Haven't got a mold for a thin straight tail grub? try making one with no mold

1. heat plastic in a Pyrex cup in the microwave to a temperature that pours easily (IE thin syrup or 280 degrees)
2. I use a glassy surface - ceramic floor tile - that can take the heat
3. tilt the tile or glass surface, pour along the top letting it form a thin coating
4. pour the same or different color across the film, but inches away from the top. The tail is the band near the top and the thicker 2nd layer/pour will be the body
5. cut the shape and size you want with a box cutter razor blade
6. holding the shape by the thin 'tail', dip the 'body' in heated plastic until the body is thick enough - about 1/8" (an example is how candles were made the old fashioned way - dipping to make the candle thicker). Note: plastic that is too hot will melt the body rather than make it thicker and if so wait until it cools a bit
7. have a shallow dish of water handy to cool the body in order to start on the next lure.
8. the tail can be shaped further with the blade using the glass or tile as a cutting board
Old plastic can be reheated, including used lures. Minnow grub:


Attachment 217848Attachment 217849

The ways to use them has been posted.

Wow! Thanks for the how to. I have a lot of old plastic worms that I can melt down and try now since I crappie fish now mostly and don't bass fish much anymore. And to think all those years I have been just throwing all those old broken and torn up plastic lures and worms away. We are never too old to learn something new.

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

1. heat plastic in a Pyrex cup in the microwave to a temperature that pours easily (IE thin syrup or 280 degrees)
2. I use a glassy surface - ceramic floor tile - that can take the heat
3. tilt the tile or glass surface, pour along the top letting it form a thin coating
4. pour the same or different color across the film, but inches away from the top. The tail is the band near the top and the thicker 2nd layer/pour will be the body
5. cut the shape and size you want with a box cutter razor blade
6. holding the shape by the thin 'tail', dip the 'body' in heated plastic until the body is thick enough - about 1/8" (an example is how candles were made the old fashioned way - dipping to make the candle thicker). Note: plastic that is too hot will melt the body rather than make it thicker and if so wait until it cools a bit
7. have a shallow dish of water handy to cool the body in order to start on the next lure.
8. the tail can be shaped further with the blade using the glass or tile as a cutting board
Old plastic can be reheated, including used lures. Minnow grub:


Attachment 217848Attachment 217849

The ways to use them has been posted.

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They look like some mighty fine looking baits that you have made up I'm sure that they will definitely catch fish I hope to see more of your work I'm always interested in somebody that's utilizing scraps that they normally would throw away.

Nice idea and write-up Spoon...I will make some of these and give them a try...I will also make some for my buddies that ice fish!

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I hope to see more of your work I'm always interested in somebody that's utilizing scraps that they normally would throw away.

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Be careful of the plastic you reheat that comes from purchase lures. Not all will cook well with new plastisol from a jug. Plus color will be altered and maybe look muddy depending on colors mixed.

Attachment 217863Attachment 217862Attachment 217861Attachment 217860Attachment 217864

Body and tail design optional as is any color you want to use.
Same process for all.
You could say I have a thing for them...Attachment 217865

Things for the post. I have been looking for something like this. Will let you know how it goes for me.

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Originally Posted by etexbasser

Things for the post. I have been looking for something like this. Will let you know how it goes for me.

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Looking forward to it!

Looks great by why not just get a 2.5" mo magic mold or something???

Attachment 218618

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Originally Posted by DrNip

Looks great by why not just get a 2.5" mo magic mold or something???

Attachment 218618

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is the one on the other side of the mo bait a Jacob bait.

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Originally Posted by DrNip

Looks great by why not just get a 2.5" mo magic mold or something???

Attachment 218618

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is the one on the other side of the mo bait a Jacob bait. mo bait is a top-notch producer I know for a fact because I've got a wide variety of fish on it we have caught perch bluegill crappie and smallmouth bass also channel catfish.

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why not just get a 2.5" mo magic mold or something?

