BigBendFishing.Net

I am considering buying a small wood lathe to turn some plugs similar to Zara Spooks, Chug Bugs, etc. Anybody on here have any experience with lure making? If so, what do I need to look for in a lathe?

Thanks - Steve Stinson

buy the best lathe you can afford good luck on painting them

I have a small Jet lathe, about 16"-18" between centers that I bought to turn strikers for turkey calls with. It probably runs in the neighborhood of 350.00 now with the tools you need to turn plugs. I turned some spook types out of cedar and other woods.. Does a good job. For painting you need a airbrush setup.. All the difference in the world between it and a brush. For hooks and all kinds of hanging hardware, Jann's Netcraft is the place to look...

Jann's Netcraft has the bodies already turned. I'm pretty sure they have lathes as well but if not, I can direct you to some folks that supply rod lathes for for cork and wood grips.

Steve,
If you're looking for a new hobby, you've already gotten some good advice.

If you're looking for handcrafted plugs, check out these guys:

www.halleminlures.com

Granted, they're works of art, but these lures really catch fish, too.

Steve,

Talk to Capt. Chaz Hellar at the next meeting. He has been making his own lures for several years. I will bring a sampling to show you as well.

Thanks for all the responses. Andrew and I have been tying our own flies and bucktail jigs for a couple years. I just wanted to expand the effort to include some of the topwater lures we would use more often. Brian - Please introduce me to Capt. Hellar if he happens to be at the next meeting.

I will hunt me up a small lathe and keep you all posted on the fish catchin'.

Thanks - Steve

I will be your guinea pig and tell everyone I fish a Stinson.

I recently got the bug to try making some lures. I bought some blanks from Jann's Netcraft (www.jannsnetcraft.com). I have made a couple. Hand painted them. I have had a few blowups and hooked up a decent trout that spit the plug before it got to the boat. The first one I get it the boat will be posted in a pic with my handmade lure in its mouth. They are similar in appearance to a High Roller lure. What I am finding is they don't work as well as lures that make noise like a Ba-Donk-A-Donk or Skitterwalk.

The handmade lures I've used just don't seem to get the right action. Anyone can paint a lure to be pretty, but if it's not weighted and balanced properly, it's a waste of time.

Steve, I'm @ a woodworking show for the rest of the week & have seen around 350 different lathes. Let me know what you want & your credit card info & I'll have one sent down.
I think they'll work as good as anything else will given the same time in/on the water.Plus it'll give you & Andrew something else to do together.

Yeah.
Give me your card info too.
Have i got a deal for you.