How to Make Your Own Hard Plastic Crank Bait Fishing Lures

series object on white: isolated fishing spoon-bait image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Plastic crankbait body

Small eye screws

Pliers

Split rings

Split ring pliers

Treble hooks

Enamel model or lure paint

Hobby brushes

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Plastic crankbaits are a popular choice of lure among many anglers when fishing in both fresh and saltwater. Designed with a lip on the front of the lure, crankbaits are tuned to dive to a depth by cranking or reeling the lure through the water. Literally dozens of different crankbait designs are available for purchase. However, making your own homemade plastic crankbait is a relatively simple process that most anglers can accomplish.

Step 1

Select a preformed and unfinished plastic crankbait body or recycle a used body. Remove old or rusted hardware from a used plastic body with pliers and discard.

Step 2

Insert a small eye screw into the nose, tail and belly of the plastic crankbait with a pair of pliers. Tighten the screw securely, but do not over tighten and possibly strip the screw hole in the plastic.

Step 3

Open a small split ring with a pair of pliers and thread one ring onto each eye screw. Leave the front eye screw open without a split ring if this is your personal preference.

Step 4

Spread the split ring on the tail and belly of the plastic crankbait with split ring pliers and thread on a treble hook in a size matched to the lure.

Step 5

Apply a base coat of enamel model or lure paint in a color such as silver or gray. Allow the base coat to dry and begin layering colors to imitate natural bait fish. Consider using bright colors such as green, orange or white for lures to be used in stained or muddy water, and black, blue or purple for clear water. Allow each color or layer of paint to dry thoroughly before applying the next color or coat.

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

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