Thanks for the welcome words. I appreciate it. I an new to wooden lure making having made just two last season, but have become more interested and active so far this season which is approaching us here in Marblehead MA. My objective in taking up the art of lure making is to use the materials, techniques, and tools resident in my shop. I am a carpenter specializing in the restoration of antique wooden windows and doors so I have some basics well down already. But this lure making is challenging and I look forward to learning much from this site.
At first I was somewhat intimidated by the fine detail, equipment and techniques I saw necessary to produce such beautiful lures that I see people make. Then I said "What the hell?" and aimed at making "classic" lures as simple as possible using simple materials and simple techniques. I guess you could say I'm just a simple minded guy.
So I have proceeded without a lathe (I can make squares round), an airbrush (I use rattle cans), and none of the paraphernalia like clamps, rollers, etc. Just keeping it simple. Last season I made two plugs, one dark for night time fishing (my favorite), and one yellow for day. Both worked well in the water, caught as many fish as purchased plugs, and with repairs are still here. Both made with screw eyes, rattle paint, glitter, but good hooks. I caught some nice fish on these two lures and am impressed with how well they held up and performed. There is a picture of The Dark Knight and Tweety Bird so I named them. Both made from Oak, linseed oil, glitter spray, color and clear coat.
After the fall season in '17 I started to fiddle with making shapes using my shop tools and studying better techniques and hardwares to use. A lot of reading what others have done has led me to make about thirty plugs so far again just using simple techniques and materials but respecting basic shapes, colors and rigging concepts and proven combinations. I haven't yet ventured into the fine detail that more accomplished makers display like scales, vents, lips, etc. I hope to learn some more about those refinements here from more experienced makers.
I am putting some pics of my progress to date here hoping to get some comments that will help me to do better and hopefully be able to produce some of the beautiful work I see posted. Thanks again for the welcome and I look forward to killing the stripers in the near future.
