Eyectcher Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 Hey guys there's a type of crankbait that I use for trolling pickral on Lake Erie so I was getting low on them so I hit bass pro today and upon speaking to a sales person who knows quite a bit told me that these crankbaits are discontinued so on my drive home I was thinking I could try to carve some as they are made of wood problem is I don't really think I can do it but I however can make a silicone mould and pour them do you guys think that pouring them would be a waste of time and alumilite in really p,,,,sed that they would discontinue a perfectly good lure I know they were selling a lot as I would have to get there on Thursdays when a new shipment would arrive or I was out of luck any suggestions guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 You can I would say. I did it with wood on a bait that I have now. It doesn't always come out the same every time but each one catches fish. I'm just getting into pouring myself and have found with a few helping me here, is that your density of a solid pour will be different. With that being said the action may not be the same until you get the ballast in the right places. Even my duplicator is not exactly the same, grains breaking out, sanding etc. I believe you can and you will be happy with it. I'll stop here and let the ones that are more knowledgeable then me on this tell you more. Good luck, Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieb8 Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 hi you would probably be better off to shop and purchase old stock. if you want to build be prepared for hours/weeks of hiccups lol.. even molding a body will enhance dimensions. can it be done ,you betcha..read every related article here..theres many builders here that create. and yes they think outside of the box.. that's how the world moves ahead. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravenlures Posted September 6, 2016 Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 I would give the mold and pour your own a try, I went from wood to plastic with micro balloons and the weight is right on once you get the formula set. I don't know what lure you are talking about but if you could post a picture it would help everyone out with a answer. Wayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jrhopkins Posted September 6, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 6, 2016 lure making can be a tedious, frustrating, expensive and time consuming process. we all know this from past experience! especially my own past experience! you might be better off searching Ebay for additional baits or, as Wayne suggested, post a picture so we know which bait you are referring to. perhaps someone on the forum can help yo find some. also notice my use of punctuation which makes the post easier to read . 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyectcher Posted September 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Hey guys I don't really know how to post pics But I can tell you the lure it's called the Rapala ttm 20 or troll to minnow I just find it Dumb they would stop makeing such a great Lure I'm running low on them and I've checked Many shops and I did find them on eBay but there over twenty Bucks apiece I have replaced done with Tail dancers which are also a great crankbait But the prices are just crazy guys any tips or suggestions Would be greatly appreacited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravenlures Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Is this it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Like woodieb8 says, be a lot easier and cheaper to buy old stock. The rapala is balsa and you will have a long and expensive learning curve reproducing that if you've never made lures! Might be best to have a try with balsa first and see how you get on, there's a bit more to making lures than meets the eye. Good luck if you go for it ,but forget the idea of saving money short term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyectcher Posted September 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Hey guys the lure in question is the one raven lures posted a pic of thank you by the way Ravenlures I'm going to try my luck on both I'll try with resin in a mould first then I'll try with balsa I hope I can reproduce this bait it's a great bait for trolling guys I really appreciate all your advice all the guys on this forum are very nice unlike some other sites guys I'm still open to suggestions on pouring them and also carving them thank you sgsin Hey guys the lure in question is the one raven lures posted a pic of thank you by the way Ravenlures I'm going to try my luck on both I'll try with resin in a mould first then I'll try with balsa I hope I can reproduce this bait it's a great bait for trolling guys I really appreciate all your advice all the guys on this forum are very nice unlike some other sites guys I'm still open to suggestions on pouring them and also carving them thank you again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 (edited) If you are going to pour a blank, read then read again about the process. I thought I knew what the process was all about until I started searching in the archives and chatting with the members here. I am getting ready to pour some very soon, so that part I can't help you with. Again do research first. That bait looks straight forward. To carve it would be pretty easy. I have one very similar. Outline the bait with a piece of paper in the two dimension. Then lay the paper shapes on the wood and cut the rough shape out, then start carving it down. I use files once I get the work down to a general shape. Differently doable in about an hour or two for the first time. Take your time and use sand