Hi folks,
I have a lot of leftover hardwood scraps in walnut, cherry, and birdseye maple. So after I bought my latest toy (a Jet mini-lathe) I decided to try my hand at making some fishing lures.
Here are my first three prototypes. I plan to make a bunch for the upcoming striper and bluefish season. I may even try selling some at the Wellfleet flea market. What do ya’ll think???
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Replies
pretty cool.
Did you use waterproof glue?
Thanks, red,
Yup, I used Titebond water resistant glue. The top coat is Devcon 2 ton epoxy. I found a web site for hand made lures and there was a lot of good info there. My poppers are really plain compared to some of the ones on the site. But I didn't want to get into fancy paint jobs... at least not quite yet.
Here's the lure site if you're interested.
http://www.tackleunderground.com/board/viewforum.php?f=8
Very appealing to the eye...
Coarse, I won't being the one "eating 'em" so my opinion doesn't count... :-)
Yea... We'll see if the fish like them. But bluefish are notoriously NOT fussy.
I took my neighbor out fishing last summer and he brought along a popper made from a section of hockey stick. I couldn't believe it. The front end was cut at a 45 degree angle and there was an eye hook in the back with a fishing hook attached. And it caught bluefish... amazing...
So I'm not too worried about cathing sumpin... ;-)
Crash,
If you or anyone would like hardwood like that I always have pieces that I'm forced to burn.. fiddle back maple, tiger strip black walnut, burls, tamerack, etc. pieces vary from scraps to full 6x12x 4 feet .
please contact me I'd love to find someone with the interest and time to use these pieces..I hate to turn them into ash to make them go away..
frenchy, I'll be in touch. The minimum size I need is 3/4" x 1" x 5".
Leftover wood.
I wake up with that every morning !
A person with no sense of humor about themselves, has no sense at all.
ROTFLMFAO!
Great one, Luka. When the Beatles came out with "Norwegian Wood" I always wondered what that meant. Now I know... ;-)
FYI:
"Norwegian Wood" is pot, grass, weed, etc.
Yes - I AM that old! LOL
Re:"Norwegian Wood" is pot, grass, weed, etc."I won't ask what you think is meant by 'Happiness is a warm gun'.'Number nine. Number nine. Number nine.''... We are standing still ...''... then we become naked'...'
..isn't it good,Norwegian wood..Now I understand.
george c.
Interesting...
So the way this thread ended up we have one group going fishing, one group led by Luka lamenting their morning woodies, and one group getting high on Norwegian pot. I wouldn't have predidcted the latter two... ;-)
>> Leftover wood. I wake up with that every morning!Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do, or do without.
Doing without is precisely why I am waking up with leftover wood...
A person with no sense of humor about themselves, has no sense at all.
I'm not sure if chucking your 'leftover wood' into a lathe, sticking bits of steel through it and hanging hooks from it is going to help you out much on that count. Too much of that and you may wake with no wood at all.Different strokes I guess.
4LORN1,
We aren't far from Provincetown on the Cape. Maybe I could make some "pen!s poppers" and sell them there. It would be a pretty strage picture seeing one of those hanging out the mouth of a bluefish... ;-)
Edited 4/18/2005 6:52 am ET by Crash
Even just the description is enough to do that.
A person with no sense of humor about themselves, has no sense at all.
hey Luka you kill me.i'm still laughing
Used to do some blue fishin' myslef... and we definately slayed the blues!!
A lot of people consider bues to be trash fish, But I love the way they fight. And I actually love the way they taste. We have a bunch of great recipes for smoked bluefish!
They are good fresh, as you know, just don't eat the dark meet... Smoked is way good too. Used to know an old timer who had an wore out fridge setup - cut holes in it and had some kind of fire box in the bottom. It was one of those old semi-round top models - maybe all metal inside? Or maybe it was gutted... He used old bay and some "secret spices". I guess he took the recipe to the grave. :-( His name was "Stumpy". Matt
In all seriousness, you need to set up a website with credit-card capability. You could make a career out of those beauties!
Huck,
I was thinking about that. In addition to seeling them during fishing season I thought I might try selling them at a local artsy farsty craft store around Christmas. "The perfect gift for that fisherman in your life!"
In all seriousness, you need to set up a website with credit-card capability. You could make a career out of those beauties!
