I have had several folks ask about the lures I make, so here is a new lure making video. I take you through some size selection and assembly points. A bit of editorial along the way :) Thanks and Happy Fishing!
thank you for making this great video and for all the additional information you took the time to provide in the comment section. Ill be placing an order today and you helped a lot :) I wish you tight lines and blue skies!
I recommend you get some propeller blades they spin as soon as it hits the water up or down stream, can even jig vertically around undercuts and overhangs if shoreline accessible, I fish them on the mepps style and they will out fish most other spinners produced.
Inline blades also rotated on the drop. A blade with a clevis is dead on the drop. I still use them, but prefer inline. Never tried a prop blade. Happy fishing!
Nice video by the way the salmon are running caught my first 2 king salmon my first one was 22lbs and the second one was a little over 15lbs and I was fishing Lake Michigan tributaries in Wisconsin right by the brewer stadium an I saw a lot of cohos and lake run brown but they wanted nothing to do with my fly
Nice, not too surprised, most things have been late this year. Lake MI runs are usually ending around this time, I am not so sure the Superior Coho run has even started for real yet. Too much dam rain! Booo Hisss. Thanks and Happy Fishing!
Wisconsin Trout Fishing yea their was a lot of rain down here I went to the harbors and caught a 10+ lb brown trout and not expecting a brown this early in the harbors
Depending on where you are at, don't put the 4s and 6s away just yet. Spring is coming though. 9s soon in early April. 15s and bigger by the end of April usually works well. You will like the better control on casts and the fish really seem to like the big lures too. Happy Fishing.
Thanks. I tend to use larger beads than major retailers do. I really like anywhere from 3/16 to 5/16 on larger lure sizes. You can always test a few as well to see how the blades spins. On some lure bodies for larger lures I will not even use a bead. If that lure body has a rounded feature at the tip and the size requirements are such that the blade fits the way I want it to without a bead and it spins freely it works. Happy fishing!
This is such a great video. I've spent hours watching some of your. You've convinced me to start making spinners, but I'm not able to find any of the panther Martin size 15 and 18 iinline blades in any of the links you've supplied. Could you please tell me which blade number the 1082 Regal Finish In-Line Blades correlate to the 15 and 18 PM blades. I would never have thought that you could catch so many smaller trout as you do with the large spinners. Thank you for opening my eyes to this.
Try Barlowstackle.com Given the recent events in the world, I am not sure if they are still around. It is a Twistech wire former. They come up on Ebay every so often too. Happy fishing!
Thanks so much for sharing your spinner making techniques and materials. You've inspired me to making spinners for my stream trout fishing. What diameter wire are you using for each size spinner, please? Will .031" wire shafts be suitable for size 2 through size 9 blades and .035" for size 15? As a resident of NE Iowa, I trout fish mostly the Iowa streams and the SW Minnesota trout streams on occasion. I prefer to wade fish using breathable chest waders, so adding spinning lures to the arsenal of mini-jigs with fly patterns tied on them and small spoons should aide greatly in covering water more efficiently. I also fly fish and UL spin fish a lot. I much prefer to release my catches unless I am prepared to eat fish stream-side. I anticipate flattening the treble hook barbs with my dental wire pliers as I do with all of my hooks. My question is have you experimented with siwash single hooks for your trout spinners? I'm ordering some VMC open eye 9171 nickel {single barb) hooks to try on some spinners. Any thoughts in this regard?. I hoping for fewer hang ups while fishing, gentler releases, and a good hook up ratio. I've been trout fishing for over five decades and never tire of it. Is there a good way to straighten the wire shafts coming from the supplier? You've been an inspiration regarding the use of spinners and how masterful you are. It has been a joy to see you having so much fun through the trout fishing season. From one Ron to another, thank you!!
I use .035 on all this sizes. On bearing beads, use only solid metal beads and go big with the big blades. It will fan out the blade more - 1/4" to 5/32" for 15s, down a 1/16" from there. The danger of a hook is the sharp point, not barbs, but u do u. MN requires siwash for lake run fish. You will lose more fish on a single hook. Many people play fish and if you do you, you will definitely lose em on a barb less hook too. On an open eye hook, I would pass, get a formed hook and use a split ring if you wish to exchange hooks often. Again, not criticizing, fish how you wish. On straightening wire, the heavier wire is more malleable and is easily straightened true by hand. Once the thinner stuff kinks, it will never be straight again. I have tried mechanical straighteners, they suck. Fingers or a good round nose pliers is the easiest way to me. I appreciate the compliments and am glad the videos were helpful and enjoyable! Happy fishing!! Ron
Those are 3mm washers. A Google search will find em, I forget exactly where I purchased them. They are still not quite as small as you find on some mepps models. I don't use any tiny bearings any more, even on smaller blades. The washer is very helpful when using a soft lead type body. Always use solid metal bearings, no split Beas or plastics. Happy fishing!
