How to Make Aluminum Fishing Jigs

fish image by PinkShot from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Whether you are stuck in a survival situation or at a pristine trout lake and need to devise a method for catching fish, being able to make a basic spoon shaped fishing lure with an aluminum can is a basic skill you can use for survival or for recreational angling. Spoon-shaped lures mimic the movement of a sick or dying fish and can be effective to catch a variety of species in a variety of conditions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Shaping and Cutting the Lure

Things You’ll Need:

Aluminum can
Pocket knife
Fishing line
Fish hook

Step 1

Use a pocket knife to draw the shape of your lure on a soda can. Make your lure wider across the top and taper it down to a point about two inches below the top line you drew.

Step 2

Punch a hole about 1/4" from the top of your lure for the fishing line to attach to. Punch a hole about 1/4" from the bottom of your lure that the fish hook will be attached to.

Step 3

Use a pocket knife to cut the lure shape out of the can. Cut with a small shaving motion to create the cleanest edge possible.

Attaching the Hook

Step 1

Tie the end of your fishing line to the bottom of your lure shape with a simple overhand knot. Cut line so there is a 2-inch tail coming from the bottom of the lure.

Step 2

Thread the end of the fishing line through the eye of your hook and double over the line so that you are holding the lure and the working end of the line in your left hand. Spin the hook with the right hand so that it creates a twisted line with the hook at the end. Take the working end of the line back through the small hole in the line created by the twists just above the eye of the hook. Pull the working end through the hole so that it collapses the twists in the line onto the eye of the hook.

Step 3

Use the same knot you used to tie your hook to the line to to tie your fishing line to the top of the lure.

Tips & Warnings

Add split shot weights to the front of the lure to assist with casting. Try a variety of can colors to create lures that will work in different situations.

Use a variety of sizes from 2 inches to 4 inches long depending on size of fish available.

Use leather gloves when handling your lures.

Resources

OutdoorLife.com: Top Five Trout Lures (and how to use them)

Article Written By Mati Bishop

Mati Bishop has been a freelance writer since 1999. He has been published in "Hawaii Skin Diver Magazine," the "Hawaii Wellness Directory," "Kailua-Kaneohe Sunpress" and a collection of Web sites. Bishop studied journalism at Windward Community College on Oahu, Hawaii.

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