from lead you'll have to paint them since the lead turns black
and unattractive. You can use lacquer, enamel, or special paints such as the
celluloid enamels. If white bucktail, feathers, or nylon was used for the body you
can paint the head white. If yellow was used you can paint the head yellow, and
so on. Combinations of different colors can also be tried.

To finish off the jigs many anglers also paint on a pair of eyes. These are not
necessary to catch fish but they do give the jigs a professional look. Paint the
eyes with a small pointed brush or use the nail-dipping method described in
Chapter 2 on fresh-water plugs.

Most jigs range in weight from oz. to about 2 ozs. The smaller ones are best
for fresh-water fishing and for casting with light outfits. The heavier ones are
more suited for salt-water fishing, trolling, and casting with heavy fishing tackle.

Jigs are so easy to make that every fresh- and salt-water angler should make
molds or buy molds to turn out a good supply and assortment of these lures to be
prepared for the fishing season.

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8 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. Long and narrow squids are
called sand-eel squids because they resemble this saltwater baitfish. Others are
shorter and a bit broader, and simulate various baitfish such as spearing or
silversides and other salt-water minnows. Still other metal squids are broad and
deep and resemble mullet, menhaden, herring, and other deep-bodied baitfish.

You'll find plenty of metal squids for sale in the fishing tackle stores near the
ocean, especially along the Atlantic Coast. You can buy one of these and make a
mold of it. All you have to do, beforehand, is file off the hook and fill the hole
where the line is attached with clay or wax or some other substance.

But quite a few anglers like to design their own metal squids and this can be
done by carving a pattern from soft wood, plastic wax, or some similar
substance. I've used balsa wood with great success. This soft wood is very easy
to work and the only thing to do after you have finished the pattern is to varnish
or shellac it to waterproof it and give it a smooth finish. Some of the basic types
of metal squids which you can follow when making your pattern are shown in Fig.
98. The methods used in casting metal squids are quite similar to those
described in the previous chapter on making jigs. There are some differences,
however, so we will describe the procedure step by step.

Figure 98. Four types of metal squids.

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After you have your pattern to be copied, get a small cardboard box or make one
out of wood or cardboard. It should be about 5 or 6 in. long, 2 in. wide and 1¼ in.
deep, but can be bigger or smaller depending on the size of the squid to be
made. You'll find that the long and narrow cardboard boxes which are used to
hold fishing plugs are ideal for this, but if you can't find the right type of box make
a wood frame and anchor this to a plate of glass or flat piece of metal. Scotch
tape and modeling clay can be used to hold the box sides together and to hold
them on the base. This box or frame should be long enough and wide enough to
clear the pattern or metal squid to be copied.

The next step is to coat the inside of the box or frame and the base with
petroleum jelly. Then do the same thing with the pattern, leaving a thin coat of
the grease so that the plaster won't stick to it. Now place the metal squid or
pattern to be copied inside the box or frame with the flat part down and the keel
up. Make certain that the tail end of the squid (where the hook was or will be) is
only about ¼ in. away from one end of the box or frame. See Fig. 99.

Figure 99. Metal squid pattern ready to be cast.

To make a temporary mold, use any of the materials such as plaster of Paris,
water putty, or crack filler mentioned in the previous chapter on jigs. Mix the
plaster or water putty with water and feel around with your hands to break up any
lumps. This is important, or else the cast will be imperfect. Now pour the plaster
into the box or frame until it covers the metal squid or pattern by at least ¾ in. If
the box is only about an inch or slightly more in depth, fill it with plaster up to the
top. After pouring the plaster wait about an hour before breaking the box or frame
apart. Turn the plaster cast over and remove the metal squid or pattern. This is
best done with a sharp, pointed knife and prying under the pattern at the head to
loosen it from the plaster. You may have to cut all around the pattern with the
knife if the plaster covered the pattern to any extent. It will now take about a
week or a bit longer for the plaster mold to season and dry before it can be used.

In the meantime, you can make a cover for the mold. This can be done by
pouring another part in a box, with plaster or water putty, to make a flat, thick
cover. You'll get somewhat better results, however, if you use a metal plate

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almost as wide and long as the plaster cast for a cover. It can be made of brass,
copper, or other metal and be from to ¼ in. thick.

After the plaster mold is thoroughly dry, carve both a pouring hole at the head
and a slot for the hook at the rear. Now take the metal plate which will be used as
a cover and file a small triangular notch at one end which will fit around the hook.
See Fig. 100 for an illustration of the finished plaster mold and metal plate cover.

Figure 100. Finished plaster mold and its metal cover.

Next you need some 6/0, 7/0, or 8/0 O'Shaughnessy hooks, depending on the
size of the squid in your mold. For small squids the 6/0 or even 5/0 hooks can be
used, while the larger ones will take the 7/0 or 8/0 hook. When cutting the slot in
the plaster mold, make sure you use the correct size hook as a sample. It must fit
snugly into this slot. See Fig. 101.

Figure 101. Hook fitted into slot of mold.

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You will also need a fairly large C-clamp to hold the metal cover against the
plaster mold while pouring. And it's a good idea to make a small wooden base
where the mold will rest while you are setting it up and after you finish pouring
the molten metal into it. This wooden base and the plaster mold all ready for
pouring are shown in Fig. 102.

Figure 102. Clamped plaster mold, on wood base.

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. Bar solder used by
plumbers also contains block tin but has too much lead, and must be mixed with
pure tin to get a metal squid with a white silvery finish.

It will be remembered that molds made from plaster of Paris or water putty have
a short life and usually last just long enough to pour about two or three dozen
squids. Then they chip up or crumble and a new mold must be made.

If you want to make a permanent mold for casting metal squids, do not use the
plaster mold but send it to a foundry and have a bronze copy made. To save
yourself work later, make sure you carve out a pouring hole in the mold before
sending it to the foundry. Even so, when the bronze mold comes back from the
foundry there is a lot of work to be done before it is ready to use. First you will
have to file the face of the mold with a flat file so that it is level and smooth. Then
file and grind the inside of the bronze mold, using small triangular and pointed
files or a small electric hand-grinding tool. Smooth out all the rough surfaces and
corners of the mold and then finish the job with emery cloth, starting with a
coarse grade and finally with a smooth grade. After the inside of the mold is fairly
smooth, polish it with crocus cloth. The idea is to get the inside of the metal mold
(which forms the squid) as smooth and polished as possible. Then, when you
cast a metal squid, it will come out smooth and shiny.