paper to bring the detail shape in. Good luck, Dale Edited September 8, 2016 by DaleSW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Lure building is about more than catching fish... It's about a higher level of satisfaction... And individual customization.... It's the feeling you get when you open your tackle box and see your work opposed to someone else's....... This sounds cheesy, but when you tie on a bait made by your own hand, you have a relationship with that lure.. You didn't find it hanging on a shelf, you created it..... This boosts confidence, and in turn improves fishing If this interests you, then you should get started... I'd recommend learning to build first, then progress to molding...... You'll have to ride the learning curve, instant gratification is not guaranteed.. But that curve is made shorter by all the knowledge gathered together here If the Rapala is your first project, then you're taking a big bite!.... I've never used balsa, so I can't speak on it.. But I'd consider PVC a viable alternative....... First you'll need some measurements, then you'll make a template to cut out... Shaping can be done by hand or power tool... Best advice I can give, make two.. One for experiments, and one for the final product 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyectcher Posted September 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 jR thank you for your advice it sounds like you are a seasoned lure builder and I agree I should start from the beginning I'm not just looking at a way to make a bunch of rapala copy's it would probley be cheaper just to buy out old stock were I find them here and there I got interisted in the lure building from reading up on this site I am an avid Airbrusher I have been for years I don't know weather I can tackle a project like this but I am going to give it a try thanks for the advice it's very well taken thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 I understand JR, but to me it's the end result. I fish for trophy fish spend good money to do so. I want the bait to produce for me or a friend that is using one of my baits. There is a great feeling when someone sends pic's or I see and friend catch a fish with one of them.. No doubt tho Eyectcher, you do need to start from the beginning and learn what works and don't. You'll be a better lure maker that way. I'm still working my way through that and most likely I'll be that way for the remainder of my life, while I'm catching fish. The end result is catching fish isn't it? For me it is. The bait must look and perform properly tho. Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gliders Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 Go for it eyecatcher! Good luck and let us know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRammit Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 Dale, you're just nicer than me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Young Posted September 10, 2016 Report Share Posted September 10, 2016 I would suggest you try with a proven balsa lure like the phox minnow. A google search will get you detailed plans and a good general intro to balsa construction. The bonus is you get a lure not every one has. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 Lure building is about more than catching fish... It's about a higher level of satisfaction... And individual customization.... It's the feeling you get when you open your tackle box and see your work opposed to someone else's....... This sounds cheesy, but when you tie on a bait made by your own hand, you have a relationship with that lure.. You didn't find it hanging on a shelf, you created it..... This boosts confidence, and in turn improves fishing Idk JR, I tie on one of my own crank baits and lose a lot of confidence ;D . I think for me it isn't the fish catching, so much as it is the engineering. Figuring out how things work is a Ton of fun! It is a plus though when a lure catches fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robn510 Posted September 11, 2016 Report Share Posted September 11, 2016 theres blanks very similar to the ttm already available. you would need to learn to paint and finish them. also have you looked on the big giant auction site? there some sellers that have 3 for $10 ttm's maybe not the colrway you like but then again you can alway learn to paint them over.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent I Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 There's a ton of great advise in here, and giving it a try will tell you which posts apply to you. If you decide to go ahead, I would recommend that you take a beat-up sample of your plug and slice it in half along the centerline. This will show you how it's constructed inside (the shape of the thru-wire and so on), and give you an accurate profile if you should decide to go the carving route. Good luck. You can expect to have fun with this, but don't expect to save money. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonister Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Before you cut a Rapala, google Rapala lure scans, and search it on here. At some point someone X-rayed a couple of Rapala models and they might have done so with that lure too. It saved me from having to cut open a few of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyectcher Posted September 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2016 Thank you jonister and everone else I think I'm going to take all of you advice and knowledge and I'm going to buy some balsa and I have a friend that owns a kitchen cabinet shop so I can hang around there and try my luck at carveing looks like something I am really interested in thanks again guys your an awesome bunch of guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...