How to Build Salt Water Lures

How to Build Salt Water Lures
Saltwater species like barracuda, striped bass and bluefish like to corral their prey and strike them with aggression. Lures for these brutes of the sea need to be strong with a triggering action to consistently hook these top line predators. Read on to learn how to build a saltwater minnow lure that will be customized to fish aggressively on the surface.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Build a Better Bait

Things You’ll Need:
  • 7-inch shallow minnow lure body
  • Stainless steel split rings, size 5H
  • Mustad tinned treble hooks, size 1/0
  • Wire cutters
  • Split ring pliers
  • White feathers
  • Fly tying thread
Step 1
Take the seven-inch shallow minnow lure body and use the split ring pliers to add the stainless steel split rings to the nose and body of the lure. Be sure the rings are completely through the eyelets and hang freely.
Step 2
Open the split rings using the split ring pliers and insert the Mustad treble hooks. Be sure the hooks are completely through the ring so they will not come loose during a prolonged battle with a large fish like a barracuda.
Step 3
Add the white feathers to the rear treble hook by placing the feathers against the shank of the treble hook and tie them in place with the fly tying thread. This will add extra action to entice large saltwater fish.
Step 4
Take the wire cutters and cut off the lip of the minnow lure. This will allow you to crank the lure at very fast speeds, which is preferred by high-speed predators that ply the open ocean waters.

Tips & Warnings

 
Build lures in several different colors as the fish may prefer a bright bait one day and a natural color the next.
 
Do not use bronze hooks as these will rust quickly in salt water.

Article Written By Brian M. Kelly

Brian M. Kelly has been freelance writing since 2003. His work has been published in respected outdoor magazines such as Outdoor Life, Great Lakes Angler and Salmon Trout Steelheader. He holds an associate's degree in automated machine design from Macomb College.

Write for Trails.com
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