How to Make Fishing Lures

✦ To make the lures, you'll require―toothpicks, fresh lures/baits, plaster of Paris, foil baking pan, a measuring cup, metal turkey injector, cooking spray, metal spoon, old plastic (for melting), and a microwave. Once you gather these materials, go to the next step.

✦ In this section, we will replicate fresh baits. To begin, we need to wash the baits and keep them aside to replicate.

✦ Take the foil pan and add a little bit of plaster of Paris in it. Follow the directions, read the instructions that come with the box.

✦ Keep the washed baits in the pan and pour more plaster of Paris in it.

✦ Make sure that you fill ½" more to cover the baits. Leave the baits in to mix properly.

✦ Once the plaster turns solid, remove the bait from the pan to set furthermore.

✦ Meanwhile, take the measuring cup to melt old plastic in the microwave. Keep this cup inside the microwave and turn it on.

✦ The plastic should melt and mix together. You can stop in the middle to stir with a metal spoon and check the consistency.

✦ Once the surface hardens, remove the bait from inside the molds. Take each baits' cover and coat them with cooking spray. You need to fill the baits with the mixture you made using the metal turkey injector.

✦ Again leave the baits aside to turn solid and cool down. The mixture you added inside the baits will make them a bit hot.

✦ From the plaster of Paris, remove the new plastic lures out and wash them with water. Keep the new baits/lures in sealed bags and use when you're out fishing.

✦ For this project, you'll require―2 eye screws, a split ring, a 5" broom handle piece, paint, and sandpaper. Once you gather these materials, go to the next step.

✦ When you cut the 5" piece of the broom handle, make sure that the wood is not rotted or the lure won't be made properly.

✦ With the sandpaper, you need to make one edge round and the keep the other edge rounded but with a slight tip.

✦ Use the sandpaper to shape the edges so that it turns smooth. We don't want any sharp edges for this lure.

✦ Use paint that works well on wood and paint the bait. You can copy the colors that match the bait fish like to prey on.

✦ Leave the lure to dry completely. Next step is to attach the eye screws.

✦ To do so, fix them on either sides of the rounded edge. Make sure that the screws are directly in the middle.

✦ Tighten the screws and place the split ring to one of the screws.

✦ This ring will help you place the lure onto the fishing hook once you're ready.

✦ For this project, you'll require―thread, bobbin, fur or animal hair, fly tying vise, scissors, and hooks.

✦ For the first step, we need to replicate a fly that will be tied to the hook. The vise will be secured to your working area so that you can perform your task properly.

✦ First the hook needs to be attached to the top of the vise. The curved section of the hook is where the mouth of the vise will be held.

✦ Tighten the hook inside the vise so it doesn't move while you're working on it. Now we insert the thread to the bobbin in between the knobbed holders.

✦ The thread needs to come out from the other side of bobbin so that there won't be any tangles later on. You can use a needle to insert the thread smoothly.

✦ Wrap the thread now from around the center of the hook's shank. This way, you can tie the fly properly. Close to the eye of the hook, make 2―3 turns with the thread.

✦ Again wrap the thread around but in the opposite direction now. Near the curve of the hook, these turns or loops with the thread will be taken. Now as you can see, the bobbin and the thread will be hanging down.

✦ Let the bobbin hang and adjust the vise. Make sure that the bobbin isn't touching the table where you're working. If so, then lift the vise a bit to keep the bobbin hanging.

✦ Next we will make the fly (lure) with fur or animal hair. You can also use feathers or yarn to make the body of the fly

✦ Wrap thread around the layer of fur or animal hair. Make sure that each layer is being wrapped tightly so that it doesn't fall apart while in water.

✦ Place fur near the top of the fly to make the head and wrap with thread again. Secure the thread with a knot and cut the extra thread. And your fishing lure or bait is ready.

While placing the lures onto the hooks, make sure that you handle the hooks very carefully. Use the appropriate lure to catch the fish, based on the type of water body you are fishing in.