How to Make Plastic Fishing Lures

If you are a fan of fishing, you might have tried different forms of bait to see which is the most effective. Maybe you’ve compared plastic lures with live bait. Live bait has a problem however, it’s unsuitable for reuse, it’s a little gross and can add more prep time to your fishing adventures.

The best alternative to using live bait is using plastic fishing lures which look like live bait. They’re reusable, easy to clean and these fishing lures come in different shapes, colors and sizes. They are often made of brightly colored plastics and resemble the natural prey of the fish you’re trying to catch, such as squid and other smaller fish.

Making your own plastic fishing lures is fun, will help you save money in the long run, and can personalize your fishing experience and bring a lot of satisfaction by allowing you to make the exact design of fishing lures you desire.

There are different types of plastic lures. Plastic fishing lures are divided into soft plastic fishing lures and hard plastic fishing lures.

Hard Plastic Fishing Lures

Hard plastic lures are rigid / inflexible and hard. Making and using hard lures is a technical process, and it takes a level of expertise in both manufacturing and usage that is not usually accessible to beginners. Also, the machinery needed to make hard plastic lures is more expensive than soft plastic lures. However, hard plastic lures are durable and do not dry out like soft plastic lures do.

Soft Plastic Lures

In contrast to hard plastic lures, soft plastic lures are easy to make and cost-effective. J-CAD specialises in making molds for at-home manufacturing of soft plastic lures using durable materials suitable for use in lakes, on ocean floors, and in rivers. Soft plastic lures do not last as long as the hard plastic lures, however, so keep this in mind when deciding on what type of lure to use. In addition, it’s important to know that soft plastic lures can dry out easily if not stored properly.

How Do You Make Soft Plastic Fishing Lures?

Making soft plastic lures requires a mold, materials and some affordable pieces of equipment, like something to inject plastic for instance. In addition, making lures requires the use of safety devices, like using safety goggles, wearing leather gloves and making sure you’re in a well ventilated environment while working.

When making soft plastic lures, you can either use a separate injector to fill the mold or a built-in injector within the mold itself.

Apply lubricating oil to grease the mold and injector. The oil will help to prevent the plastisol used to make the lure from sticking.

To heat the plastisol, get a microwave safe measuring cup and stick the plastisol in a microwave for about two minutes. Then, add a soft plastic color and glitter of your choice (if you want to get fancy) to the plastisol.

Place the mold on top of the injector with the plastisol in it, and press down using both hands to hold the mold firmly. Next, fill the mold with the liquid plastisol to the top.

Put the mold aside until the plastic cools off. Then, carefully remove the newly formed lure, taking care to prevent tearing once it is properly cooled off. It will likely still be warm, so just set it aside to cool off completely.

If you are not particularly a DIY person, you might get stuck somewhere in the process. The J-CAD design team can help you create the perfect artificial bait that will make your fishing expeditions more exciting and allow you to catch more fish. We can also help with mass producing lures if you’d like to turn your hobby into a business!

How to store plastic fishing lures?

Soft plastic lures are less durable than hard plastics and can easily dry out if kept outside for a long time. Therefore, the best way to store your plastic fishing lures is by storing them in a cool and dry place.

To get custom fishing lure molds for soft and hard plastic customized and designed for you, reach out to us at J-CAD at 1-888-202-2052 or send us a quote request. We look forward to working with you!