After admiring rvrfshr's work I wanted to try my hand at making some of my own gear. Never attempted anything beyond making a few custom jigs when I was about 16.

So my first question is about the wire, what gauge should I start with? Going to be focusing on gear for salmon/steelhead.

Thanks much

since i've used one of the cheapie $6.99 wire formers for over a decade, i stick with.024 wire. it's about the biggest that you can bend with one of those. i have never lost a fish or spinner due to the wire unraveling or breaking, either. have broken plenty of hooks, though...

I use both .024 and .029 but like Chum Man says, .024 is probably adaquate for just about anything we fish for.

Okay, now you've got me curious.. Where can I see these lures?

Sorry. I couldn't resist!



Same thing, except with a single siwash.

Every time I use a barrell on the top end it Fuc#%&$@ $heeayt up,so I leave it off and tie direct.Parker do you ever have that problem?????.Looks like the hootchie spinner will be in full force this coming weekend.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I'm aware that the spinner can do that, so I do two things to prevent it from happening:

a) Right before the spinner hits the water on the cast, I will use my thumb to slow the spinner down before it hits the water. This causes the entire spinner and barrel swivels to straighten out as it splashes in the water.

b) I give the spinner a quick hard jerk as soon as it disappears in the water. This way, I can instantly feel if it's working or not.

It can happen, but it doesn't happen a lot. Not enough to remove the barrel swivel, IMO.

Hey Chum, where'd you pick up your wire former?
I haven't ventured into the realm of tools yet but I suppose that is that is the next step. Doing this all with pliers will get old quickly.

Stick with the pliers.

Since conditions on the water you fish can and usually do change by the day, you are probably better off just carrying some components and different bodies and blade sizes with you in box. From there, whip up a couple of the needed spinners and away you go.

I generally won't make up spinners until the night before I fish....or while on the river.

You can easily take pliers with you in the field.

Not so sure about a wire former. Besides, it's less crap you will have to purchase.

Or, you can be like Bob and make up about a 1,000 spinners of all different sizes, shapes, blades, etc. I swear his spinner box of completed spinners weighs 20 pounds!

Sadly, Bucket will lose all of those in one float down the river.

Parker, care to share the body painting method? I have tried a couple different ways but they don't look like that.

I use pliers, too...but I guess it really depends on how many you make...the spinner tools will wear out after a bunch of spinners, and the cheaper they are, the faster they'll wear out.

With a small amount of practice you can make perfect loops with a pair of pliers and your fingers and you won't have to use another tool again...

Fish on...

Todd

Sure.

First step is to get some hot models.

Second step is to get some paint.

Apply as and where needed!

I recommend your tongue.

Oh wait, you said paint.



Sorry. I'll just stop now.

Favorite pic. I saved it on my hard drive a while back.


There are a bunch of companies that make components. I've bought the cheap wire former, and I've used the round nosed pliers. The round nosed pliers are easier to work with. They points on each arm are round, and gives a nice round pretty head to the spinner. I use one regular set of pliers, one round nosed pliers, and a set of wire cutters, because I like to snip it close to the shaft.

I recommend Hagens fishing for lure components. They sell everything to make your own fishing gear. You can even buy the molds to pour your own "kwikfish" style plugs. Spoon components, spinner components, jig making, etc etc. Also probably the best place to buy bulk hooks.

http://www.hagensfish.com/components.htm
http://www.hagensfish.com/plugmaking.htm


Here are a couple of board favorites. Pen-tac comes widely recommended for components.

http://pen-tac.com/

VHawk

http://www.worthco.com/fish/contents.html

Pen-Tac 4.5 blades rock.There clevis is second to none.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Second the vote for a couple pairs of pliers instead of a wire former. Thick gauge wire is good because the shaft won't bend as readily on fish or debris and you won't have to tune it as often. I like the barrel swivel built in on the eye, and set the eye bigger than ya figger, just a little off to one side, so the swivel has a little elbow room, which seems to work smoothly. With a good clevis and properly weighted and balanced spinner, you shouldn't have to do too much jerking to get the blade turning,

fb

.031 wire, using pliers for the bending.

I agree, using the heavier guage wire works well.

Dang Parker, hope thats not your wife!

JK- Steve

Thanks for the links Vhawk, Pentac site is a little easier to navigate so I'll give them a try.