Anybody know where I can get some info or a book on turning fishing plugs? Need something that might would show turning techniques and maybe some patterns.

Thanks,
Steve

Not aware of any. Boyd Pfeiffer's book has a chapter on making wood lures. Not much on wood turning bodies, however.

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Tuning in most instances is about how the lure runs, weather they track to one side or the other which is fixed by slightly bending the hook eye opposite to how the lure runs, and rechecking it to seeif it runs true and straight thus achieving it total dive depth. Dive depth can be affected by line dia (usually above 10# .011") or hook size, or a leaf hanging on the rear treble will short you half your dive depth. Larger hooks lessen the lures action and resulting dive depth, So too will rod position being either up or down will makes a significant variance in dive depth. The body shape i.e. a wide body wobbles more than a thin flat sided lip less crankbait. The flat sided bait does not wobble as much but it sends out stronger vibtatin farther and appears more healthy where as, a wide body'd wobbling lure looks as if it has a harder tiime getting some place but does not send out a strong vibration to be picked up by the fishes lateral line. The lip style has an input also, the longer the deeper... to a point, another contributing factor is if the lips is angled downward relitive to the body or straight out from the body. The lure than had a lip that is straight out will run deper than an a lure with the same lip length but angled downward. Some attaching swivels have a built in plate o them and alter the flow of water over the lure which results in some loss of depth and wobble

Hey Chris...I said "turning" not "tuning". LOL


Thanks for the info anyway! LOL

Here is a good site to check out....mostly salt water plugs, but you can pick up some good tips from these guys [www.striped-bass.com]

You might try here [www.tackleunderground.com] somebody there should be able to help you.

Steve, I just recieved the spring catalog from Penn State.In it was a page of plug style fishing lures.
NO book, you buy the kit and it comes with instructions for turning, finishing,and painting.
All the hardware comes with the kit but you buy the wood seperate.
If you email me your address I,ll burn you off a copy of the page and send it off to you. Or you can email then and ask for a catalog. www.pennstateind.com.
I had instructions on how to turn plugs out off broom handles, but I can't put my fingers on it now.
This might help you .<<<< DON >>>

My bad..didn't even cross my mind you would want to turn lures, as the choices are quite limited, in that most lures are asymetrical and turned lures don't allow much variance with you only able to produce a few body types: devel's horse, Zara spook, and segmented larger Musky baits with the basic Zara spook body style.

Hey Don,

I got that same catalog in the mail yesterday. Of course after the post. How 'bout that? LOL

I've turned various bass lures out of basswood in the past, but plan to start making more in the future (I owe one to Raymond Adams for all his rod building help). I started out just getting a mini lathe and a basic how-to-video on turning. From there I just used my imagination on the shapes. Once sanded and sealed I airbrushed patterns on them and applied thread epoxy for a very nice glass like finish. Please feel free to e-mail me direct if I can answer any other questions.

Rich Matranga
Folsom, California