Huck, that's pretty much what PayPal is for. Lets you accept credit cards from folks, and each party gets confirmation emails that payment was actually sent. Just remember to factor the fee into the price of the item.
Between PayPal and eBay, you can get a business going overnight.
jt8
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. -- John R. Wooden
Edited 4/18/2005 9:54 am ET by JohnT8
Way cool..reminds me of the Jersey shore as a kid..gawd I miss the ocean.
Used to have mackeral by the 55 gal trash can full..3 on the line at once.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Tommy, can you hear me?
Why look here?
We lived near the ocean when I was a kid but my parents weren't into it at all. I didn't start saltwater fishing until I was in my late 30's. But I just love it now. The ocean is an amazing thing. I'll post some pictures if I actually catch something... ;-)
Crash,
The Wellfleet Flea Market...whatta great way to spend a Sat/Sun
I'll be in Wellfleet all next week, sprucing up the houses for the summer season.
Thanks, Recko, but I live in Eastham... ;-)
But it's good to get a plug in for your rentals. Wellfleet is such a great place to vacation. If there's anyone out there looking for a great vacation come to the Outer Cape and the National Seashore! You can rent from Recko and buy one of my poppers!!!
Crash,
My parents built a vacation house in Eastham on Higgins Lane (and the town changed the name to Huckleberry Road because they didn't want people to get confused with Higgins Road)
As a kid back in the early 70's I used to hang out at the Landing, and the target ship was intact back then in the bay!!!
Sold that house in early 80's and built in Wellfleet.Need a place to rent on Cape Cod for the summer? Check out http://www.grosshillrentals.com
Cool... We built our house on Cole Road in Eastham in 1990 and moved out fulltime in 1999. I didn't realize your rental plug was actually your tag line... ;-)
We're going to the Lobster Pool tonight to celebrate my wife's birthday. It'll be steamahs and lobstah tonight!
Cheers!
I don't know much about sea fishing but I do know those inland bass! Those lures would work with old largemouths. I would go with the back lures only rather than tear those mouths up and make them tighted lips! I wonder how well it floats after you "pop" them across the water?
BLUEGILLMAN,
I'm going to make a couple of smaller ones for a guy who contacted me who fishes trout and bass so we'll see how they work for those species.
I'm using split rings on the hooks so it'll be easy to just go with the back hook. I agree with you about only using back hooks so that they don't mess up the fish. I generally use a single, crimped hook in the back of the poppers when I'm going for bluefish for fun. I only use the double treble when I'm a "meat man" and want to make sure I bring some home for the smoker!
Would u post or email me about what the trout guy says about those lures after he fishes with it? I might like one but I wouldn't cast it to those bass but I would be putting that in a glass case like I have with a few others. I just love watching those bass go after those poppers and those northerns!
Sure will. I started making the smaller poppers last weekend. Here are a few pictures of them in progress. He asked for bodies between 1 1/2 and 2 inches, which are pretty small compared to what I was making before. So while I was at it I made a couple more at 2 1/2 and 3 inches.
I also drilled the holes for the eyes and bottom swivels and put a sealer coat on my larger poppers. The last picture is of the whole gang drying. I should have them done by the weekend. This is my prototype/test batch of poppers so I don't even know yet if they'll pop!
The schoolie stripers arrived in our local Salt Pond this past week so I'm anxious to try the poppers over there.
If you want one of the poppers (2 1/2 inch?) email me your address. I won't make poppers for all of Breaktime but I'll send you one. ;-)
Crash- I would love to try one of those up here on the coast of Maine! Nice looking popper
OK, Jake. You're the last one. I just finished wiring them and putting on the eyes. Next step will be to put on the top coat.
Pick your popper except.... the four little ones on the bottom are spoken for. And the third and fourth from the top are also.
The others are four and five inch poppers. Email me your address.
BUT JAKE IS THE LAST ONE! I NEED TO HAVE SOME TO TEST! ;-)
Cheers!
Just to finish up the thread...
Here's a picture of the finished poppers. The top coat is Devcon 2 ton epoxy. The stuff is a pain to work with becuse it starts getting thick right away. I tried dipping the brush in lacquer thinner and that seemed to work reasonably well. But I'll need to practice on the finish.
I've tested all of the poppers in Salt Pond and they have a nice action. The finish has held up to the salt water just fine.
