Soft plastics are my preferred lures and most of those lures catch most fish species in most waters.

If you don’t like catching fish on conventional lures that work then don’t buy them. Sounds to me that you have lost the joy of fishing.

I made some lures once, but don't remember catching anything on 'em.

Conventional out-of-the-package lures are boring - though at times I will cast some of them taken out of storage. Having caught fish on most lure types, I would rather find new lures and presentations. Plus the expense doesn't justify the price considering how cheap it is to mass produce lures.

To each his own .....

(Sounds like someone owns a piece of Bass Pro)

senkosam: ".... I would rather find new lures ..."

Show some examples of what has worked for you and fish caught. I'm drawing a blank here.

senkosam: "Soft plastics are my preferred lures and most of those lures catch most fish species in most waters. I have all the equipment to pour my own and also take parts of stored lures and attach them to other lures using a candle flame to make new shapes and sizes. In the past I would look forward to getting Cabela's and Bass Pro catalogs in Dec. and treat myself to new stuff that looked infallible. Sad to say, most of those lures are stored in a cabinet in the basement in boxes. I have enough lures of all types to last a life time.

I wouldn't say I haven't caught fish on most of those lure types for over five decades but that they got a little boring after they proved themselves - like the plastic t-rigged worm. But innovation and discovering unique designs that ended up doing well has kept my excitement ongoing. Before that, I learned from different angler partners during tournaments and happily mastered the lures they caught fish on. (Too bad I now only fish with one partner that's limited in imagination when it comes to lures.

Anyone wanting to be challenged when it comes to making or modifying any lure feel free to ask. There's a universe of ideas waiting to be discovered by me and many others. Other that that, feel free to buy lures that have may served you well or might in the future.

Fish strike lures - that we all agree on but WHY! I will always challenge conventional beliefs and can prove they don't pass the smell test."

I must admit, I have no idea what you are driving at with this post. Just sharing some thoughts in a FWIW vein? Expecting a discussion?

bobbernumber3: "

senkosam: ".... I would rather find new lures ..."

Show some examples of what has worked for you and fish caught. I'm drawing a blank here."

Don’t encourage him. He’ll be glad to post 50 different photos of tiny plastics rigged on different hooks.

This guy has worked his way through multiple fishing forums posting the same stuff repeatedly. I believe what he’s looking for is for folks to tell him he’s smart and that he’s so right about everything.

Also he’s gonna be in a world of hurt sitting on all those lead molds in a few years.

Phil,
Thats great photo. If ya don't mind, I'm gonna use that to make some Christmas gifts to buddies....

bobbernumber3: "

senkosam: ".... I would rather find new lures ..."

Show some examples of what has worked for you and fish caught. I'm drawing a blank here."

This is a post I made that proves that lure design is not only in the hands of manufacturers:
How many of you make your own lures or modify those already owned?

Also check out my previous post: Are lures we cast really 'natural'? The discussion touched on lure design/ action versus what fish 'think' lures represent.

"This guy has worked his way through multiple fishing forums posting the same stuff repeatedly. I believe what he’s looking for is for folks to tell him he’s smart and that he’s so right about everything."

Yee of little faith and imagination. Sad...

Well the thread is entertaining.

Over the years I've dispelled myths regarding lures by experimenting with various colors and lure designs most months of the year - including ice fishing.

1. clear plastic lures - hard or soft catch fish.
The first Zara Spook I caught bass on was made of clear plastic and has done so since the beginning. Then I caught fish on clear Roger's crankbaits in tidal water creeks.

About 2 yrs. ago I poured clear soft plastic lures in different shapes and did very well - even in algae stained water. I'm assuming that clear plastic underwater isn't truly clear seeing as how light refraction affects color within a lure.

2. Roland Martin introduced a spinnerbait with a very large willow leaf blade.
I bought one and did well in different type water regardless of the very bright flash. Before that Colorado blades - single and tandem - were the only blades I thought caught bass.

3. Color-Selector lure choices for different water colors really didn't do as well as other just using a few hues and color patterns. In fact fire tiger crankbaits and soft plastics have done super for years, the color combination: fl. chart, fl orange, fl. lime green and black spots.

4. I discovered how well short arm spinnerbaits worked when used like skirted jigs on the drop down steep embankments with the use of a pork frog trailer.
Who knew?!

5. I always used Mr Twister curl tail grubs for all my fish until I started finding new tail designs that did better with the slowest retrieves. Thin, straight flat tails have done very well when those retrieves were needed in cold water or under the ice. Even tubes did better under the ice for crappy where I fish in winter.

6. Tubes have done well and at times better than other soft plastics on bottom - and as I experienced - under the ice.

7. I've posted many photos of hybrid (modified) lures that have surprised me when they did fantastic. On many days some caught four fish species !