Thank you for sharing and teaching. Where do you buy the parts your using? I was trying to make these for myself as hobby. I've been trying to find parts at best prices. What size metal bearings are you using. Can you send a link to the supplies your using. Thank you
Lurepartsonline.com is my favorite but there are many options. I tend to use larger solid metal bearings, but really it depends on the blade length and body being used. Can be 3/16 to 3/8". Happy lure building!
Your videos have been so helpful! Helped my boys fall in love with fishing again and figure out an approach that's led to success. Planning to make spinners over the winter. Would appreciate a parts list for the size 9 and 15 spinners. Thanks! Not sure how to send my email address without it showing up in the comments.
Awesome video. I was wondering if you could send me a chart of blade sizes bodies beads hooks. For the lures you make and which websites you prefer. Love your videos!
Drop an email here and I will send the chart I used in the video. There are many online retailers of lure parts, check them out. I do not keep a parts list, but happy to share the sizing chart. Happy fishing!
I'm curious as to if a very small red willow blade could be added to the spinner blade by drilling a hole in the spinner blade, adding a very small split ring, and adding the tiny red willow for added flash. Would it kill the spinner blade action?
You would have to test it. If it is overlapping, I think it would work. If it was an extension I think it would prevent the blade from spinning correctly. Give it a try. Happy fishing!
As a Pro Salmon guide, it makes utter sense to me to make my own spinners. If the river is up, and the flies are off, out come the lures...... Then I seen that the bending jig there will cost me about £150. I think I may be sleeping in the shed when the wife finds out. Hopefully the importer can write me a fake receipt otherwise I'm eating the evidence.
I do occasionally use them, but prefer the inline spinner for a couple reasons. 1. Clevis blades have no action on the drop, while the inline blade helicopters on its way down. 2. Even with heavier wire, the clevis models are less sturdy. Happy fishing!
Well...good news is you have the best bang for buck wire former. However, I use .035" wire for stream size lures. The bigger die may bend .035 , but my guess is it will break or bend the the thinner wire poorly. The larger wire will have spin problems for sizes 6, 9, 15 and 18. It may work, I do not have the .051" die. For smaller winter lures (sizes 0 2 and 4) you really need even thinner (.027) wire for proper blade spin. I would buy or make the smaller die. Any decent machine shop should be able to make a die for cheap. Bring them the larger die for dimensions and have them make the wire grove smaller. I am not sure if the smaller die is available retail. Happy lure crunching!
Great video, Ron. Think my boys and I are going to give this a try. Can you tell me which weight tear drop bodies, and beads you use for the 1/4oz and 3/8oz?
Hi Seth, my two sons like to fish as well. 24 and 23 now, time flies. The oz. Marks I use are generally the body weights. Size 6 is a total weight lure just over an 1/8 oz. With tungsten you can put. 1/4 oz. on a size 6. 9s are 1/4 oz. 15s are 3/8 oz and the jumbos are 1/2 oz. Or more. Some heavy 15s are fine too. Happy fishing.
There are many lure part stores online. I use lurepartsonline.com most. The wire I use is .034" stainless wire. You can buy it in rolls or precut and looped. Happy fishing.
Ron - Planning on making some PM 9 and 15’s. Can you tell me what size and type of bead you need for each? Do you buy them on Lure Parts Online? Thanks! Really enjoy your videos!
It depends on the body some, but I generally use 1/4" beads on 9s and 5/16" beads on 15s and 18s. Use solid beads. If you buy at LPO 9s are 5s and 15s are 6s. Happy fishing!
Thank you for the awesome video. I am new to this and was wondering if you could email me the notes, I just need to see the size of parts for each spinner, bodies, hooks, etc. Also if you have favorite sites for the specific parts. It seems every site list the blades and bodies differently. If you have any other info for a beginner to help me get setup I would greatly appreciate that. If you don’t mind sir.
When you say 1/16th, 3/8th ounce, etc., is that the weight of the whole lure or just the body? I'm trying to make sure all my bead, body, blade sizes make sense together but I'm a little lost.
I refer to total weight. But on that chart it lists the body weight. It loosely follows the stock weights of mepps and panther martins. It won't matter much beyond the weight of the body. Go big.
@@peterfettig8666 If you are only doing a few at a time, maybe, if you have fingers of steel. It will be very difficult to wrap .035 wire by hand. Happy lure making!
Ron..Thank you ever so much for sharing the art of trout spinner making. I would like to start making my own lures so could you email me your parts list with sizes? Thanks so much for your time!
That is a TwistTech wire forming tool. They have gone out of business. Used to be available at online tackle shops and eBay every so often. Good luck finding one. Happy fishing!