The schoolie stripers arrived on Cape Cod a couple of weeks ago and there are reports of keepers on the Upper Cape. So they should arrive out here in the next few days. Unfortunately the weather forecast for the weekend is pretty iffy...
Time to break up the popper family and send some away for testing...
Folks,
Here's a follow up on my poppers. They are working great! I've been catching a lot of stripers and bluefish with them. Here are some photos from this weekend. Lots of fun!
I have another batch of poppers in the works. I'm trying to get my production process refined.
Looks like the fish really like them!
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
That picture shows a bunch of water. Where are you at ? Atlantic maybe? (I'm sure somebody already suggested that you stop wasting time fishing and fill in your profile.) <G> Looks like fun. Put me down as jealous. I'm scheduled to go out on July 19 with a bunch of guys - probably for fluke, but you never know when a bluefish will decide he's hungry. Don
OK, I updated my profile so that everyone will now know that I'm a balding 52 year old Aries... ;-)
The picture was taken on Cape Cod Bay. The camera just happened to be pointing west so it looks like the middle of the ocen. We were just a mile or so off shore near Sunken Meadow in Wellfleet so we had land 270 degrees around us.
Where are you going on 19 July to fluke? My turn to be jealous... I'll be at a meeting in State College, PA... far away from the fish! I've never been to State College before.
Roger - I'm on the south shore of Long Island, not too far south of you. The boat will be sailing from the middle of the Island, Captree Boat basin. We may be fishing in the Great South Bay, or if the captain so desires, we could go out to the other side of the barrier beach and go into the Atlantic. It'll be a small charter (30-40 people) for a day away from the phones. Keep plugging. Don
You are never far from fish in Pa. Every county in Pa has a trout stream except where Philly is.
Good point, Larry. My problem is that I've been a salty all my life and haven't even tried fishing for trout in a stream. My last fresh water experience was when I was about twelve. Maybe someday.
I would love to do some salt water stuff. My inner ears ain't so good anymore and I tend to get vertigo easily.. So I have to settle for smaller water. I used to fish the Great Lakes and I don't do that anymore either.. You poppers look great...
Speaking of the great lakes...here's one from Lake Ontario last year, a nice 29 pound king salmon....If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
Nice fish..! Makes me want a salmon steak stuffed with crab along with some steamed veggies..
Makes me want a salmon steak stuffed with crab along with some steamed veggies..
No steak fries and beer?jt8
In an underdeveloped country don't drink the water. In a developed country don't breathe the air --Jonathan Raban
Yeah..! A beer is nice or a glass of wine. At 65 I have to stay away from da fried taters. Gettn old is a bummer. I love them fried spuds.
WOW! Nice fish! I'll bet that fed a few hungry fishermen.
yeah, it did.....ever get the chance to eat some nice walleye??? Check this one out.....7 fish on the pole...77 pounds.............If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
Dat you in the middle?
Nice haul. we don't have them in KY , as far as I know. I did get a slew up in PA. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
What are dreadlocks made from?
Thats me in the middle...these were all caught in Lake Ontario, both the salmon pic previously and those walleye...and this one, a nice sized lake trout....got some nice Muskie pics as well...it's a great fishery, summer and winter...If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
I can't open them big pics, my string and tin can connection wont do it..but I'll take yer word for it..LOL Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
What are dreadlocks made from?
it's opening on my puter sized about 2 and a half by 3 inches...I actually thought it was sorta small...seriously....If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
I was wrong..I just tried and it went just fine in lesss than 30 seconds..
what the thing is JPEG Vs BMP has a lot to do with it..I don't jnow enough to explain it, but a JPEG that size would take a month of Sundays.
Cool fish..I miss the lunkers..last LM bass I got was 26" and 6.5 lbs. outta the pond next door down the road. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
What are dreadlocks made from?
somebody told me about irfanview from here..I downloaded it the other day and am trying to figure out how the program works, seems like this is what a lot of people on here use....If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
Yes it is very simple.
choose the pic (open it) and rt clk it and select open w/IV
it'll expand to full mega pix..
go on up and select resize/resample
aim toward the right side of that box that ups it self..go for 600x480 or the next one down ( 800x600, I think)
and leave everything else alone
it'll reopen as a new photo..select" save as " from the file menu, and rename the pic as smaller as an example...save to where you can locate it..I use my docs..
when you up load to here use the smaller version and be sure it is a JPEG..
I have some docs that wont convert to JPEG ( PDF for ex) and yer on yer own there..