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Have the Mo Magic mold and though the lure design works, there are design differences that don't work as well for me in colder water or when fish are turned off. Just an opinion not based on another angler using another design along side mine, though in in fact in warm water both have worked equally well for a friend of mine.

1. As seen from above, my design is uniformly thin front to back and closer to a minnow in shape and action of any soft plastic. (Mann company produces one, but it's not the same). Besides, I sometimes prefer a shorter tail to body ratio or one sometimes equal. My body thickness preference is as thin as the hook will take. The ribbed bodied grub you show is more to my liking and I have used it with success. I sometimes also like making a wider body top to bottom - kind of like a small sun fish shape. Who knows what the lateral line detects in cloudy water?

2. Lure making isn't for everyone and for those not wishing to invest in an injector or different molds sizes, the method shared allows one to whip up a few lures in no time in different shapes, sizes and colors with little invested.

3. I haven't found a mold maker that would make a specialty mold for less than $500 each. I make my lure in 1" (for ice), 2", 2 1/4", 2 1/2", 2 3/4" and 3" sizes.

4.Color variety is to my liking and not the limited selection from companies that sell them. I have never seen the colors I use sold anywhere.

No one sells the lures locally from the molds you show and though both designs are sold on EBAY, each is sold at prices even I wouldn't charge, not including S/H. A gallon of plastic will last years and plastic lures can be remelted.

This assumes that one lure in one color and size won't always work. Most of the time it will, but I'm a bit superstitious and like to rotate through the above lure variables, which is why I carry quite a few. Most times one box of a dozen is enough (never the big one pictured of course).

If you bass fish, there is no better drop shot worm design. Curl tail worms and grubs have lost their appeal and I do far better with thin straight tails quivering in place - especially under a float.

Design (dimensions) and color versatility is what attracts me to making my own and what an angler uses is at times as important to him or her as where and how they use it.

Okay I see.

Yes it's a Jacobs 2.5" Willow tail I asked him to make.

Jacobs is good and IMO a bit better than Mo Magic at times. The ribbed body doesn't have much to do with it, but the tail design is one I hope to duplicate in my floor tile pours after I use up ones given to me. I have no idea why the injection mold is 40% higher in price and the finished lure priced higher on-line.

I go nuts modifying soft plastic, so here's one you might consider:
Take a Mo Magic grub and make two slices in the tail. The pill shaped grub body is perfect for the new three pronged tail and has been working better for me in cold water than the original tail. The tail to body ratio is now different and object vulnerability maybe somewhat improved. Just saying....

I have modified the MM2.5 many ways. I like the versatility and trim it down. Great idea on making baits. You out of the box!

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Originally Posted by ifish

I have modified the MM2.5 many ways. I like the versatility and trim it down. Great idea on making baits. You out of the box!

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Like to hear some of your mods!

I got a couple of these and been trying them out. So far I like them. The most productive use for me has been to use them on brush. I cast out there, wait until the desired depth, then start my retrieve as per the instructions. My latest test was yesterday, I caught over 20 fish, and my three largest were on the thin straight tail. All three fish weighed 1.5 pounds. The water temp was 56 degrees, and the water was stained. Brush was in 5-7 FOW. My nest test will to be tight line them. I do have to admit, t first I was skeptical, but after yesterday I will be ordering some more.If you have not tried these I suggest to get a handful, I don't think you will be let down.

Thanks for the report! It is truly a design for all scenarios and fish species.
I have never sold any and wouldn't know what to charge. I would sell some to anglers that really like them, but mass production using the above process is very time consuming; colors, except basic solid colors or clear with flake, might not be uniform batch after batch. I get a big charge when anglers are blown away by this lure, the same as myself.

Now, there are thin straight tail grubs and prong tail grubs - none exactly like mine and in my experience none as successful. Yesterday I used a Bobby Garland Shad - a prong tail grub - for twenty minutes, anchored in 10'. One perch. Cast the above design and caught 2- 3 fish per area cast that held fish and of different species - strikes on bottom easily detected! Water temp 46.
Note: I don't usually catch that many perch (over two dozen) even in warm water!