Hybrid lures from stuff you've already collected
I got into making hybrid lures for bass fishing years ago as well as pouring my own from plaster, aluminum and recently, tablespoon molds. To make a hybrid, all you need is a candle flame, a box cutter razor blade (single edge) and an imagination.
One thing I've learned about using artificials of any material: fish respond to various lure characteristics almost all times of year. Variations in size, color, action, surface texture and body shape allow me to present lures fish in my local waters have never seen. I'm convinced that curiousity is aroused in a neutral fish when it hasn't seen something before and that once one fish decides to sample the bait, soon it increases its aggressiveness and attracts the attention of other in the area.
Getting back to making a hybrid soft plastic lure, first off I want to take into consideration fish appeal and believe that neutral fish are susceptible biting something that:
1. won't bite back
2. is a weakling that can't swim away
3. is a freak of nature that looks like an easy meal or a generic prey species programmed into its DNA (generic species include worms and fish)
4. contains colors that may enhance its overall design or that stands out unnaturally
Here are a few examples that have proven recently to catch all species in a lake, including crappie:
a. take a small slugo, cut it in two, cutting 1/4" off the forward part of the tail. Light your candle, hold both ends to be joined over the flame very briefly and then hold the parts together for eight seconds. The connection is permanent. What you've made is a brand new lure that is a smaller version of a fish and that has a different action than the original. When fish are finicky, the smaller size may be the ticket when used on a 1/16 oz or smaller jighead or even dropshot.
b. take a Mr Twister 3" grub and cut off the curly tail. Cut the tail off a 3" Sassy Shad - (a little less than 1/2") and attach it the same way to the grub body. The action and profile is now much different than either of the originals and is one of my best hybrids!
c. take a 3" Gene Larew Hoo Daddy Grub or a 3" Bass Pro Spring Grub and cut off the tail leaving an inch of forward body. Take a finesse worm, with or without curly tail, and cut off 1" of the forward section. Fuse the two together. You'll be shocked how many fish of all sizes and species clobber this thing when rigged on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jighead.
Color choices are simple and most work: dark smoke, black, pearl, chartreuse with black flake and rootbeer.
I also like dying one surface along the length of the body with Spike-It to make a laminate. Solid colors work, but maybe two-tones work better at times. All you need is a pipe cleaner.
Everyone who has fished for over five years I'm sure have accumulated different types of soft plastic lures. Now you can take them out of storage and put them to good use. You never know what new design will become a favorite and more important, that you created along with many others in the future! No depending on anyone to make something unique that catches fish, that is ridiculously priced or that is discontinued!
If anyone's interested, I'll add pictures this evening of the examples I posted.