I really appreciate your videos Ron, thanks for sharing your experience! I have bought a wire forming jig and and essential components. I got #5 inline spoons, and they seem quite small compared to your summer set up. So I bought #7, they seem quite big. Can you let me know the size of inline spoons for the 15 and 18 lures? Thanks again for the great content! I am buying my supplies at LPO.
@@WisconsinTroutFishing Ron - great video! Can you send me the sizing chart that you made? I just bought a wire former and am ready to start making some lures. Thanks for the help!
You can. I use the legal gear. On some MN streams, it's required to use a siwash or single hook. Keep in mind the sharp point of the hook is the dangerous part. Angling is sometimes hazardous to the fish.
The hydrodynamics of a spinner are similar to an airplane wing, but with water for pressure forces instead of air pressure. An inline blade is a mini wing anchored to the lure. Varying states of high and low water pressure force it to spine around the anchor. Happy fishing!
Damn Ron that’s the bomb setup you got there 🤙. I need a neighbor like you since cabelas doesn’t wanna carry anything close to these. How much was that jig alone?
Hey , I got a question. Where do you get your components? I found jannsnet, but they don't seem to have everything I'm looking for. I'm Candian some sites just screw ya on the shipping.
That is a Twistech wire former. It comes with an installed die for wire .039" and under. They make one for the larger .040" and up wire, but it is an add on. You can sometimes find the machine on eBay for 40 or bucks. New they are 85$ and the extra die is 25$. If you have a machinist friend, the die could be made CNC from cold tool steel. Happy fishing.
Hi there, I've just watched your video and really inspired me to try making them myself, do you mind if I ask where you bought your wire bender tool as gobsmacked by how easy you make it look. Thanks again for the inspiring video.
The machine I use is a Twistech wire former. You can find them on Ebay sometime for a good used price. You can buy retail at a number of online lure parts sites. Barlows Tackleshop is where I ought mine. You do have to pick a size or buy the extra die for wire over 0.040" (musky stuff) The tool is so much better than a needle nose pr even a good German round nose pliers. Way easier of you fingers and hands. Happy fishing!
Great video. I just ordered some parts but the sizes were way off. Is there anyway that you could show or email me the component sizes for the lures. I would really appreciate it. Thank you
Much better IMHO. The primary problem with both Mepps and PMs is that the main wire is too thin. One decent fish ruins the stock spinners and because the wire is very thin it is difficult to re-true a bent stock one. With the heavier wire, they do not bend as easily and they can be re trued to straight. Also, on Mepps, the hooks are sharp, but they break more often than I like. On PMs, they use a split bearing which eventually splits and hampers blade action. On both, the painted surfaces eventually wear away. I use a solid bearing and I use metal finished bodies. And lastly, I make spinners with custom weights and hook sizes that I prefer based on the fishing conditions. Don't get me wrong, Mepps and PM will work for almost anyone, I just prefer to make my own for the reasons described here. Happy Fishing!
@@WisconsinTroutFishing Outstanding info. I am going to start assembling my own spinners. Do you have a preference in which website you shop through? I'd like to get started making spinners similar to size and weight as Mepps sizes 2&3.
@@WisconsinTroutFishing So...after going to the website and getting started, I have questions regarding size. I'd like to start off making spinners the same size as Mepps Agila #3. I am not sure which size to get. Is there any resource that will tell me which size of parts I need? Thanks
Hello i have a question can you tell me where i can order a wire forming tool like you have in this video? Here in holland we only have one model and i dont like that model. Maybe you would like share a link Thanks a lot Marco
Where did you happen to purchase the raindrop style bodies iv been painting lead weights for the longest time because I could not find them lol great video
Since that video, I have gone to using snap rings more often. If no snap ring, I would remake as the wire is very cheap stuff. Now with snap rings, it's a simple hook replacement. Happy fishing!
Hi Toby, the spinners I make cost me from 1$ to 2$ depending on the size, bigger costs more. IMHO they are far superior to retail for a couple of reasons. 1. I use a much heavier main shaft wire which doesn't bend as easy and is more malleable to bend back to proper shape. The thin retail wire used bends easy and doesn't bend back after a couple of decent fish. 2. I use solid metal beads, not split beads which will separate over time and render the retail spinner with poor action. 3. Custom weights for the type of spin fishing I do, and 4. custom hook sizes. The retail spinners use too large of hooks in my opinion. Many online retailers, use a search for fishing lure parts and you will find many options. Thanks and Happy Fishing!