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To get the mold ready for pouring you need a flat metal plate to use as a cover,
and you must file a slot in it for the hook. This metal plate can be about the same
dimensions as the bronze mold except that it doesn't have to be as thick. You
can use a C-clamp to hold the plate against the mold when pouring the hot metal.
To make a mold which is easier and quicker to use, get a flat metal plate about ½
in. thick and the same length and width as the mold. Then tap the two sections of
the mold to take screws so you can add handles and a hinge. Such a finished
mold is shown in Fig. 103. However, it's more work to add the hinges and
handles, so unless you plan to pour hundreds of metal squids, use one metal
plate for all your molds and clamp it in place.

Figure 103. Handles and hinge on metal mold.

Metal squids are made in two ways, one type having a stationary hook which is
molded right into the block tin body. The other type has a swinging hook which
moves freely on an eye or escutcheon pin molded into the tail of the metal squid.
These are shown in Fig. 104. Whichever method you use, allow for the hook,
escutcheon pin or wire eye when cutting the slot or space in the mold or the
cover so that it is held firmly in place while pouring. In other words, all the
necessary parts must fit in place so that the mold can be closed snugly.

After the metal squids have beep poured, they require some finishing. This can
be done with a file first, then with steel wool to give the squid a smooth, shiny
finish. The next step is to drill a hole at the front of the squid to which the fishing

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line is attached. This can be done with a hand drill but is easier and faster with a
drill press or electric drill. Then you get some brass eyelets or grommets and slip
one into the hole. The eyelet can be set in place with a large punch. To complete
the job, flatten or curl the protruding edge of the eyelet to keep it in place. The
eyelet strengthens the metal squid and prevents the wire leader from cutting
through the block tin.

Figure 104. Three ways of attaching hooks to a metal squid.

To bring out the best action in the water, a metal squid is usually bent in a single
or double bend as shown in Fig. 105. The thin narrow metal squids are readily
bent by hand but the broader, thicker ones have to be bent against a corner of a
table or a vise.

Figure 105. Two bends for bringing out action of metal squid.

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The final step in making metal squids is to add feathers or hair at the tail or
around the hook. You can, of course, use the plain metal squid to catch many
fish. Or you can merely add a strip of pork rind to the hook. However, most
anglers add white or yellow hackle feathers or bucktail hair to make the squid
more attractive and effective. On a metal squid with a stationary hook you tie the
feathers or bucktail around the tail end of the hook. Many anglers also add an
additional swinging hook to the fixed one as shown in Fig. 106. To do this you
merely open the eye of the hook with a starting punch, slip it on the hook, and
then close it with pliers.

Figure 106. Adding second hook to metal squid.

On a metal squid with a swinging hook you tie the feathers or hair around the
hook itself as shown in Fig. 107. This is best done on the hook alone before it is
attached to the pin or eye of the metal squid.

Figure 107. Feathers tied around hook.

If you do a lot of surf fishing you'll also lose many metal squids. It pays to make
up plenty of squids during the winter months or the off season so that they are
ready when the fishing is good.

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9 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. Eel and eelskin lures are used mostly in salt water to
catch such fish as striped bass, bluefish, snook, and marlin.

The most difficult part about making eel and eelskin lures will often be obtaining
the eels themselves. The eel usually used is the so-called "common eel" found
from Labrador to Brazil along the Atlantic Coast. The females reach a large size
and live in fresh-water rivers, streams, and lakes. The males are much smaller
and live in salt-water bays, sounds, and tidal creeks. These are the ones usually
used for bait.

Live eels are caught with eel pots baited with dead fish, small baitfish, crushed
clams, or crabs. These pots, which are similar to minnow traps, are wire cages
with funnel entrances on both ends. The eels enter through the funnel holes, but
once inside have trouble finding their way out. Live or frozen eels can also be
purchased from many fish markets, bait dealers, and fishing tackle stores. The
size will depend on the fishing tackle you use and the fish you want to catch.
Small eels from 8 to 12 in. long are best with light tackle such as spinning outfits;
the larger eels from 12 to 20 in. are used with heavier surf outfits and for trolling
for big fish.

To rig an eel you will need a long needle such as an upholsterer's needle. It
should be anywhere from 12 to 14 in. long. You can also make your own needle,
using a brass or copper rod about '/s in. in diameter. One end should be filed to a
point while the other end is given an eye or a slot to which a line can be tied. You
also need some 6/0, 7/0, 8/0 or 9/0 hooks, again depending on the size of the
eel. The larger the eel, the larger the hooks required. Light tackle and lines need
smaller hooks than heavier fishing tackle. The O'Shaughnessy pattern of hook is
usually used for rigging eels, but some anglers prefer the Siwash or salmon
pattern and still others use Eagle Claw hooks. Whichever type of hook you use, it
should have a ringed eye. Finally, you need some linen or nylon fishing line
testing from 45 to 60 pounds.

There are many ways to rig an eel, but the method described here is one of the
most popular and produces a rigged eel which stands up well. The first step is to
tie about 18 inches of the heavy line to the eye of the needle, and tie one of the
hooks to the other end. See Fig. 108. Next, insert the needle into the underside
of the eel at the vent (the small opening about 4 or 5 in. from the end of the eel's
tail) and push the needle through the eel inside of the body until it emerges from
the mouth. Then pull the needle until the line also comes out of the eel's mouth.

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See Fig. 109. The hook shank is then buried inside the eel by pulling on the line.
Now, double back the needle and push the point into the eel's mouth and force it
out at the neck or about two inches from the nose. Pull the needle out through
the hole the needle has made (see Fig. 110) and untie the line from the needle.
This leaves a loop of line protruding from the mouth and the end of the line
emerging from the eel's neck. Tie another hook to the end of this line and pull on
the loop to bring the hook shank inside the eel. See Fig. 111.

Figure 108. Needle, line, and hook.

Figure 109. Needle inserted in vent and pulled out of mouth.

Figure 110. Needle reinserted in mouth and pulled out at neck.

Figure 111. Finished rigged eel with two hooks.

