As an expert angler, you understand that having the right gear is crucial to your success on the water. To elevate your game and fish like the pros, consider creating your own custom fishing lures using Mack’s Lure tackle components.
This guide will explore how to assemble effective lures for popular species in the Northwest and Great Lakes Midwest regions, including walleye, trout, salmon, and kokanee. We’ll dive into specific presentations, color options, and resources for building your own lures.
Personalization: You can tailor your lures to match the local forage patterns and water conditions.
Cost-Effectiveness: Building your own lures can be more economical than purchasing pre-made ones, especially if you fish frequently.
Creativity: Experimenting with different designs allows you to innovate and find unique combinations that attract fish.
VIDEO - Mack's Lure CEO, Bob Schmidt, demonstrates how to use a Smile Blade to protect your rod tip and guides while also adding attaction to your favorite trolling setup.
Mack’s Lure provides a variety of components that allow you to create versatile and effective lures. View Components Catalog
Smile Blades: These attractor blades come in multiple sizes (0.8, 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, and 2.8) and an array of colors, including Sparkle, Tiger, Mirror, and High UV. Smile Blades are perfect for adding flash and vibration to your presentations. Smile Blade Collection
Beads: Using different colored and UV beads in conjunction with Smile Blades can enhance your lure’s visibility and create more enticing presentations.
Glo Hooks and Swivels: Quality hooks are essential for ensuring solid hook sets. Mack’s Lure offers glo hooks and bead chain swivels to suit your custom setups.
Weights: Utilizing weights will allow you to achieve the desired depth for your lures, especially when targeting specieslike walleye and salmon.
For walleye, you can create a simple yet effective rig using a Smile Blade combined with a live bait hook.
Setup: Use a Smile Blade (size 0.8 or 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9) in colors like Hot Pink/Silver Tiger or Gold Sparkle, paired with a bead and a live bait hook.
Technique: Troll slowly (1/4 mph) to allow the blade to turn effectively. This setup is particularly effective during the early and late seasons when walleye are more lethargic.
Creating a custom trout lure requires finesse and attention to detail.
Setup: Combine a smaller Smile Blade (size 1.1, 1.5) with a selection of beads in bright colors (such as Chartreuse Scale) and a treble hook.
Technique: Use a casting or trolling approach, allowing the blade to spin and create a disturbance in the water, which attracts trout.
For salmon, a larger Smile Blade paired with a rig that can handle the power of these fish is key.
Setup: Use a Smile Blade (size 1.5, 1.9 or 2.8) in colors like Hot Pink Mirror or Silver Scale, and combine it with a larger bead and a heavy-duty hook.
Technique: Fish this rig in deeper waters using a downrigger or lead core line. The added flash and vibration from the Smile Blade will draw in salmon from a distance.
Kokanee fishing requires a specialized approach, and custom lures can make all the difference.
Setup: Use a Smile Blade (size .08 or 1.1) in UV colors, paired with a small bead and a single hook or small treble hook.
Technique: Troll at slower speeds (1-1.5 mph) behind a boat or use a light jigging motion from the shore. Kokanee are often attracted to UV colors during low-light conditions, making them effective for early morning or late evening fishing.
If you’re one of those anglers who likes to rig custom tackle, here are some suggestions on how to utilize Mack’s Lure components effectively:
Small Spoons: Many anglers assume that small spoons wiggle properly when trolled, but they often don’t perform well at speeds of 1/2 to 1 mph. The solution? Run a Smile Blade up your leader followed by two small (4 mm) beads, then tie directly to the spoon’s split ring. This will create a lively low-speed lure that’s perfect for kokanee.
The All-Purpose Smiley Rig: This rig consists of a length of leader (6 lb or heavier), a Smile Blade, two small beads, and a ring-eye baitholder hook. For a worm application, nip off a length of worm equal to one and a half times the length of the hook shank and run it up to the hook eye. This setup provides incredible real-food action while trolling.
The Minnow Helper: When trolling a dead minnow, it can quickly lose its liveliness. Use the Smiley rig described above to keep your minnow looking lively. Hook the minnow through the jaw and out the top of the nose, or use a light wire, short-shanked hook to keep the minnow active.
Trolling a Fly with 'Tude': Trolling flies can be productive, and using a Smile Blade instead of a ring-eye hook can create an enticing presentation. Flies like wooly worms, wooly buggers, and marabou streamers in dull colors (like black or moss green) can be effective. The effective Smile Blade Fly features a modified woolly bugger pattern and an interchangeable Smile Blade with proven versatility and fish-catching abilitie.
Experiment with Color Combinations: Different colors attract different species. Always have a selection of Smile Blade colors and bead combinations to find what works best for your local waters.
Adjust Blade Angles: Each Smile Blade can be tuned for different presentations. A wider angle creates a slow roll, while a narrower angle produces a more aggressive shake. Adjust this based on the conditions and the fish’s mood.
Use Quality Materials: Ensure that you have high-quality hooks, swivels, and line to maximize your chances of landing the fish you catch.
To further enhance your lure-building skills, check out these informative YouTube channels that provide step-by-step guides to creating custom lures:
Mack’s Lure YouTube Channel: Offers a variety of instructional videos on using their products effectively, including how to rig Smile Blades and other components.
By utilizing Mack’s Lure tackle components, expert fishermen can create custom lures that are tailored to their specific fishing needs. Whether targeting walleye, trout, salmon, or kokanee, the ability to fine-tune your presentations and match the local forage will elevate your fishing game. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different setups and colors, and leverage online resources to stay informed and inspired. Happy fishing, and may your custom lures bring you even greater success on the water!
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