8. Senko catches led me to making mini-sticks around 2" long - wacky rigging them just like the Senko using a light ball head jig for the action and rate of drop. Amazing catches!

9. I always thought grub shapes should be round until I attached various tails to segment of flat sided French Fry sticks. No difference in catch rates.

10. Using 5" straight tail worms on 1/16 oz jigs mid depth have produced many fish in different wts. and species - even fish only 3.5" long !

11. Float fishing I assumed was only good when live bait was used but a few years ago I tried straight and curl tail grubs under them and did very well in different months. The best catches were when the boat drifted slowly allowing a slow, horizontal swim action five or more feet down.

12. I never used a double rig similar to a drop shot except using a jig and lure on the bottom of the line. I couldn't believe the doubles caught on both lures in one location.

13. The skirted jig and tubes were lures I didn't imagine would ever catch fish thinking - how could so unnatural a looking lure (like so more to follow) could ever consistently catch fish? Happily proven wrong!

14. Friends of mine routinely caught huge bass at night using large segmented swimbaits in reservoirs. Amazing!

There are many more discoveries that have served me well and might be of use to any who give them a try. That's not to say that using the same preferred lures and presentations are less successful, but that many of us have similar stories to tell about unconventional tactics and lures that caught fish.

Food for thought...

yogi59weedr: "Phil,
Thats great photo. If ya don't mind, I'm gonna use that to make some Christmas gifts to buddies...."

Be sure to use a cap of their favorite brand!

barehook: "

senkosam: "Soft plastics are my preferred lures,,,
"

I must admit, I have no idea what you are driving at with this post. Just sharing some thoughts in a FWIW vein? Expecting a discussion? "

+1

My Oldest son made a few crude lures, and caught Northerns, on them. In fact more than the rest of us did.

You couldn't wear the Smile off his face.

There is a lot to be said for using things you make yourself !

Jim

Is the point of this being that you can catch fish on anything?

Chieflonewatie: "Is the point of this being that you can catch fish on anything?"

senkosam is just being preachy. I don't think they know what they are talking about. When the fish are biting, just about anything works. It looks to me like they had a little hot streak, had some one agree with them online, and then got a big head and decided that everyone else needs to agree with them and/or compliment them to build their ego.

There is no point, nothing to see here.

I have had a few artificial lures that are truly go-to lures such as a J-11 Rapala in perch, Rapala Shad Rap in baby bass and the discontinued JT 6 in purple and chartreuse. They have caught several species in the BWCA and have earned their spot in my tackle box. If ain't broke, don't fix it.

bobbernumber3: "I made some lures once, but don't remember catching anything on 'em.


"

One of my oldest friends made this for me several years ago while tinkering around in his garage, just to be humorous. I tied it on my line one day just for fun. I caught a nice pike on the second cast. I hung it on the wall of my office the next day. It is now a touchstone that represents multiple meanings to me.

AmarilloJim: "Well the thread is entertaining."

AGREE!

GickFirk22: "

AmarilloJim: "Well the thread is entertaining."

AGREE!"

+1 I agree, this and the other thread are entertaining for sure.

Senko - it's clear you're enjoying what you're doing. I personally would not have come to the same conclusions, but who cares. Some of your lures are interesting to see...I also like the bottle cap lures and may give it a go at making one of those!

I'd love to see some pics of the fish you're catching with the home made/modified lures.

The beer cap spoon can be done with an actual spoon, too. On a fishing trip I was on with about 15 other guys, the host was gifted one, and he declared that "the spoon game" had commenced. He fished it for about a half hour, stuck a northern, and then passed it to the next victim, who was obligated to fish it until he caught a fish on it, and so on. Good times.

On a trip several years ago a friend brought in a case of beer in plastic bottles and turned an empty one into bobber that actually worked.

senkosam: "Over the years I've dispelled myths regarding lures by experimenting with various colors and lure designs most months of the year - including ice fishing.


1. clear plastic lures - hard or soft catch fish.
The first Zara Spook I caught bass on was made of clear plastic and has done so since the beginning. Then I caught fish on clear Roger's crankbaits in tidal water creeks.


About 2 yrs. ago I poured clear soft plastic lures in different shapes and did very well - even in algae stained water. I'm assuming that clear plastic underwater isn't truly clear seeing as how light refraction affects color within a lure.


2. Roland Martin introduced a spinnerbait with a very large willow leaf blade.
I bought one and did well in different type water regardless of the very bright flash. Before that Colorado blades - single and tandem - were the only blades I thought caught bass.


3. Color-Selector lure choices for different water colors really didn't do as well as other just using a few hues and color patterns. In fact fire tiger crankbaits and soft plastics have done super for years, the color combination: fl. chart, fl orange, fl. lime green and black spots.