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The final step is to provide a bridle. Take about 4 or 5 in. of thin, flexible brass
wire and run one end into the eel's mouth and out the gill opening on one side.
Pull more wire out this opening, run it over the top of the eel's head, push the end
through the gill opening on the opposite side of the head, force it out through the
eel's mouth, and tie the two ends of wire protruding from the eel's mouth around
the loop of line several times. See Fig. 112. You can also use fishing line instead
of wire to make a bridle.

Figure 112. Tying a bridle on a rigged eel’s head.

The eel can be used as it is with the fishing line attached to the loop protruding
from its mouth. Or you can attach a barrel swivel to this loop, since the eel has a
tendency to spin if reeled fast. Some anglers also tie some line around the body
of the eel where the hooks emerge, to reinforce it. You can also tie some around
the eel's mouth to close it tightly so no water can enter.

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Instead of using fishing line or cord to rig an eel, many anglers like to use a brass
chain such as the type used for windows. The chain is very strong and is
preferred when there are bluefish around. These sharp-toothed fish will bite
through ordinary line or cord, but the chain holds them. And, of course, chain
doesn't rot or weaken like cord or line.

A rigged eel works fairly well with nothing else attached, but many saltwater
fishermen also rig them with various gadgets and weights to give action, or
weight for casting. One way to do this is to attach a small metal squid at the head
of the eel, as shown in Fig. 113. You need a small, wide metal squid which has
an eye in the middle of the body to which the line leading to the hooks is
attached. Or you can drill two holes in the metal squid, tie the line to them, and
rig your eel in the same manner as described above. To attach the metal squid
you force the hook through the neck of the eel and out on top, then tie the line
protruding from the eel's mouth to the eye on top of the squid or to the two holes
– whichever the metal squid has. Finally, tie several turns of thin fishing line
around the eel's head, lashing it to the metal squid.

Figure 113. Eel rigged with small metal squid.

An old-time method of adding weight to an eel is to make an eel bob as shown in

Fig. 114. Here you cut off the eel's head, pull the skin back for about two inches,
and cut out the meat. Then you rig the eel with one or two hooks in the regular
way and insert a cylindrical lead weight into the skin. The lead weight should
have a hole through the middle so that the line or chain used in rigging can be
run into it and out in front. After this is done the skin of the eel is tied ahead of the
lead weight, concealing it and keeping it in place. Such an eel bob can be made
any length using most of the eel or just the head portion.

Figure 114. Eel bob.

Another way to rig an eel and provide action and weight at the same time is to
add a metal wobble plate at the head, as shown in Fig. 115. The metal plate can
be made from copper tubing or pipes, the diameter depending on the weight you
want and the size of the eel. A copper pipe about in. in diameter is a good all-

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around size to use. You cut off about 3 in. of this pipe, then flatten half that length
in a vise, bend it in the middle, and curve the upper end as shown in Fig. 116.
Drill one hole near the end of the flattened section, for the fishing line, and
another hole where the pipe is round, to hold the hook. Then the eel is rigged in
the usual manner and the head is inserted into the hole of the wobble plate
together with the hook eye in the eel's mouth. A cotter pin or bolt is then run
through the hole in the pipe, through the eel's head, and through the eye of the
hook. You can also tie the line leading from the body of the eel to the pin or bolt.
You'll find it easier if you first pierce the eel's head with an ice pick or awl before
you try to insert the pin or bolt through it. To further reinforce the eel, tie cord
around the eel's neck and lash it to the shank of the hook.

Figure 115. Eel rigged with wobble plate.

Figure 116. Pipe bent to form a wobble plate.

Instead of using the entire eel, many salt-water anglers use just the skin to make
effective lures. (You catch the eels and skin them yourself or you buy the skins
already packed in jars.) The simplest type of eelskin rig is made from a copper or
brass tube or pipe. See Fig. 117. The diameter of the tube or pipe will depend on
the size and length of the eelskin you want. The small-diameter tubes are best
for shorter skins while the larger ones are used for longer, wider eelskins. Cut off
about 1½ in. of the pipe and drill holes at both ends. If you use a shorter length of
pipe you need only one hole, in the middle. With a triangular file, file a groove all
around the pipe at one end. Now get some brass chain and attach two hooks to
the chain. The length of the chain and the distance between the two hooks will
depend on the length of the eelskin you use. Now get a couple of sets of bolts
and nuts. The bolts should be long enough to fit through the holes drilled in the
copper pipe. Start one of the bolts through the front of the pipe, slip a barrel
swivel on the bolt inside the copper pipe, and complete the bolting operation. See
Fig. 117 again. Then run the other bolt through the holes on the other end of the
pipe. But before you complete this bolting operation, slip the last link of the chain

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on the bolt inside the pipe. The final step is to slip the eelskin over the two hooks,
piercing the skin and allowing the points and barbs to protrude. Then tie the
eelskin to the copper pipe with fishing line, making certain that the line rests
snugly in the groove you filed.

Figure 117. Eelskin rig made from a pipe section.

Another type of eelskin rig uses a weighted head similar to the heads used in
making jigs. See Fig. 118. You can mold such a head in the same way as
described in Chapter 7, except that, when casting a weighted head, you attach
another hook to the eye of the first one, using stainless steel wire. The wire is
wound through the eye of the first hook and loops beyond it for four or five
inches. See Fig. 119. You don't have to attach the second hook before pouring
the metal head-all you need is the wire loop to which the hook can be added
later. After the head of the lure is molded, solder a ring around it so that the
eelskin can be tied to it. Such metal rings can easily be made from brass or
copper pipe or tubing by cutting off sections at ¼ in. intervals. A small pipe cutter
can be used to do this very quickly. Then file a groove around the ring so that the
eelskin can be lashed to it. See Fig. 120 for the details of such a ring, and how it
is attached to the head.

Figure 118. Eelskin lure.

Figure 119. Hook prepared with wire loop, ready for the eelskin lure mold.

Figure 120. Ring soldered to the head of an eelskin lure.

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You can also use similar rings to make an eelskin squid, as shown in Fig. 121.
To make such a lure, use almost any metal squid with a swinging type hook.
Smaller metal squids will, of course, require smaller rings than larger ones. The
ring is slipped over the metal squid and is sweated on with a soldering iron held
against the ring. You can also drop some solder where the ring lies against the
metal squid. To finish the lure, slip an eelskin over the hook and the rear of the
squid and tie the skin around the ring. You must puncture the eelskin so that the
hook protrudes, as shown in the illustration.

Figure 121. Eelskin attached to a metal squid.

