[diemai]

@ LaPala

You led my attention on this design , it is something , that I've been looking for since a long time :

A reasonably small lure , that can dive quite deep !

I know , it sounds a bit like ballyhooing , since I have only made this one so far and never even caught with it , but I am certain , that this design has potential for making more and also a bit smaller lures to meet my fishing demands .

Greetz , Dieter

[Luretrekker]

Hi dieter,

this is the first time I see somebody build this kind of lures with enthusiasm...I like banana style lures very much...maybe because I started building lures with this style of bait! This is a forgotten lure...in germany.

As one can see there is a lot of interest in banana lures...it is really a special thing to model the sexy shape of a banana lure with wood!

Here some of my very old lures...I should start building some of them again :-)

Cheers Manu

[Luretrekker]

And another two pics I found...

P.s. it's interesting that you also found a limit in size...

The only thing that I build different is, that I use a wire through system instead of the separated lure eye system you use.

[diemai]

@ Luretrekker

Hi , Manu

Very nice and beautiful "Bananas" you've got there , their shape is a bit different to my lures , yours are kept a lot slimmer in shape , but I guess that their swimming actions would be quite alike !

I only wonder , how you've rigged in the internal wire harness , into a slot at the belly or you even glued two halves together with the harness inbetween ?

No matter which way , seems to be quite finacky , but well worth the effort !

Happy to hear that you share my enthusiasm about this old lure-style , with their smooth body curves there really must be a kind of erotic issue involved , indeed !

But I guess , that I came to like them a lot , since many years ago on my first prototype I have caught some pretty nice pike within a few days , something , that any angler would always remember !

Kinda funny writing in English to a fellow German countryman , but well , this an American site !

Greetz , Dieter

[Luretrekker]

@ Dieter:

Yes it's kind of funny, but that's what makes this site so interesting with lurebuilders from all around the world ...and sometimes from the same little spot on the planet.

Your words in my mouth...I caught my best pike until now on my first banana style lure :-) and had some days with lots of strikes too...hm maybe I should fish again more frequently with them :-)

I just made a fast picture how I build the wire through construction...I flex a slot into the lure belly with a cutting disc on a dremel. The hint is to cut through the diving lip until the position of the front lure eye. The rest of the lure gets just a slot (not cut through). Then you are able to bend the wire and pass it into the lure. Then I seal the whole thing with 5 min epoxy again...works very good.

Many of my bananas are indeed more slim and have a very oval belly cross section. But bananas have a unique swimming action compared to other lures...I think this is one reason why they are that successful in waters with lots of fishing pressure...

The second picture I attached shows THE lure...the first banana that caught my best pike many years ago :-) very simple lure, but big results...

Tight lines

Manu

[diemai]

@ Luretrekker

Hi , Manu

Thanks for that sketch , I will surely try out to build one(or more) after your design and method , I'm curious about them !

You don't add any additional weights ?

I have made a few "ordinary" crankbaits this way , when epoxying the wire harness into the belly slot I have just glued in some small stripes of 1,0 mm roofing lead sheet into the slot as well (first harness , after lead !) .

The problem about this is , that you won't know the best weight size and location in advance , so it really is a matter of experience !

On my style of "Banana" lures I have found , that one or two small lead shots ahead of belly hook hanger or even under the lip enhance the stability and steady frequency of wobble .

Your first one already has some "scars of honor" , wish , I could find mine in one of my boxes down the basement so I could show you as well !
It looks similar to yours in terms of wear , anyway !
I remember that I had to replace one of its decal eyes already , since one pike has peeled it off !

Greetz , Dieter

[hazmail]

Manu- Very impressive work, banana lures would have to one of the hardest, and most time consuming to make, but as you say they get results - I personally have given up on making them years ago, and just buy 'Flatfish', Brown Trout here love them. pete

[Luretrekker]

Oh yes the scars of honor give the lure what I call the "good spirit" ;-)

I added the positioning of weight into the sketch I put into some of my lures...quite an unusual position, but it worked great for me...it agrees in your observation that it's important to weight the lure with head down in the water.

[Luretrekker]

Thanks pete! Yes a smooth banana lure has something comparable of the shape of a nice old car or something like that...I even like the form of banana lures when they are unpainted...to see the strukture of the wood in such a shape...excellent :-)

[LaPala]

Okay I can't resist anymore..., made this quite a while ago