Big Epp

Agreed! I learned a lot about wood and carving using this method. It's also important to note that "free" doesn't always mean "trash." I've gotten free redwood, mahogany, basswood, and plenty of other quality pieces. Keep your eyes open and you never know what you'll find.

@otsismi, you and I both used the solid metal clevises and Colorado blades, whereas the Mepps pictured uses a folded clevis and French blades. I added more beads with a smaller weight (1/16th oz.), but mine still didn't spin. Maybe there's something to that. I'll try double French blades soon and report back.

I have been able to stack French blades as well, but not had the same success with Indiana or Colorado. This one uses either size 1 or 2 French blades. I had one with 2 size 1 Colorado blades that would spin some if I bounced them like @toadfrogsaid. The one I made with 2 size 1 Colorado blades wouldn't spinn no matter how many beads I put under it. I'm going to try it again with stacked French blades. I've used the double clevis from LPO. They are sized well for muskie spinners, but nothing smaller than that. I might try them with some size 4 blades for bass, but they'll probably look silly. Blade style makes a big difference there too though. I tried one with double fluted Indiana blades (size 7 I think) and couldn't get it to spin no matter what I tried. Must be a physiological impossibility. Also, I saw a guy makes a clevis holder that looks sort of like .22 brassica slots cut on both sides. I don't have a picture though, so you'll have to use your imagination.

I've been making small (~1") lures lately using aluminum for the lips. Initially I was using clippers to rough cut the shapes and then filing them to the final shape. The process was very tedious. I just bought some hollow punches and the little circles it punches out seem to work pretty well. Someone suggested I could get a punch made in the shape I prefer (I had been making square bills). Where would I go to get something like that made? A tool & die shop?

I took my 3 older (6, 4, 2) boys fishing today in a local quarry turned lake. Wasn't long before they were digging for clams in the gravel bank, making rock castles, and finally splashing and basically swimming. By the time we were headed home my 6 year old was telling people they had been Scooba diving.

Good ideas. I'm using a clevis, I wonder if it was larger (or ny wire smaller) the blade would spin more freely.

Question, is there a way to keep the whole spinner from spinning? I've got some that work well, but I'm worried about line twists.

good call with using cardstock! I often draw my patterns on paper, then if I like it I'll glue it to hard plastic to cut the pattern. A while back I re-sawed some PVC deck boards. The hard plastic on the top and bottom are excellent for patternmaking...and they shouldn't fade for 30 years...

These look great! I've got plenty of ornaments that were supposed to be functioning lures...

hey all, I recently started twisting inline spinners. I've been doing smaller ones (size 2 or 3 blades) and have had good success using .032" wire. Its the king that comes in a spool (2lbs!) And springs back into place, annealed I think. I'll try and drop a picture in the gallery. I've also got some .062" lock wire I use to make twist eyes for muskie lures. It is much more bendable than what I've been using for bass spinners. Would it work for twisting bucktails for pike/muskie? What type and diameter wire do you prefer for that application? Thanks!