Eelskins are also used over plugs to give them a more natural look. Here you
have to remove all the hooks and slip the eelskin on, then replace the hooks. The
eelskin is tied in front and at the rear with fishing line to make sure it stays in
place.

Lures made with eels will last a long time if you keep them frozen or in a
container filled with heavy brine. Eelskins also keep a long time in such salt brine
in an air-tight glass jar or similar container. However, many anglers prefer to rig
their eels or eelskin lures fresh before each fishing trip. A freshly killed eel is
tough and will take more abuse and stand up longer. Eels that have kept for any
length of time in salt or are frozen tend to rip and fall apart after being used for a
short time.

Rigging eels or eelskin lures is often a messy job and not much of a pleasure.
But they are very effective, especially when surf fishing or trolling for big striped
bass. So it pays to know how to rig such lures so that you will be prepared to try
fishing for the popular and much-sought striped bass.

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10 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. To get
around this problem and at the same time create a rig which attracts fish, anglers
have made up "splasher" rigs.

A splasher rig consists of a cylindrical section of wood which has an eye on each
end. The fishing line is tied to one eye and a nylon monofilament leader about 2
ft. long is tied to the other eye. On the end of this leader tie a small popping
panfish bug, or a bass bug for fresh-water fishing. Or, tie a small spoon, wet fly,
or light jig to the leader, for fresh- or salt-water fishing. The idea here is to use
the block of wood as a weight for casting out the smaller lure trailing behind. The
wood section floats and, when jerked or trolled, creates a commotion which
attracts fish.

The cylindrical section of wood can be made from any round wood such as a
dowel, a broomstick, or a tool handle. The diameter and length will depend on
the fishing tackle you will use to cast it. The smaller diameter and shorter lengths
are used for light fresh-water tackle and the thicker diameters and longer wood
sections are best for the heavier salt-water outfits.

For the smaller fresh-water splashers you can use two screw eyes, one on each
end for tying on the line and leader. But for the larger splashers used in salt-
water fishing the through-wire construction, with eyes formed at each end, is
stronger. This, of course, requires drilling a hole through the center for the wire.
Fig. 122 shows a splasher rig and the way it is attached ahead of a lure.

Figure 122. Wood splasher rig.

Another lure which is widely used in trolling for blues and other fish is the so-
called "bone" lure, shown in Fig. 123. Years ago these lures were made from
hollow, tubular animal bones, such as those from cats, chickens, and turkeys.
Today, with plastic tubes available in various diameters, lengths, and colors, very
few natural bones are used.

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Figure 123. Bone or plastic lure.

To make the bone-type lure, buy white plastic tubing about in. in diameter and
cut it into lengths of about 3 or 4 in. long. Then tie a hook on a wire leader and
slip the plastic tube down on the wire until it rests against the curve of the hook.
Although regular-shank hooks can be used, a long-shank hook is preferred. Also,
a hook with a small or needle eye is better than a hook with a big ringed eye.

This bone lure can be used "as is," but many anglers prefer to dip a short section
of the head in red paint or lacquer. Plastic tubing can also be obtained in yellow,
red, light blue, green and other colors. Bone lures are usually trolled "as is" for
such fish as bluefish, mackerel, bonito, albacore, dolphin, and small tuna. When
used for striped bass it's a good idea to add about two or three sandworms or
bloodworms to the hook.

Somewhat similar is the rubber lure made from a length of surgical rubber tubing.
This is shown in Fig. 124. Here you cut off about a 6 in. length of the rubber tube
and-the ice the tail, at an angle, for a length of about 2 in. so that the side of the
rubber not removed forms a tapering tail. Then get a long-shanked hook such as
a Pacific Bass, in size 5/0 or 6/0, and tie a nylon monofilament leader to the hook
eye. Then slide the rubber tube on the leader and down the hook. The hook
should be covered by the rubber tube, allowing only the bend and point to
protrude. This lure is trolled for such fish as bluefish, striped bass, bonito, and
albacore and for best results should spin freely. Bending the hook shank
increases the spinning action. This lure should have a good swivel attached to
the end of the leader because of its spinning qualities.

Figure 124. Rubber tube lure.

The rubber-tube lure described above is trolled because it is too light to cast. But
you can cast it if you add a keel sinker in front or slip a small eggshaped sinker
on the leader ahead of the rubber tube to provide weight for casting. See Fig.
125.

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Figure 125. Rubber tube lure weighted with a sinker.

The rubber-tube lure in its natural amber rubber color catches fish, but it can also
be painted white, silver, light blue, yellow, red, or black. The paint will chip after a
while, but can be renewed every so often.

Another lure made by salt-water anglers who fish for herring or mackerel is
shown in Fig. 126. It can be made from any shiny metal such as nickel, chrome-
plated brass, or stainless steel. This lure should be small for herring, say about 2
in. long and in. wide. The thickness or gauge of the metal used will depend on
the weight you want. Metal about .04 in. thick is good for the size of lure
suggested here. After the lure is cut out it should be polished and then twisted as
shown in the drawing. A hole should be drilled in one end for the fishing line. If
you use a single hook you can either solder it on or rivet it to the metal. If you use
a small treble hook, add a split ring and attach the hook to this. This lure is jigged
up and down from a boat, a pier, or other spot where there is deep water and
herring present. It can also be used in fresh-water ice fishing.

Figure 126. Twisted metal lure.

Other lures for herring, shad, small bluefish, and similar fish can be quickly made
with a hook and some tin foil, tinsel, or cellophane. Take a small hook such as
No. 2 either in regular shank or long shank, wrap the tin foil or cellophane around
it, and then tie the ends with red nylon or silk thread. Such a lure is shown in Fig.
127. If you want to, add a small feather or two at the tail of the lure.

Figure 127. Tin foil wrapped on a hook.

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You can also make natural looking molded-rubber lures which so closely
resemble frogs, minnows, crayfish, hellgrammites, nymphs, larvae, and other
natural baits that they look almost alive. To make such molded-rubber lures you
use liquid rubber or latex. You need a pattern or model, and the best one you can
use, of course, is the natural bait itself. Plaster of Paris or water putty can be
used to make such a mold. The steps in making the mold are very similar to
those used in making a metal squid described in Chapter 8. However, there are
some differences so we'll again describe the procedure briefly. First, get your
natural bait to be copied, such as a frog. Choose one somewhat larger than the
finished size you want. Liquid rubber shrinks when it dries so you have to start
with a larger cavity in the mold. Then get a piece of glass or metal and form a
small box from cardboard or wood on this flat surface. Then take your frog and
stuff it with absorbent cotton down its mouth, throat, and belly to fill it out. Now
grease the inside of the box and the frog itself with petroleum jelly. Then lay the
frog belly down in the box and mix some plaster of Paris or water putty. Pour this
into the box over the frog until it is covered by at least a half inch or so. Wait an
hour or two for the plaster to dry, and then break apart the box and remove the
frog. You may have to cut around the frog's body to free it from the plaster.

