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Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | If you could design a lure for yourself, or have it designed for you, be it a top water, jerk, glider, crank, or bucktail or other(?) what features would the bait have? Why?
For me, wire through construction, realistic finishes, extra tough coatings, and most importantly actions that were maybe different in some way from the myriad of lures currently available. I'm not exactly sure how just yet and that's why I'd like your opinions.
Can you start with bait type and then features? | |
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Posts: 610
| Hi, I asked myself that question just over a year ago. I’ve always been a fan of jerkbaits and crankbaits; it’s the ability to add your own “finesse” when working them that I like. I know I’d probably catch more fish on bucktails in the waters I fish, but I find more satisfaction in going out there and thinking it’s my twitching and jerking that fooled the musky into believing my presentation is real.
I’m an engineer by trade so I have the latest technologies in solid modeling, rapid prototyping, mold making, and molding at my disposal. I’ve made some lures for others in the past, and I really enjoyed it. So I thought I’d do another just how I like the bait to be, and then name it after my baby daughter Molly. Here’s a list of what I wanted and what I did to achieved it:
1) Tuff construction – I went with a solid plastic body with insert molded hardware
2) Natural profile – Went with a drop-belly, gill line, and no strait edges. Every surface is free flowing and filleted.
3) Big silhouette – I wanted allot of visibility without the mass of a big round body, so I went with a tall thin shaped body.
4) Flash and Roll – designed a lip to provide these classic crankbait actions
5) Tuff lip – I went with a thick bullet proof lip that’s gusseted
6) Snag Resistant - a reverse chamfer on the bottom of the lip that tends to deflect off rather than dig into rocks and structure.
7) Easy twitching – Went with a curved lip helps the bait “kick out” sideways easier.
8) Shallow Working – I like to fish close to structure and see what I’m “working” I processed the bait to have a slow rise – just enough to slowly float over a weed clump, but heavy enough that with light twitching it will maintain it’s depth. I can keep it a foot down or crank it down to 8’-10’
9) Good Troller – I like my baits to have a little “wonder” in them – instead of the bait following in a strait line, the bait swings or “wonders” back and forth a few feet. I like trolling shorter line lengths at idle speeds, so depending on the cast length the bait will troll 8’-15’.
10) Twice the fun – Scaled up the 7.5” by 33% and the 10” was done in a keystroke
11) Realistic paint patterns – something I enjoy doing, but I’m not good at yet
12) American Made – I made it all here in the USA and use stainless Wolverine triple rings and Eagle Claw lazer sharps – both made here in the USA too.
That’s just about it. I’ve already enjoyed my first few muskies on it and man did that feel good. If only I enjoyed sales and marketing as much as I enjoy designing and prototyping the bait would probably go somewhere – but hopefully the bait speaks for itself. Hey maybe I do like marketing – I think I’ll use this for my website’s front page – done and done.
Thanks
Mike
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 Molly bait 7.jpg (108KB - 326 downloads)
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | The back and forth random seeking action of a Hot-N-Tot is awesome. Are there any Musky baits that do this while trolled?
I too like the larger (higher) side profile for visibility and flash. Now I'm talking about a Crane (208).
Give me more lures with a shallow and deep setting like the Believers, maybe even a very deep setting.
Put those three parameters in a natural looking bait with a rock hard finish and let me know. | |
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Posts: 1939
Location: Black Creek, WI | After reading Mike's reply, looks like I don't have a need to design my own lure. He already did it for me/us! Let us know when you are ready to share them Mike. Oh yeah.... and CONGRATS.
jlong | |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Nice looking bait, Mike. I enjoyed your post, pretty well covers the plastic versions well. What about wood? I like wood lures too, what does everyone think would make up
the perfect wood bait? | |
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Location: Kimberly, WI | Mepps had a gray squirrel tandam tail years ago, but they don't make it anymore. So, I decided to make my own. After fishing with my own bucktails, that look like a Mepps, I started tinking around with my own ideas.
I really enjoy making my own lures. I get a huge kick out of catching fish on my own lures.
Here is what I have created. (I'll try to attach a picture.) | |
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Location: Kimberly, WI | I'm sorry, I'm having computer problems
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Savage Lures.jpg (196KB - 212 downloads)
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Posts: 802
| savage
great looking bait, and the design is not only original, it's probably a great hooker! good job!
steve | |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Savage, Great looking bait. How well does it spin? Lobi, I've observed the Bert has a wide glide while trolling. I'd estimate 6' or more of side-to-side action. Pretty cool looking and covers a lot of water. Original baits? I'm not that creative so keep coming up with them and guys like me will keep buying them. | |
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Location: Kimberly, WI | Thank you for your comments. Dawg because the blade is an inline blade it starts spinning right away. I haven't tried any other blade yet, maybe I should try a colorado blade? You don't have to be creative, I don't think. Sometimes I put a hitch-hiker on with a mister-twister on the back of a Suick or Reef Hawg. I don't think thats creative. I think if you sat down with all your lures and looked at the specail ones that just seem to work the best and maybe catch fish, you could tweek it alittle to give it your personal touch, that wouldn't be so bad. That is all I did and I think this lure does just fine. Steve (esox69) thank you, I caught a 29 inch nothern the second cast with this lure and yes it got hooked up in the front hook. I was very happy with that decision. thanks again Dan | |
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