LURE BUILDING 101: THE BASICS

KEY TERMS TO KNOW
Spinner:	A lure is which the blade rotates around a central shaft by means of a clevis. The central shaft holds a body or beads and the lure, ending with the hook
Jig:	A device used to hold materials or to form materials
Clevis:	Small U-shaped wire or sheet-stamped devices used to attach spinner blades to the wire shaft.
Leader Sleeve:	A small metallic cylinder used to fit over leader wire to form loops and eyes and to make leader and riggings.
Buzz Blade:	This is a blade specifically used on buzzbaits. It is usually available in right and left rotating styles, in short and triangular delta-wings blades, sometimes called by this name.
Split Rings:	Used to attach hooks, swivels, and fittings to spoon or spinner.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE	COMPONENTS NEEDED
	Appropriate Wire Form Hooks Selection of Spinner Blades	Folded Clevises Ball Bearing Swivels Skirting
	SUPPLIES NEEDED
	Lead Lead Melting Equipment Do-It Mold Round Nose Pliers	Gate Shears Split-Ring Pliers Standard Pliers Paint or Powder Coating

LURE BUILDING 101: Building a Tandem Spinnerbait
1. Getting Started	6. Remove the Sprue	11. Large Blade Assembly
2. Preparing the Wire Form	7. Apply Base Coat	12.Create a "U" Bend
3. Position the Form	8. Apply Top Coat	13. Secure the Large Blade Assembly
4. Check Alignment	9. Small Blade Assembly	14. Install the Skirt
5. Pour Your Lead	10. Attaching the Small Blade	15. Go Fishin'

Step 1. Getting Started

Preheat your lead and your mold using your lead melting equipment. Preheating your mold before hand will allow the lead to flow smoothly into the cavity of the mold, remember you just want to warm your mold, it does not need to be hot to the touch. Be sure to heat your lead in a well ventilated area as exposure to lead fumes is toxic.

Step 2. Preparing the Wire Form

Prepare the wire form and hook for the mold. Pass the hook eye through the U bend of the wire form. Using your standard pliers, crimp the U bend closed securing the hook to the wire form.

Step 3. Position the Form

Carefully lay the wire form and attached hook into the cavity of the mold that you would like to use. Make sure that the hook eye will have ample lead surrounding it when positioning the form in the cavity. While taking care to hold the wire form and hook in place carefully close the mold.

Step 4. Check Alignment

Once the mold is fully closed, the wire form and hook will be held securely in place. At this point make sure that the rig arm sticking out of the top of the mold is as straight as possible. You are now ready to pour your lead.

Step 5. Pour Your Lead

Wearing the proper safety attire (we suggest leather gloves and protective eye wear) pour the pre-melted lead into the mold cavity through the opening at the top. Try not to over fill the lead too much, some excess out the top however is not a problem.

After pouring the lead keep the mold firmly closed for 15-30 seconds. After the lead has had time to harden and cool open the mold and remove the lure.

Step 6. Remove the Sprue

The excess lead at the top of your new lure head is known as a "sprue". Using your gate shears remove the sprue, cutting as close to the lure head as possible. Feel free to recycle your lead sprues for future use.

Step 7. Apply Base Coat

We are now ready to finish the lure head. For this example we used a vinyl lure paint, other options such as powder coating and air brushing are available as well. To achieve the most vibrant final color we suggest applying a white base coat to the unfinished lead first.

Step 8. Apply Top Coat

After the base coat has fully dried, apply the top coat in a color of your choice to the lure head. If necessary apply a second coat after the first has fully dried to ensure the best color and proper coverage. To further customize your lure you can add a clear glow over coat.

Step 9. Small Blade Assembly

We are now ready to build our small blade assembly. Using a folded clevis and a smaller sized blade of your choice, pass one end of the clevis through the blade opening. The blade style chosen here is entirely up to you, and the performance you are trying to achieve. It is not necessary to match the style of blade with the larger blade installed later.

Step 10. Attaching the Small Blade

Now attach the folded clevis with the small blade onto the rig arm of your wire form. Following the clevis slide on the metal bead spacers, you will need to use enough spacer beads to allow for enough clearance so that both blades spin freely. For our example we used size three nickel plated brass beads, again the style size and color beads chosen here is entirely to your discretion.

Step 11. Large Blade Assembly

We are now ready to build the large blade assembly. Once again the style of blade chosen here is entirely up to you, typically this blade is a few sizes larger than the small blade. You will need to choose a size that will work with the lure you are creating. Using the split ring pliers to open your split ring, attach the split ring on the open end of your swivel. Then attach your chosen blade to the split ring as well.

Step 12. Create a "U" Bend

Using the Round Nose Pliers, grabbing about 1/4" down from the end of your rig arm, pinch and roll the wire using the pliers to create a U bend at the end of the arm. During this step you will want make sure you leave enough clearance to install the swivel in the next step.

Step 13. Secure the Large Blade Assembly

Attach the open end of the swivel for your large blade assembly. Using your pliers crimp the U bend closed around the swivel. This will secure the assembly in place.

Step 14. Install the Skirt

Finally, attach your lure skirt over the hook and onto the collar just behind the head. For our example we installed a premade Z-Man EZ skirt. You can also create your own custom skirts in color combinations not readily available using silicone skirt tabs.

There are several variables that will determine your skirt selection, such as water color, clarity and weather, so choose wisely!

Step 15. Go Fishin'

GO FISHING. You've just completed a custom made tandem blade spinner bait. Please remember that not every lure you assemble, design from scratch, or copy from a brand name lure will work perfectly without a little tinkering or redesigning. It would be great if they all worked on our first attempt. Don't get discouraged if a few don't work out as planned. Be prepared to take a few apart and rebuild them from scratch. It's part of the fun. But in no time at all you too will be building a wide variety of incredible fish catching lures.