The mold should follow the contours of the frog's body pretty closely. If there are
any holes or other imperfections, patch them with wet plaster. Do this when the
plaster mold is still damp. After a few days the plaster mold will dry, and it is
ready to use. You can use it as is by merely laying it on a flat surface and then
filling the cavity with the liquid rubber or latex. Another way is to place a small flat
wooden section over the plaster mold, drill a hole in the wooden flat for a small
funnel and then fill the cavity with liquid rubber.

Allow the finished lure to dry for a day or so in the plaster mold, before removing.
The rubber frog now needs a hook, which can be the long-shanked hump type
described in Chapter 3 for the spin bugs. Slit the belly of the frog and insert the
hook so that the eye protrudes on one end at the head and the bend and point
are on the opposite side. Pour some liquid rubber into the slit and let it harden for
a day or so. For best results, wind the shank of the hook with nylon or silk thread
before inserting it in the rubber frog.

You can also use the through-wire construction, which is stronger. Here you push
stainless steel wire through the frog from the mouth to the tail and form eyes on
each end. The rear eye will hold a small treble hook while the front one is for
tying on the line.

The rubber lures made with the single mold above will be flat on one side. If you
want to, make two-section molds similar to the ones used for making jigs.

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Similar molds, made from metal for casting worms, minnows, crickets, crayfish,
frogs; and various insects can be obtained from supply houses. These metal
molds are complete and ready to use. They last indefinitely and are very
inexpensive.

The lures covered in this book will take care of most of your fresh- or salt-water
fishing requirements. Of course, there are many other fishing lures which you can
make. Most are similar to those already described, but some may be different. As
you go along, you will make changes and improvements, and work out original
ideas. Making your own lures is a fascinating pastime and life long hobby.

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11 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.

There are many types, such as the ball or round, bell or dipsey, bank, diamond,
oval, flat, rectangular, pencil, and pyramid. These are illustrated in Fig. 128 and
will give you an idea of the kinds of sinkers used in fresh- and salt-water fishing.

Figure 128. Types of sinkers.

You don't need much equipment. A gas or electric stove is required to melt the
lead or other metal, and a ladle to hold and pour the molten lead. For making
sinkers, especially the larger salt-water types, a big ladle is best. You also need
lead which is usually used to make sinkers. Scrap lead can usually be obtained
from a junk dealer. Alloys of lead and other metals, such as type metal, can also
be used to make sinkers although you usually get best results with pure lead.
Finally you need a mold of some sort.

One of the easiest sinkers to make is the flat, oval type used for freshwater
fishing or light salt-water angling. For a mold, use either an old teaspoon or
tablespoon, depending on how big and heavy you want the sinker. Then melt the

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lead and pour it into the spoon. See Fig. 129. You control the size (and weight) of
the sinker by regulating the amount of lead you pour. If the sinker sticks to the
spoon, just wipe the spoon with an oily rag. After the sinkers are poured and
cool, you drill or punch a hole in one end for the fishing line and the sinkers are
finished. These flat sinkers hold bottom very well and do not roll in the current or
tide.

Figure 129. Using a spoon to make a sinker.

Another simple and quick way to make sinkers is with a potato mold. Just take a
large potato, cut it in half, and then carve out a cavity for the type of sinker you
want. Since this is a one-piece mold where you use only half the potato, you are
naturally limited to certain types of sinkers. You can make rectangular, dipsey,
pyramid, and cylindrical or pencil-type sinkers. Although you can pour these
sinkers and then drill eyes in the lead for the fishing line, it is better to cut a small
slot in the extreme bottom of the cavity and put a wire eye into it. Then pour the
hot lead into the cavity and when it cools pull out the finished sinker. Such a
potato mold, with the position of the wire eye, is shown in Fig. 130. When you
pour the first sinkers you'll find that the moist potato will sputter and sizzle. But
after you pour two or three sinkers it will dry out and then you'll have no more
difficulty in this regard. Naturally, the potato mold doesn't last very long and after
a while it dries up and shrivels too much to be of any use. However, a potato
mold is inexpensive and so simple that you can make another in a matter of
minutes.

Figure 130. Potato mold.

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Another inexpensive and simple mold to make is to use a chunk of hard wood
and drill and carve out a sinker cavity. Here, too, the mold is one piece and you
are limited to the types of sinkers made with the potato mold. You can make a
good dipsey sinker mold from a wood block by drilling a cavity on one end with
different-size drills. First start with a large-size drill and drill only a short distance
below the surface. Then use a slightly smaller drill and go a bit deeper, then a
still smaller one to reach the full depth you want. After which you use a knife and
gouge the ridges from the cavity. Wood carving tools are also good for this work.
Cut a small slot in the far end of the cavity to take a wire eye, and the mold is
ready for use. Such a mold is shown in Fig. 131. It will last for quite a while
before the hot metal burns it out too much.

Figure 131. Wooden sinker mold.

If you have a drill press or an electric drill and other metal-working tools you can
make such a one-piece mold from a piece of metal. Brass, copper, or bronze are
easiest to drill and cut, but you can also use iron and drill out a sinker cavity
similar to the wooden mold described above. Once made, such a mold will last
forever and will make thousands of sinkers.

When making molds for other types of sinkers such as the ball or bank, you
make a two-piece mold similar to the types made for jigs described in Chapter 7.
These can be from plaster of Paris or water putty if you want temporary,
inexpensive molds. In making such a two-piece mold, you can have two cavities
and pour two sinkers at a time instead of just one. See Fig. 132. So when you get
a cardboard box or make a wooden frame for such a mold make sure it is big
enough.

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Figure 132. Sinker mold with two cavities.