Great lures, looks like fun to make! What would you say is the time and cost in parts to become decent at making spinners? Although not right now, I hope to make my own lures one day in the future
With practice, it takes no more than a couple trial and error sessions to become proficient with the process I have shown here. In terms of time, I made six lures in 15 minutes while narrating :). Granted I have organized the pieces, but the time is really not an issue when compared to going to a store to make a purchase, or buying online and waiting for the mail. On price I think it better as well. The lures I make last much longer than stock lures. The components come down to pennies per part. Overall, blades and bodies are most expensive. Big blades can be be a $1.10 each, smaller ones, much cheaper 50 cents or less. Bodies range from 20 cents to a buck. The other pieces are very cheap, pennies. Bigger lures cost around 2$, medium and small around 1$ to make. Keep in mind too that these spinners, as shown, are far superior to any store bought ones for a couple of reasons. 1. Main wire is thicker. I have taken store versions out of the package, caught one decent fish and the lure was bent and trashed forever due to the main wire being very thin. 2. I custom select weights and blades. This allows for lures that are designed to sink, float, suspend, based on the fishing I intend to do. 3. The solid bearings allow for longer smooth operation of the lure versus split beads. They do wear out but last much longer. 4. I can pick my hook size to fit the fishing I am doing. In general, I think hooks on store bought lures are too large . This simply just may not be something u want to do and in that case Panther Martin, Rooster, Mepps, Vibrax and others make usable lures in great variety. Have fun! Happy Fishing!
Very nice, thanks for all of the info. It must be rewarding to catch such nice fish on homemade lures. And you do make a good point that store-bought spinners don't work well after one fish. I don't think I've ever caught more than one trout on the same spinner, and I guess that's part of the reason why I don't use spinners very often. But spinners are somewhat of a universal trout lure, so I know they'll be important for my successin the future. And I guess economically it pays off after a while.
Hi Ron! Thank you for your excellent demonstrations. I can't stop watching your videos (when I can't get in the water myself). I want to start making my own lures as you do but I don't have much time. How would I go about buying lures directly from you? Thanks!
You could. I have some but they are a bit large for the bottom loop. Also the wire is so cheap that a quick rebuild with new wire, hook and tail is very easy to do. Not sure I was happy with the extra lure length and action created by a split ring. Happy fishing!
If by kit, you mean the wire former...that is a Twistech wire jig. They are available online through several vendor. Search for Twistech, lure parts, wire formers etc. I think that model goes for about $160US at this point. They do show up on eBay every so often too. Happy fishing!
That wire former is a Twistech model. They have two sizes - Magnum for .040" wire and up - muskie stuff- and standard - for wire .039" and under. I hear they are again available. Sometime during the pandemic, they company seemed to be sold or out of business. Not sure what retail is now, but they do occasionally show up on ebay etc. Happy lure crunching!
That's a Twistech wire former. Good luck finding one. They come up on ebay every so often, but retailers have been out of supplies for a few years now. Happy fishing.
@@vendettaxs yes i do Brian. The one catch with the thicker wire is when using clevises. You have go up a size on the clevis to fit the heavier wire. The smallest clevis won't fit or will be tight and affect free spin. Happy Fishing.
At first I had a brilliant idea to save money fishing! Hahahaha!! The main advantage is a superior, longer lasting spinner. Lost gear can add up and when you chuck a $6 lure in the trees forever, it sucks. I had many times, removed a retail spinner from the package, caught one good fish and the lure was toasted. The stock spinners have a thinner main wire, cheap hooks that are too large and I can make my own color, blade and weight combos to suit my fishing style. Works for me...but I am not saving much money fishing :)
I hear you about store bought lures. It's unreal how cheaply they are made. A good home made lure like yours are super awesome long lasting from what I see on your vids. Outstanding work buddy, and thank you for your answers.
I use several different online retailers. Lurepartsonline.com. Barlowstackleshop.com. Jannsnetcraft.com. Etc there are many out there, a Google search will do. Happy fishing!
I use the Twistech. 90 bucks new, used on eBay sometimes for 40. I use .034" stainless steel wire. I buy it online at lure parts online.com. it's inexpensive. Happy lure making.
@@WisconsinTroutFishing Thank you for your fast reply! Is Twistech way better compare to inexpensive wire formers in $18-25 range? I am looking for universal tool will allow me to work on my a-rigs, spinnerbaits, spinners, etc to replace components, hooks etc on existing wire ( for spinners I'll use new wire). Most a-rigs come with very bad swivels, snaps on them. Just looked everywhere online, Twistech is seems to be sold out.
@@WarEagleTheBest The Twistech is damn good for the price. If you want to do wire larger than .040" you have to buy the extra die. You can do any bend.
Thanks and happy fishing! www.amazon.com/Poulsen-11037-Twistech-Wire/dp/B00CMW18G4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540868241&sr=8-2&keywords=twistech+wire+former 99$ on Amazon. You can find em on ebay or craigslist sometimes too. R
@@juanito3821 $120 at Cabelas. +20$ and shipping on top though. They would match price at Barlow's $89 www.barlowstackle.com/Twistech-Wire-Former--P1040.aspx
