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I build bass lures but my buddy trolls for stripers and I build balsa trolling cranks for him. Same construction methods as my bass cranks. Pound for pound, stripers fight twice as hard as largemouth. No failures yet over 15 years of striper fishing. Just like all you guys, my opinion about thru-wiring is informed by my fishing experience. That’s mine. Yours may vary.

I don't mean to stir this boiling pot, but I am old enough and fish enough that I have had several lures break in my day. Funny, they were normally the older two piece cheep molded lures or the through wire balsa lures. I have had the OLD wooden lures that had the poor seal coats have screws rust out, and I have had a few Lucky Craft Live Pointers where the "through wire" on the multiple joints broke. But....... Guys, they are lures, not bridges. If a few break, people don't die.

After you have purchased all needed supplies a 6 in worm will be about $0.15 ea in material.

It really depends upon a lot of things, however here would be an example for injection baits. Mold - $35 for Do-It Essential Series Mold (molds range widely in price depending upon what you want) Plastisol - Varies by Brand and size - $50 Gallon Colorant and Glitter - $15 total (a few basic colors) Tools - Injector, clamps, etc - $70 Total for above - $170. Some places sell kits so you could get certain products combined and lower the cost. Like many hobbies 1 mold turns into 10 and 1 color turns into 20 and on and on. All the molds and tools are resuable so cost goes down in theory. If you look around you can find sales or used stuff. In the end do I save money making baits, not even close. Would I get into the hobby again, 100x over.

What I always find interesting when it comes to to debating the lure construction strength is most are not considering is the shear range in size/power of fish people target with lures. Most are comparing lure construction to species like bass where 10lbs is big and failing to realize this is a small fish to some who target larger species I would be choked if someone built me a lure for a tarpon trip using the same construction they used for largemouth I have had big chinook, lake trout, and pike break lures. I have had pike break hangers twisting in a net/cradle. Chinook have pulled out hangers/break hangers. I have had big Lakers crack hollow plastic plugs/crankbaits on the strike and break hangers rolling in the net Through wire is not needed for the species I just listed but construction that some are assuming is good enough will experience failure. Theses are not even true big game species either What some view unnecessary/overkill may be just what is needed for another. There is a big difference between building lures for panfish and saltwater big game species

If he's actually wanting to be legit than you'll have to figure federal excise tax in too on top of everything else . There's several guys here that can explain it to you or use the search function & look it up. Most of us start out thinking that then realize how much time is involved & usually just end up making stuff for ourselves & buddys. Maybe trade some with other bait makers for stuff they make is pretty enjoyable too. If i were doing it as a kid i'd just do it on a cash basis & know who i was dealing with.

A word of advice is to think about what the main bait you throw every time you fish & buy it first. This is a hobby that can get very expensive real quick like. lol My first mold that i bought was a basstackle bt flipping hog( baby brush hog) because i throw it a whole lot. I also bought a 6 ounce basstackle injector because after asking was told they were the best on the market & i agree now. Next i bought two 4" shz molds because i throw the crap out of super hogs in the summer. Then added here & there & have 30 molds now & growing which is a a couple thousand dollars worth anyway so be prepared.

your most common places are going to be dead on plastix, bait plastics and calhoun. i personally use bait plastics 242 and love it, and i have used calhoun in the past and it was very good too. i havent used dead on but hear good things about it (some bad too!) best bet is to get/buy a sample from each and choose what sorks best for you. watch worlds worst fishing on youtube, chris has many videos on making plastics, from the beginner to the advanced.

Welcome to TU! If you look up top, you will see a sticky thread about lure mold companies. Many of those companies also sell plastic and supplies to make baits. Good luck!

Just some word of advice, yes making , pouring your own baits can be rewarding and alot of fun. Saftey is so important. So don't forget to use common sense. Make sure your mentally all there. Prior to getting started.Take your time dont rush it! Take precautions! if inside or outside have plenty of ventilation use respirators, gloves, goggles. Protect your eyes there all you have. Don't ever pour your baits around animals or let young children help. Make sure your working on a very steady area or work space.Never work around flammable liquids, gasses or any materials that can ignite . Don't joke around As there can always be potential for an accident waiting to happen. Fumes and temp of heated plastic can be toxic, and can cause serious burns ,water or any moisture should not come in contact with hot plastic. Especially when pouring lead. Dont make a big mistake. Always protect yourself the time that you spent doing things in a safer way will save you from the hazards, accidents and problems that can happen as a result from being careless , and expensive medical bills, or from causing a fire as a result of not taking the time to think about what I should of done before not after.

Shot some baits for the first time I’m excited how they turned out I’m addicted now thanks for all yalls help