As noted, the procedures in making a plaster of Paris or water putty mold are
similar to those described in Chapter 7. However, instead of using the actual
sinker for a pattern you should carve such a sinker pattern from soft wood, wax,
or soap. The lead sinker itself cannot be used because it is too heavy and will
sink into the wet plaster when it should float in the stuff. Remember that in
making a two-piece sinker mold the pattern should be pushed only halfway into
the wet plaster. When the first pouring hardens you grease the top and the part
of the pattern still visible, and pour the other half.

You can also make two-piece plaster of Paris molds to pour various types of
trolling weights, as shown in Fig. 133. These trolling weights are usually
cylindrical or keel shaped and have eyes on each end, to which the fishing line or
leaders are attached. When making a two-piece mold to pour such trolling
weights, you must cut out grooves at both ends of the cavity to take such wire
eyes or barrel swivels on each end. Such a mold for making trolling sinkers is
shown in Fig. 134.

The potato, wood, and plaster molds described above will usually last long
enough to make a couple of dozen or so sinkers. If you want to make a
permanent mold which will last indefinitely, make a plaster mold of the type you

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want and take it to a foundry. If you have any special designs you want made this
is certainly the best procedure. However, if you want a permanent mold for a
standard-type sinker you can buy a cast iron or aluminum mold in almost any
fishing tackle store. They can also be ordered by mail from some of the supply
houses. Such permanent molds are inexpensive and will last for a long time.

Figure 133. Two types of trolling weights.

Figure 134. Plaster mold for a trolling weight.

When using metal sinker molds, a few words of advice are in order. Make sure
your mold is warm and dry, and heat the lead well above the melting point before
pouring it into the mold. Otherwise, the molten metal will solidify and form
imperfect sinkers before it has a chance to reach all parts of the mold. After a
while you'll be able to tell what the best pouring temperature is by watching the
color of the molten metal. When pouring sinkers and weights, remember that it's
a good idea to scoop the scum and dirt off the top of the molten lead at regular
intervals so that it pours with no trouble.

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12 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. To hook many of these fish you
must use a leader which is not too noticeable between the fishing line and the
lure, and after the fish is hooked your leader must hold him without being cut or
broken during the fight. Finally, leaders are usually heavier and stronger than the
main line in order to absorb shocks of casting. As a general rule, a leader should
be stronger than the main fishing line in order to stand the constant rubbing and
friction against the guides on the rod and the sand, rocks, and other obstructions
in the water.

With the development of nylon by DuPont, a major advance was made in fishing
lines and leaders. Nylon monofilament is strong and smooth, resists wear and
friction, is waterproof, and is almost invisible. You can buy coils of nylon
monofilament in various testing strengths from 1 pound or less up to 120 pounds
or more. You'll find that for most fresh-water spinning you'll need nylon leaders
testing 6, 8, or 10 pounds. When you are after larger fish you may need 12 or 15
pound test. The leader should test a few pounds more than the main fishing line.
For salt-water fishing, nylon monofilament leaders testing 8, 12, 15, and 20
pounds are usually used. Surf fishing or heavy-tackle trolling may require nylon
leaders testing 30, 40, or 50 pounds, or more.

The length of the nylon monofilament leader will depend on the tackle you use.
Generally, it should be long enough so that when you reel in most of your line
and are ready to cast again there are a few turns of the leader on your reel. In
other words, the leader should run from the reel to the rod tip and beyond to the
lure. When you cast, most of the shock will be absorbed by the stronger leader
instead of the weaker fishing line. So, most such leaders will run from 6 ft. for the
shorter, lighter spinning rods to 12 or 15 ft. for the longer, heavier spin rods and
surf rods. For trolling, such long leaders are of course not needed, and you can
usually use shorter ones.

To make nylon monofilament leaders you must know how to tie good, strong
knots. A knot is the weakest link in your line or leader. Even a perfectly tied knot
weakens a line, but a wrong or carelessly tied knot can weaken your line or
leader by as much as 50 per cent or more. A good knot, properly tied, weakens
the line by only 20 per cent or so.

Sailors, riggers, and fishermen use many different kinds of knots. For most
fishing needs and for tying leaders, however, only a few basic knots are required,
and these are shown in Fig. 135. Nylon knots have a tendency to slip if not

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properly tied, so care must be taken when tightening the knot. After the knot is
formed it should first be pulled up slowly, and then pulled tight. After the knot is
tied, do not clip the end off too short. For certain knots it is also a good idea to
burn this end with a match or cigarette lighter so that the nylon fuses into a tiny
ball.

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Figure 135. Basic leader knots.

Here's how to tie the four basic knots shown in Fig. 135. The blood knot (A), also
called the barrel knot, is used to join lines or leaders. To tie it, first lap the ends of
the lines or leaders. Then twist one end around the line to make three or three
and a half turns. Next place the end between the strands and hold them together
between your thumb and forefinger. Now wind the other end around the line for
the same number of turns, in the opposite direction, and place it between the
strands. Finally, pull on the two ends to draw the turns closer together. When
they bunch up, pull tight on the ends making the knot as small as possible. Then
clip off the ends fairly close to the knot.

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The perfection loop knot (B) is for tying a loop on the end of your line or leader.
Here you take one looping turn around the nylon and hold the lines together
between your thumb and forefinger. Then take a second looping turn around the
crossing. Next, take the big loop formed by this second turn, pass it through the
loop on top, and pull on this big loop until the knot jams. Then clip off the end.

The double thumb knot (C) is another knot which can be used to tie a loop on the
end of a line or leader. Here you merely double your leader for a few inches to
form a loop and then form a simple overhand knot twice, as shown.

The improved clinch knot (D) is used for tying a leader to a hook, snap, or lure.
To tie it, run about three or four inches of the end of the leader through the eye,
then double it back and twist it around the leader for several turns. Next, put the
end through the opening next to the eye, and, for added security, run the end
through the big loop formed by the nylon. To tighten, pull on the end and slide the
turns toward the eye. To finish, just clip off the end.

In order to save fishing time it pays to make up the nylon leaders in advance,
tying a loop on one end and attaching a swivel and snap on the other end. Then
coil the leader and put it into a separate paper, cellophane, or glassine envelope.
It's a good idea to mark the strength of the leader on the envelope somewhere,
so you don't get confused later on.

