Lure Gold: The Best Wood for Making Irresistible Lures!

Lure Gold: Unlocking the Secrets to the Best Wood for Lure Making!

Choosing the right wood is paramount when crafting fishing lures. The wood’s density, workability, buoyancy, and ability to hold paint and finishes all impact a lure’s action, durability, and ultimately, its effectiveness in attracting fish. This guide explores the best wood options for lure making, detailing their properties and ideal applications.

Understanding the Key Properties of Lure Wood

Before diving into specific wood types, it’s important to understand the characteristics that make a particular wood suitable for lure creation.

• Buoyancy: A wood’s natural buoyancy dictates how well a lure floats. Controlling buoyancy is crucial for creating lures with specific actions, such as topwater poppers or suspending jerkbaits. Denser woods require more shaping to achieve the desired buoyancy.
• Density: Density affects the lure’s action and casting distance. Denser woods generally allow for longer casts and can create lures with more aggressive action. However, excessive density can lead to a lure that sinks too quickly.
• Workability: How easily the wood can be shaped, carved, sanded, and drilled. Woods with a fine grain and minimal knots are generally easier to work with.
• Grain Structure: A tight, consistent grain structure is essential for strength and preventing cracking, especially when incorporating hardware like hooks and split rings.
• Paint Adhesion: The wood’s ability to hold paint and finishes. Some woods have naturally oily surfaces that require special preparation before painting.
• Durability: Resistance to water damage, rot, and impacts from fish strikes and accidental collisions with rocks.

Top Wood Choices for Lure Making

This section details some of the most popular and effective wood types for creating fishing lures.

Balsa Wood

Balsa wood is renowned for its exceptional buoyancy and lightweight properties.

• Advantages:
  • Extremely buoyant, ideal for topwater lures.
  • Easy to shape and carve, even for beginners.
  • Accepts paint and finishes well.
• Disadvantages:
  • Relatively soft and prone to damage.
  • Requires careful sealing and finishing to prevent waterlogging.
  • Not suitable for lures designed to withstand heavy use or large fish.
• Best For: Small, delicate topwater lures, particularly those with intricate shapes and detailed paint schemes.
• Considerations: Choose a high-quality balsa with a consistent density to ensure consistent buoyancy across multiple lures.

Basswood

Basswood is a popular choice due to its balanced properties and availability.

• Advantages:
  • Moderate buoyancy, suitable for a variety of lure types.
  • Easy to work with, with a fine grain that accepts paint and finishes well.
  • Relatively affordable and readily available.
• Disadvantages:
  • Not as durable as some other hardwood options.
  • Can be prone to water absorption if not properly sealed.
• Best For: General-purpose lures, including crankbaits, jerkbaits, and smaller swimbaits.
• Considerations: Basswood’s consistent density makes it a good choice for replicating lure designs accurately.

Pine

Pine is an easily accessible softwood option for lure making.

• Advantages:
  • Relatively inexpensive.
  • Easy to work with using hand tools.
• Disadvantages:
  • Softer wood, more prone to damage from teeth or rocks.
  • Resin content can sometimes cause issues with paint adhesion.
  • High water absorption rate. Requires careful sealing.
• Best For: Beginners learning to carve lures, or for creating inexpensive practice lures.
• Considerations: Choose a knot-free piece of pine. Kiln-dried pine will be less prone to warping.

Cedar

Cedar offers a good balance of workability, durability, and natural water resistance.

• Advantages:
  • Naturally resistant to rot and decay due to its oils.
  • Relatively easy to work with.
  • Good buoyancy for topwater and shallow-diving lures.
• Disadvantages:
  • Can have a strong odor that may affect fish attraction (though some anglers believe it’s beneficial).
  • Oily surface requires careful preparation before painting.
• Best For: Topwater lures, crankbaits, and jerkbaits intended for use in environments where water resistance is important.
• Considerations: Allow cedar lures to air out thoroughly after carving to allow excess oils to evaporate before painting.

Maple

Maple is a hardwood known for its strength and durability.

• Advantages:
  • Very strong and resistant to damage.
  • Holds detail well, allowing for intricate carvings.
  • Takes paint and finishes well.
• Disadvantages:
  • Denser than other woods, requiring more shaping to achieve desired buoyancy.
  • Can be more difficult to work with than softer woods.
• Best For: Lures designed to withstand heavy use or target larger, more aggressive fish. Deep diving crankbaits and swimbaits.
• Considerations: Maple requires sharp tools and a steady hand to carve effectively.

Comparative Table of Wood Properties

The following table summarizes the key properties of the wood types discussed above.

Wood Type	Buoyancy	Density	Workability	Durability	Paint Adhesion	Best Use
Balsa	High	Low	Very Easy	Low	Excellent	Topwater lures
Basswood	Medium	Medium	Easy	Medium	Excellent	General-purpose lures
Pine	Medium	Medium	Easy	Low	Fair	Practice lures, beginner projects
Cedar	Medium	Medium	Easy	Medium	Good	Topwater, water-resistant lures
Maple	Low	High	Difficult	High	Excellent	Durable lures, deep diving lures

Considerations Beyond Wood Type

Choosing the "best wood for lure making" also involves considering factors beyond the wood itself.

• Sealing: Regardless of the wood type, proper sealing is essential to prevent water absorption and extend the lure’s lifespan. Epoxy resins and waterproof sealers are commonly used.
• Finishing: Applying a durable topcoat protects the paint and adds a professional finish.
• Hardware: The quality of hooks, split rings, and other hardware is just as important as the wood. Choose corrosion-resistant hardware for optimal performance.
• Intended Use: Consider the type of fish you’re targeting and the conditions in which you’ll be fishing when selecting the appropriate wood.

So, whether you’re a seasoned angler or just getting started, remember that choosing the best wood for lure making can really up your game. Happy crafting, and even happier fishing!