4. I discovered how well short arm spinnerbaits worked when used like skirted jigs on the drop down steep embankments with the use of a pork frog trailer.
Who knew?!


5. I always used Mr Twister curl tail grubs for all my fish until I started finding new tail designs that did better with the slowest retrieves. Thin, straight flat tails have done very well when those retrieves were needed in cold water or under the ice. Even tubes did better under the ice for crappy where I fish in winter.


6. Tubes have done well and at times better than other soft plastics on bottom - and as I experienced - under the ice.


7. I've posted many photos of hybrid (modified) lures that have surprised me when they did fantastic. On many days some caught four fish species !


8. Senko catches led me to making mini-sticks around 2" long - wacky rigging them just like the Senko using a light ball head jig for the action and rate of drop. Amazing catches!


9. I always thought grub shapes should be round until I attached various tails to segment of flat sided French Fry sticks. No difference in catch rates.


10. Using 5" straight tail worms on 1/16 oz jigs mid depth have produced many fish in different wts. and species - even fish only 3.5" long !


11. Float fishing I assumed was only good when live bait was used but a few years ago I tried straight and curl tail grubs under them and did very well in different months. The best catches were when the boat drifted slowly allowing a slow, horizontal swim action five or more feet down.


12. I never used a double rig similar to a drop shot except using a jig and lure on the bottom of the line. I couldn't believe the doubles caught on both lures in one location.


13. The skirted jig and tubes were lures I didn't imagine would ever catch fish thinking - how could so unnatural a looking lure (like so more to follow) could ever consistently catch fish? Happily proven wrong!

14. Friends of mine routinely caught huge bass at night using large segmented swimbaits in reservoirs. Amazing!

There are many more discoveries that have served me well and might be of use to any who give them a try. That's not to say that using the same preferred lures and presentations are less successful, but that many of us have similar stories to tell about unconventional tactics and lures that caught fish.

Food for thought...
"

nothing in this list is surprising or a WOW factor to it.
it's what you do as a fisherman. , it's what you with age-experience-trail&error-conditions-time of year- water temps-etc.. and just getting out.
people have commented on big pike being difficult to catch in the dog days of late july-mid august and it is but it is also doable just have to get out and try new things. as some say "shut up and fish" ;)

I have aquired a lot of plastic tubes, worms, twister tails, etc. I usually use bait, so these rubber deals kind of sit there bored, as they are not being fished much. My question is do these rubber worms expire, get old and loose there appeal, or do cary there enticing smells, taste, and sight.

casualbriday: "The beer cap spoon can be done with an actual spoon, too. On a fishing trip I was on with about 15 other guys, the host was gifted one, and he declared that "the spoon game" had commenced. He fished it for about a half hour, stuck a northern, and then passed it to the next victim, who was obligated to fish it until he caught a fish on it, and so on. Good times."

LOL!! Now that sounds like fun. The only problem is my sons would probably throw a few casts, catch nothing and then declare this game sucks and I win....dang kids!! :-)

It was made from a big serving tablespoon, so it was probably 6" overall length (it had a couple inches of handle trimmed off) and had to be 5/8oz. When my turn came around I was surprised how many follows I got. I went 1/5, but that was enough to give it to the next guy.

"nothing in this list is surprising or a WOW factor to it."

"Don’t encourage him. He’ll be glad to post 50 different photos of tiny plastics rigged on different hooks.
This guy has worked his way through multiple fishing forums posting the same stuff repeatedly. I believe what he’s looking for is for folks to tell him he’s smart and that he’s so right about everything."

One thing the post shows is my fascination with lures and the myths that have been shoved down our throats for decades via mass media and bs in fishing catalogs and from angler celebrities meant to sell lures. Personally though and as I said in the 'natural' post, the more you try different ideas the more options when it comes to what to cast, when and where. For those anglers that chose to fish one lure all year round (my partner for example), so be it. H*** if one only want to cast live bait, why not ?!

Main thing is to enjoy catching fish any way one can and be amazed at the variety of fish and fish sizes caught. Again, my posts are 'ideas' and 'suggestions' to consider - NO 'preaching' there. If that type of criticism is meant to dissuade me or anyone else from contributing posts others may find interesting, educational or thought provoking, save it for those of like mind that have little to offer except barbs and distractions.

Ever tie flies?

casualbriday: "Ever tie flies?"

I have two border collies - one that looks like a yellow lab and the other with brown, black and white fur. Last year I caught hair jig fish using their hair in different colors . Nice action. Never was into using flies or a fly rod though you got me thinking : why not under a float ?!







this 12" crappie was caught on the brown fur of the dog: