BUZZBAIT


“PEOPLE SAY MY LURES ARE TOO PRETTY TO FISH,” SAYS LURE BUILDER LARRY WENTWORTH, “I TELL


THEM THAT I CAN ALWAYS MAKE MORE.” PHOTO: LAWRENCE WENTWORTH II


Traditional lure makers are bringing arts and crafts to kayak fishing GOT WOOD?


Larry Wentworth hit the beach at the right time. Schools of striped bass and bluefish were driving menhaden into the shorebreak. “I caught 35, maybe 40 fish, I lost count,” he recalls, “some of the striper were over 25 pounds.” Even better, he caught the fish on a lure that he built in his garage. Wooden lure building is a long tradition in the Northeast. Surf anglers


have been tinkering with swimmers, poppers and needlefish since the Second World War. What started as a way to build tougher, stronger and bigger lures for striped bass, bluefish and red drum, turned into an art and even a business for the most talented builders. Now, Wentworth (www.plugchucker.com) and other innovators are taking the techniques and designs to kayak fishing and freshwater species. Wentworth has modified time-tested striper lures to target largemouth bass.


“I’ll make the lure smaller, or reposition the weight until I get it perfect.” The seven- to nine-inch striper lures can weigh up to four ounces, so Wentworth makes his patterns smaller to target freshwater species. “The one-ounce pencil popper is a fish-slayer in the kayak,” he says, “the smaller size is easier to cast and work when I’m sitting low to the water.” Lure maker and kayak angler, Ryan Smith (www.rmtackle.com), loves to


modify his designs to match the current bait scenario. Some years the striped bass are feeding on large bunker. “I’ll whip up some Dannys or Giants,” he says. Other times, big bass are eating sand eels or anchovies. “I’ll answer with a needlefish or a smaller swimmer.” Even after the lure is finished, Smith can tune it by bending the lip or line-tie to make the plug dive deeper or wobble


harder. Smith can even tune a casting plug to troll out of his kayak. Most wooden plugs are carved out of Alaskan yellow cedar, which is


naturally buoyant and water resistant. Then the wood is stained or painted and sealed. Wentworth and Smith airbrush wild patterns and colors on their plugs. “Mostly to catch anglers,” Wentworth jokes, “you can get started with a couple cans of spray paint.” It only takes a table lathe and a few basic tools to get in the game. “You can


even hand-carve lures,” Wentworth adds. He recommends a bench-mounted drill press to run internal components. Hooks and hardware can be ordered through tackle supply companies and countless blogs and forums are dedicated to the art and skill of wooden lure building. There are even clubs and swap meets. “I get together with other plug builders and go fishing all the time,” Wentworth says, “there’s a culture of lure makers.” What started as a way to save a few bucks turned into a way to make a few


bucks for these anglers. “I ended up quitting my day job and going full-time into lure building,” Smith says. Now he sells lures through the mega-forum Stripersonline.com. Wentworth also turned his hobby into a business. “Before I knew it my plugs


were in stores from Jersey to Maine.” For most anglers, lure building is only a hobby, a hobby that can pay off on the water. “Catching a fish on your own plug is a rush,” Wentworth buzzes, “it never gets old.” RIC BURNLEY


DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to watch a video introduction to lure making. www.kayakanglermag.com … 13


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84