Why buy it when you can modify it?

[SenkoSam]

Modification isn't new, many of us modify skirts, paint jobs, blade size, etc. So why not modify soft plastics? A little imagination and some simple tools go a long way and believe it or not some of the best ideas come from your kids! Look at the first example.


I've held on to these 3" Reapers for over a few years and found them a bit boring. So, with a straight edge box cutter blade and a hard surface (smooth ceramic tile or glass) to make some slices, I've modified the tail three different ways.

The next mod uses a thin wire to pull silicone rubber strand through grubs. The wire is sold at a dollar store or anyplace that sells wire to hang pictures.


The resulting action is similar to a tube but the body and skirt has texture. The skirt action IMO is superior to that of most tubes sold and lasts forever. You can also replace a tube skirt by cutting a plastic worm into a 1/4" section, pulling skirt material through it, super glue the front ends and then inserting the plug into the tube.

I'm sure many of you are like me and buy crap on sale when cabin fever makes deals too good to pass up, only to discover our midwinter fantasies were unnecesaary drains on our wallets. At least now you can justify all that impulse buying and enjoy non-fishing time with fantasies of lures you've created based on lure characteristics you or your kids come up with.

(BTW, my 12 yo granddaughter gave me the idea of using the razor blade to cut the reaper after seeing me shape a tail for my spoonminnow grub seen below.)

[javelin225ho]

that's awesome man....good tip.  you need to put it in the Tips board.

[bigjim5589]

Sam, you always post some real great ideas! 

I bought some plastics for shallow water saltwater fishing, and upon close inspection, realized that they were reapers that had been sliced like you have done. I don't pour any plastics, so have since picked up a few more packs of reapers, and have done the same to them. I expect they should work well as a shrimp, crab, crayfish or even small baitfish. I haven't yet used them, but am looking forward to it. I like using tubes, but also like having something different!  I'm betting the LM Bass in the tidal rivers I fish have never seen anything like it!

[SenkoSam]

I'm betting the LM Bass in the tidal rivers I fish have never seen anything like it!

I strongly believe that sometimes lure novelty is what a population of bass is as vulnerable to as the anglers willing to believe in the lure's magic. Gradually over a period of a few years, fish don't hit it near as much as the first year, especially if everyone is throw'n the same thing! Maybe just superstition on my part....

[bigjim5589]

I'm not superstitious, but agree with you about fish getting used to seeing the same things. I had a day several years ago, where I encountered two clubs who were both fishing tournaments on a small river I like to fish, and most were throwing typical baits & lures, and not having a lot success. The guys I talked to said fishing that day for them was tough! They also told me that other clubs had fished the same river previously in the week, so it was getting pounded pretty hard. I was having a great day, and likely if I had been fishing with those guys, could have won both tournaments, although I'm only speculating.

It was in mid summer, and I was just fishing, out for fun,  looking to just catch whatever I could find and was using ultra light tackle. That river is very shallow, no more than 5 to 6 ft deep in the channels, and there's lots of water less that 2 feet deep when the tide is high. I caught several bass that day, and a few would have went close to 3 lbs. which was a decent fish on that river. I figured the bass had been beat on so much that any noise was putting them off, even the splash of a lure. I was using a small ultra light spoon and tiny crankbaits that made very little splash, and was fishing from a canoe. None of them other guys were using anything that light. I learned a valuable lesson that day, and although have not repeated the success I had that day, have since had some success with very light lures, when others were not doing so well with typical stuff. 

[SenkoSam]

Quite a few big tournaments have been won with finesse baits. Could be that the less virgin the fish, the more they need special baits and presentations - one of the biggest reason I like to make much of my own stuff.

[hornytoader]

A razorblade or exacto knife can work wonders to modify a normal bait into something that will catch fish when in its normal condition may not. Great tips on here and keep em' coming.