Q&A for How to Make Wooden Fishing Lures

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What color should I use for my lures?

Kathy Sparrow, MA
Fishing Instructor
Kathy Sparrow is a fly-fishing instructor and adventurer at heart. Kathy is the co-founder and previous manager of the Kingfisher Inn, a fly-fishing lodge on the Lower Laguna Madre in Texas. She is the author of "On the Mother Lagoon: Flyfishing and the Spiritual Journey" and "The Whispered Teachings of Grandmother Trout” a novel conveying the feminine perspective of fly fishing. Kathy is also a Certified Canfield Trainer in Canfield Methodologies. She guides individuals through the process of embracing change by expressing confidence, awareness, and courage through the tools of writing, fly fishing, and intentional conversation. She has a MA in English with an emphasis in Literature and Cultural Studies from the University of Texas-Pan American.

Kathy Sparrow, MA

Fishing Instructor

Expert Answer

That depends on where you're at and also the amount of brightness. In saltwater, you want to use patterns that can attract attention to something brighter. In freshwater, that bright light might scare fish away, so instead you would do something that matches the bugs that are in the water (since that's what the fish are eating).

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Question

How do I make a wood fishing lure for trout?

Community Answer

A trout lure is usually a spinner bait no more than 1 to 1&1/2 inches long with stiff wire threaded through the body and through a spinner with a spoon attached. The wire will be soldered at the back of your lure's body after a small treble hook is threaded onto the wire. Think rooster tail, the hook is usually hidden by a group of feathers or hoarse hair.

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Question

Will the eyes hold in balsa wood while fighting a fish?

Community Answer

Balsa is very light, fragile wood. It may survive a few small bass but if you hook an eight-pounder, you might just rip your hooks and eyelets out of the wood.

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Question

How do I ensure the lure sits upright in the water?

Community Answer

You want an evenly rounded body and also the hooks (if aligned straight on the bottom) will help by weighting it on that side, causing it to sit upright.

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Question

What is the best softwood for carving lures?

Community Answer

Get clear poplar, it's available at Lowe's. This wood is very easy to carve, shape, and sand.

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Question

What is the best wood to use?

Community Answer

Balsa is great if you're going to use a through-wire; otherwise, you want something harder like cedar or Douglas fir.

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Question

How long does it take to make a wooden lure?

Community Answer

About 4-10 hours. Try making about 10 or so at a time. This is best use of your time and resources.

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Question

How do I make a wooden fishing lure for crappie?

Community Answer

Same as for bass, just smaller. Lighter hooks can be used as well. With crappie baits, screw eyes should be just fine. You can use a template from the Internet and downsize it before tracing it on plastic to use as a template to trace the pattern/profile onto the wood.

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Question

How do you secure the hook to the lure?

Mr fisherman

Community Answer

Screw in an eyelet using your hands, then use a split ring to attach the hook.

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