How to Make Soft Plastic Lures

Co-authored by Michael Reynolds

Last Updated: November 25, 2022 Approved

Soft plastic lures have been available since the plastic worm was introduced to the market in 1951. Over time, the plastic worm has expanded from its original straight-tail design to include paddle-tail, forked-tail, and ribbon-tail designs and has been joined by plastic grubs, plastic salamanders, and other soft plastic creations. Although soft plastic lures are available from such manufacturers as Crème, Mann, and Bass Buster, you can make your own plastic worms and grubs to mimic what the manufacturers produce or in color schemes they don't.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing the Resin

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Look for a place with good ventilation where burns and spills won't matter. Put on gloves and goggles to protect yourself. ^{[1]
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An old baking pan works well for this purpose. If you're making more than 1 soft plastic lure, you can arrange several molds on the pan.

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This will make it easier to remove the soft plastic lure from the mold after it cools and solidifies. Be aware that the cooking spray may affect the smell of the lure. ^{[2]
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Fill a microwave-safe measuring cup half-full of plastic resin. If you fill the cup fuller than this, you may have difficulty pouring the resin into the mold once it's heated. ^{[3]
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- If you're melting down old soft plastic lures, put them in the cup in place of the resin.
As the resin heats, it will first thicken and then thin, changing from a milky white to clear. Microwave the resin in 30 second increments until it is clear. Stop heating at once if you see smoke. ^{[4]
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The cup may be hot, so use a pot holder and exercise caution. ^{[5]
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Add a few drops of your desired color. Add the color drop by drop until you have the shade you want. Stir the resin slowly as you add color. ^{[6]
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- Most fish food is either green or orange, so these colors are a great choice.
- Match the hatch. Look for baitfish, or other types of possible bait living in the area to be fished, and match their colors.
Use only non-metal glitter to avoid starting a fire in the microwave. As with color, add scents and flavorings gradually in small amounts. ^{[7]
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This allows the color, flavoring, scents, and glitter to be incorporated into the resin.

Part 2

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Filling the Mold

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1
Pour the colored plastic into your mold slowly, filling it. This will prevent bubbles from forming. ^{[8]
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- It may take several tries before you learn to fill the mold to the right level.
You must let the plastic cool before removing it from the mold, or it won’t form correctly.
Carefully pop the lure out of the mold by turning it upside down and pressing on the bottom of the mold. ^{[9]
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Place the plastic lure on a paper towel or old newsprint to cool overnight. Be sure to lay the molded plastic out flat, as it will set in the position in which you lay it out.
- If the lure does set in a crooked position, you can melt it down and re-pour it.
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Trim off any excess plastic. First, transfer the soft plastic lure to a cookie sheet or baking pan. Trim the excess with a craft knife, scissors, or a pizza cutter.
- As you trim the excess, gather it together. You can melt it down and add it to your next soft plastic lure, or you can add the shavings at the very end to add highlights to lures of a contrasting color.

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Should I make or purchase my molds?

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If you make a mold, make it by hand with either metal (not recommended) or a hard plastic. You can find various ways to do this online. If you buy a mold, make sure it's exactly what you want, as they are VERY hard to change without damaging the mold. I personally have made countless molds and I have only ever needed to replace one and they are all hard plastic.

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Where do you get plastic resins?

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You can get them online.

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How do I make the mold?

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Use clay or polyurethane resin to make a model of what you want your lure to look like. Then take a container, put the model in there, and superglue it. Then pour a hard plastic resin in the same container as your model. Wait about a day for it to be ready to use.

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Commercial soft plastic resins used for making soft plastic lures contain plastisol, which contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a plasticizing agent that usually contains phthalates. Both PVC's and phthalates, also known as phthalate esters which are used as plasticizers to increase the durability and flexibility of plastics, are associated with environmental and health risks. You can make a less toxic substitute out of 1/2 tsp (2.46 ml) glycerol and 4 tsp (19.72 ml) gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup (60 ml) hot water. Add more glycerol if you want a softer plastic; use less to make a harder plastic.

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By getting more than one measuring cup, you can make multi-colored soft plastic lures. Typically, multi-colored soft plastic lures use a darker color near the lures' head and a lighter color at the tail. This is particularly true with ribbon-tail plastic worms such as those made by Mister Twister.

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You can either buy soft plastic lure molds from manufacturers such as Jann's Netcraft or U-Make-Em Soft Plastics or make your own from silicone or plaster of Paris.

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Warnings

When putting your homemade soft plastic lures in your tackle box, keep them separate from hard plastic lures, as the PVC in the soft plastic will damage the finish of hard plastic lures. (This may not be true with the glycerin/gelatin plastic described above, but keeping your soft plastic lures separate will also keep your tackle box better organized.) Many tackle manufacturers offer special boxes with compartments for plastic worms and salamanders that will fit inside your main tackle box.

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Follow the manufacturer's instructions when pouring your own plastic lures and wear safety goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands.

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Things You'll Need

Mold (purchased or made)
Plastic resin or used soft plastic lures
Coloring agent (if mixing plastic instead of melting down old soft plastic lures)
Concentrated scent, such as an essential oil (optional)
Non-metallic glitter flakes (optional)
Old microwave oven (other than the microwave you heat food with)
Microwave-safe glass measuring cup (4 c (0.95 L) size or larger)
Cutting tool (scissors, craft knife, or pizza cutter)
Paper towels
Baking pan (large, made of aluminum)
Vegetable-based cooking spray
Heat-insulated gloves
Safety goggles

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How to Make Soft Plastic Lures

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Preparing the Resin

Filling the Mold

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