When fishing in fresh water for pike and muskellunge and for many saltwater fish
you need a wire leader ahead of the lure to prevent these fish from biting your
nylon leader. When surf fishing, it's also a good idea to attach a short wire leader
to all your lures such as metal squids and plugs. See Fig. 136. Then tie a swivel-
snap on your line for changing the lures. Such a short wire leader can run
anywhere from 6 to 10 in. in length.

Figure 136. Short wire leader on a lure.

Two kinds of metal leaders are usually used for fishing: the single-strand wire
and cable wire. The single strand is made from either tinned piano wire or
stainless steel wire. Tinned piano wire is suitable for fresh-water fishing but
stainless steel wire is best for salt-water leaders. In fact, stainless steel wire is so
inexpensive that it can be used for most of your metal leaders. You can buy it
from the mail-order supply houses or in most fishing tackle stores, in coils of 25
feet or longer.

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Stainless steel wire comes in various diameters and strengths, from No. 2 which
tests about 27 pounds on up to No. 18 which tests about 325 pounds. The lower
numbers are used for fresh-water fishing and light salt-water fishing; the higher
numbers are used for surf fishing and big salt-water fish.

To make metal leaders from stainless steel wire you'll need diagonal cutting
pliers, flat-nose pliers, and round-nosed pliers. For thinner wire, use the smaller
jeweler's round-nosed pliers. For the heavier leaders the larger round nosed
pliers are required.

The whole secret in making wire leaders is learning how to form and twist the
eyes on the ends properly. It's surprising how few fresh- or salt-water anglers
know how to make a neat, secure eye on a wire leader. Most of the wire leaders
are sloppy and often insecure. Many surf anglers and mates and captains on
charter boats know how to make good wire leaders. If you can get one of these
men to show you how to form and twist the wire leaders you'll soon learn how to
make good leaders. By following the instructions and drawings given here,
however, and with a little practice, you can learn how to make neat, secure wire
leaders.

The first step when making a single-strand wire leader is to clip off a section of
the stainless steel wire. When doing this, you must make allowances for the
length of the wire used to form the eyes and the twists. In other words, if you
want a wire leader 12 in. long with an eye on each end you will have to start with
a section of wire at least 17 or 18 in. long. The longer the end you allow the
easier it will be to work with. Experiment at first to see how long a piece you will
need; after that, cut all the wire pieces the same length. Use diagonal pliers to
cut the wire into the proper lengths.

To form the eye, grab the wire about two inches from the end with round-nosed
pliers (Fig. 137A) and twist the pliers to the right to form a loop (Fig. 137B). Next,
grab the end of the loop or eye with a pair of flat-nosed pliers (Fig. 137C). Hold
the wire or shift it so that the short end overlaps the main wire on your side. Now,
using the right thumb and index finger, hold and twist the two wires at the point
where they cross to the right (away from you), as shown in Fig. 137D. Keep
twisting the wire so that both of them interlock for several turns (Fig. 137E). Then
make several straight twists of the wire so that it looks as in Fig. 137F. The
remaining short length of wire should be at right angles to the main wire. To
break it off, simply bend it sharply toward the eye, then back, then once again
and it will break off clean. This is important, because if you use pliers to clip it off
it will leave a short, sharp stub which will cut your fingers.

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Figure 137. Forming the eye on a wire leader.

Instead of using pliers to form the eye of the wire leader you can make up a
small, handy jig to do this. Just get a dowel or broomstick handle or similar round
wood and cut off about three inches. Then drill a hole in one end so that you can
drive in a nail. The thickness of the nail will depend on the size of the eye you
want. For small eyes use a thin nail, and for the larger eyes use a thicker
diameter nail. In fact, it's a good idea to make up two or three jigs of various
diameter nails for making different-sized loops.

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After this nail is driven into the center of the wood, take a small screw and screw
it in next to this nail, about 1/16 in. away. To form an eye in a wire, simply place it
between the nail and the screw and twist it. The jig and how it is used is shown in
Fig. 138. Of course, the jig does only part of the job. After you remove the wire
from it you complete the eye by making the twists described above.

Figure 138. Jig for forming wire eyes, and how to use it.

The other kind of wire used for making leaders is the cable type, usually twisted
or braided from many fine strands of stainless steel. This cable wire is very
flexible and doesn't kink as readily as the single-strand wire. It comes bare or
covered with nylon. To use this wire for leaders you need special crimping pliers
and brass or copper sleeves, both of which are shown in Fig. 139. To make a
loop or eye, slip the end of the wire through the sleeve until it protrudes about an
inch and a half on the other end. Then double the end of the wire back through
the sleeve to form the loop or eye. See Fig. 139. The sleeve is then pinched or
crimped with the crimping pliers. When using nylon covered cable it's a good idea
to remove the nylon at the point where the sleeve covers it. If you want a swivel
or snap on the end of the leader, slip it on the loop or eye before you double the
wire into the sleeve.

Such leader crimping kits with the pliers, sleeves, and cable wire can be ordered
by mail, and can also be bought in many fishing tackle stores. Various kinds of
snaps, swivels, and other connections are often required in fresh- and salt-water
fishing. Of course, you can tie nylon leaders directly to the lures, and this is most
effective in clear water or when fishing for wary fish. When changing lures,
however, this often takes too much time and effort, so most anglers resort to
some kind of snap and swivel on the end of the leader. Such snaps and swivels
can be bought in most fishing tackle stores.

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Figure 139. Special crimping pliers for crimping a sleeve.

You can also make your own quick-change locking snaps with little trouble, using
stainless steel single-strand wire. Use the finer wire for freshwater snaps and
heavier gauges for salt-water snaps. For the fresh-water snaps use the small
round-nosed pliers. Form an eye, as described in the section above on making
leaders, but slip on a barrel swivel before you close this eye permanently by
making about two twists. Next, grab the wire with the round-nosed pliers about a
half inch or so from the eye. The actual distance will depend on the size of the
snap you want. Now make a round bend at this point, turning the wire toward the
eye. Next, grab the wire again with the pliers, near the eye, and make a sharp
bend to force the wire back toward the twists next to the eye. Finally, take the
short end of the wire with pliers and form a catch. In other words, the wire starts
from the eye, runs straight for a half inch or so, curves to form a round end and
runs back parallel, curves sharply, and meets itself. The drawings in Fig. 140 will
show the various steps in forming the snap-swivels.

Snap-swivels in various sizes for fresh- or salt-water fishing can be made up in

advance, say during the winter months, for the coming fishing season. They are
much cheaper than those you buy in a fishing tackle store, and they are just as
strong and efficient. Most important, if you lose a few of them while fishing they
are easily replaced at little cost.