IV is easy.
Thanks from the hinterlands! Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
What are dreadlocks made from?
Actually. I totally forgot about going walleye fishing with a friend of mine about two years ago while on an business trip. We hired a guide and went out on his little boat. We used plastic lures on the bottom. We caught quite a few of them (but not that big) and my friend took them home. I kept waiting for the invitation to his place to try them but it never came. I couldn't cook them in my hotel room... ;-(
you ever get the chance, don't pass on a meal of them....one of my favorite things to do is during the ice fishing season, catch whatever...pike, walleye's, perch, crappies....have the stove and cast iron pan all set up, as soon as you catch them, clean them and get them into the skillet....
5 minutes ago they were swimming, now they're breaded and being munched......you've never had anything so fresh.....If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
Yummmy! Been doing that with bluegills, walleyes, crappies right away when caught. OH, they tasted so good!
I know the feeling...wish I could do it here but don't think it would be the same with stripers or catfish.....nothing like a great lakes shore lunch to make the mouth water either....If you aren't one of the one's I'm talking about,you shouldn't have any complaints....
Just finished my second batch of poppers. I'm trying to see how long it takes to make them in a production mode.
Also, here's one of the latest victims... ;-)
hmmmmm... those were kinda large. Here's a smaller version of the pics.
Larry read me mind ...
PA if filled with lakes/streams/rivers/ponds/etc ...
google Raystown Lake.
You'll be about an hour or less away from one of the better little fishing holes ...
should be pretty direct south/west.
plently of local fishing around State College too ...
but Raystown would be your biggest target.
here ya go ... http://www.raystownlake.com/
Happy fishing!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Black Moshannon State Park is supposed to be another nice place.
Haven't been to that st park as of yet. On the list for this year though ...
map it says you'd be 45 min away.
we actually almost ended up camping there last weekend!
decided to stay a bit closer to home ...
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/blackmoshannon.aspx
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Lot of good lookn water in Pa.. And I mean A LOT of good water Jeff. I am getting ready to build me a new flyrod.
Jeff,
Thanks for the tips. I should be going back to State College a few times so I'll try to work some quality fishing into the trip. PA is a beautiful state, although most of the time I've spent there was driving between MA and The Ohio State U back in the '70s in my '67 Mustang. Damn those were fun times.
Cheers!
Roger
That fish on the boat had "other" lures, did that fish really had it all before hooking on to yours? I'm looking at your lure that has the middle hooks removed?
Hey Bluegillman,
The other lures in the picture are part of an umbrella rig that just happened to be laying on the deck where the bluefish flopped. I got him on just the popper. That day I boated about a dozen blues in an hour or so. They beat the heck out of the popper but I wanted to "stress test" it... ;-)
The reason that the middle hook is missing on the popper is because bluefish attack their prey from the rear and then they put up a heck of a fight. So the fish can get messed up with double treble hooks. For blues it's best to have one hook on the end.
Plus, they flop around pretty violently on the boat. One time I got a hook caught in my finger from a second treble that resulted in a painful visit to the hospital. They cut the shank and had to push the hook through the other side of my finger. That was before I learned the trick on how to remove a hook with a barb.
You know, in all the times I have popped my leftover wood, I have never once caught a fish.Guess I'm just lucky that way.; )
Are we there yet ?
Have you updated your forum profile lately? Please Do!
Yes, Luka, you are very lucky indeed! Now tell us about the times you popped your wood and caught the crabs ???
Sorry, it was just too easy! ;-)
ROFLOLI have been lucky that way too.; )
Are we there yet ?
Have you updated your forum profile lately? Please Do!To set your email address, click on your own name on the screen. In the pop-up window, choose "My Prefs". At the very top of the window, you will then see the place to change your email address. Please make sure that you enter a current viable email address. Otherwise you will lose your current history when you re-register.
nice work!
I've been turning a long time but never tried a lure
other ways of using up others scraps can include pens, wine stoppers, and spinning tops
have you gotten involved with any turning groups yet? to find one in your area, check out http://www.woodturner.org
Shep,
Thanks for the tip. I just bought my first lathe so I'm a real novice. The lures are the only things I've tried turing so far. But it's a lot of fun and I want to expand my horizons so I appreciate the link.
its worth a ride to get involved with a chapter. pretty much all turners I've met are very willing to help out people wanting to learn