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Figure 140. Steps in forming a locking snap.

13 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. He-also has the tools and fishing lure parts necessary for such work.
Fishing lures in general do not require much care when storing them in a home
or shop. The best idea is to put them into cabinet drawers or individual boxes so
that they can be found easily and can be kept dry. In humid climates or near the
seashore it is important not to expose the metal parts to the air; otherwise, hooks
will rust and other metals will corrode. Fishing lures which have feathers or hair
should be kept in air-tight containers so that moths and other insects or small
animals will not get to them. This also applies to new fishing lures which haven't
yet been used.

Lures which have been used require considerable care if you want to get the
maximum use from them. Fresh-water fishing plugs usually require less care and
repair than salt-water ones. But any plug which is chipped, cracked, or battered
can quickly be made to look almost new.

Plugs which are slightly chipped can be merely touched up with a small brush,
using enamels or lacquers. But if a wooden plug is badly cracked or battered, it

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should be given a complete paint job, using a brush 'and enamel or a spray gun
and lacquer. If you use a brush and enamel you do not have to remove the hooks
unless they are to be replaced too. First sandpaper the plug, then paint it with
white enamel. Two or three coats may be necessary to cover it completely. Then
add the other colors. If you use a spray gun and lacquer, remove the hooks for
best results. Sandpaper the old paint if the plug is not too badly cracked. If it is
badly chipped and cracked you can do a better job if you dip the plug in paint
remover and then scrape off the old paint or lacquer. After this, you can proceed
to spray the wooden plug body the same way as if it were a new plug just being
made. When the paint job is finished, replace the old hooks or add new ones.

The hooks on a plug, especially if it is a salt-water type, should be examined

closely. If they are only slightly rusted, they can be cleaned with steel wool or
emery cloth, then wiped with an oily rag. You can also varnish or paint the hooks
with black enamel or lacquer to protect them for longer periods.

If the hooks are badly rusted, however, they should be replaced with new ones.
When doing this it is important to use the same size and weight as the old ones
in order that the action of the plug is not changed in any way. It's always a good
idea to check the points and barbs of old or new hooks to make sure they are
sharp and not bent or broken. A few minutes spent with a small file or
carborundum sharpening stone will pay dividends later on when a fish with a
tough mouth strikes and is hooked.

Wood or cork spin bugs should be checked to see if the hair or feathers are in
good shape and are not thinned out or chewed up too much. If this is the case
the best idea is to remove the old hair and add new material. After the hair or
feathers have been tied or glued on, the bug can be repainted with enamel or
lacquer using a small brush.

Spoons and spinners should be wiped dry after using to prevent them from
tarnishing or corroding. If they were used in salt water, it's a good idea to rinse
them in fresh water, then wipe them dry before storing them away. You can also
wipe the spoon, hooks, and connections with an oily rag to keep them in good
condition. If the spoons or spinners are tarnished they can usually be polished if
you rub them with a metal polish.

After spoons and spinners become badly chipped or corroded they can be
replated by saving several of them and taking them to a firm which does nickel
plating or chrome plating. The chrome plating is best for spoons used in salt
water. If you have only one or two spoons or spinners which are badly chipped or
corroded you can still use them if you paint them silver, white, or yellow.

On jigs you have to watch the hook and the hair, feather, or nylon skirts. If the
hook is badly rusted and weakened the best procedure is to discard that
particular jig and put it aside for melting when you pour new ones. If, however,

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the hook is in good condition but the hair is thinned out or shredded you can
remove it and tie on new hair, feathers, or nylon. If the jig is painted it can be
rubbed with steel wool or sandpaper and then repainted.

Metal squids should also be examined to see if they require work. Usually all you
need do is to take some steel wool or metal polish and rub the squid to bring out
the shine. If the feathers have been thinned out or if they are chewed up and
broken, remove them and tie on new ones. A metal squid need not be recast
unless the point or barb of the hook is broken or it is badly rusted and weak.
Then you can melt it and pour new squids. Such squids usually contain some
lead so do not add any more of this metal. You can, however, add some new
block tin if you want to. The tin can be used over and over as often as required.
That's another advantage in making your own metal squids: you don't have to
use such lures if the hooks become badly rusted. Merely save them and then
pour new metal squids.

Rigged eels and eelskin lures are highly perishable and must be kept frozen or in
salt brine when not in use. Before being used, rigged eels and eelskin lures
should be examined carefully to see that they aren't torn. Rigged eels tend to get
soft after being used for any length of time. Then they start falling apart and are
useless. There isn't much you can do to prevent this except to keep them in salt
when not being used. Once an eel starts to fall apart you might as well discard it
and use a fresh one. Of course, you can salvage the hooks or swivels, to use
when rigging fresh ones. Eelskin lures are pretty durable, but when the skin gets
too old it can be taken off and a new one can be tied in its place. Here, too, you
should watch the hooks and wire or chain to make certain they are not weakened
in any way.

The plastic-tube lures are very durable except for the hook, which will rust when
used in salt water. A new hook can easily be substituted for the old one if you
find that it has rusted too much. Rubber-tube lures should be examined to ser, if
the rubber is still intact. Certain fish such as bluefish will slash the rubber tube
with their sharp teeth. If the tube is badly cut it should be replaced with a new
one. The hook, too, should be examined for rust.

When it comes to leaders and connections it is very important to use only the
strongest. If you suspect any weakness it's a good idea to discard that leader and
tie a new one. Nylon leader material is inexpensive and if any of your leaders are
frayed or cut they should be thrown away. Single-strand wire leaders tend to
kink, and if they have too many sharp bends which cannot be straightened out
they also should be thrown away. You should also check the eyes or loops on
wire leaders to make sure they haven't slipped or closed. An eye which is closed
too much on a wire leader can kill the action of a lure.

In general, when examining any fishing lure you have made it's a wise policy to
repair it if you are the least bit doubtful about its condition. If it cannot be

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repaired, throw it away after salvaging any usable parts. It doesn't pay to take
chances with a fishing lure which is weak in any way. You may hook a record fish
and lose it if the lure is not dependable. Many anglers who buy their fishing lures
in tackle stores often use them until they fall apart, before buying new ones. But if
you make your own fishing lures you can afford to use only those which are in
good condition.

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