Cutting stainless steel blades can be time consuming, and difficult to boot with a hack saw or even a bandsaw. 

My method of choice is a plasma cutter, and then use a air tool die grinder to clean off the dross from the cut, shape the end and clean it up real quick.  Then over to the buffing wheel with compound to get out most of the grinding marks and put a polish over the entire handle for a good shine under water. 

Third time's the charm.  I think the forum hated my pics.  Opened a photobucket, try three. 

I don't have any spare knives but I did have some extra wrenches.  First attempt.  I'll get/make some rings and split rings shortly.

That one is 3.9 oz.  I've got a few others in different sizes.  I'm thinking about adding a couple small sockets or old keys to it somewhere out of reach of the hook for added noise and flash.

great thread!

Quote from: Matt M on May 22, 2017, 07:43:41 AM

This is an awesome idea and one I would probably spend the better part of a gloomy Sunday afternoon building 10 of these only to continue using my swim baits like I always do. I really need to branch out sometimes.

One way to force yourself to try new tackle, is to tie that tackle on your rod and connect the hook to somewhere near your reel before you leave home.

So you will at least get some use out of it before switching over to something else.

Definitely! I did that with my last trip (for bass) out and it paid off well learning a new technique that worked well. I am a firm believer in "if it 'aint broke don't fix it" but sometimes I get stuck doing the same thing. Will have to try this the next time.

Hey Matt, what kind of swim baits are you using?  I'd like to give it a try.  I have no doubt these diy lures will work after last time out and getting all my fish on similar store bought lures.  For me half the fun of fishing is seeing what else works, especially if it's a fly I tied myself or in this case a shiny hunk of metal with a hook.  Give it a shot, you might be surprised.

Without digressing from the main thread too much I typically use Lancer Jigs and have used Big Hammer swimbaits as well. Both have worked well, but I am partial to Lancer Jigs as they've been fishy for me personally.

I was just thinking that instead of using tape and such to decorate my knife/wrench jigs that I could just put on the hook and slide on a swimbait for a combo effect.

I've done that with my chewed up swimbaits. Doesn't seem to make much difference, but it looks kind of cool.

Got a chance to make a few more yesterday.  The tape isn't as sticky as I'd like so I used some of the UV epoxy that I covered the eyes with to seal some of them.  Also, sharpie rubs off really easily so I used black nail polish on some.

Now how are you going to fix the car now?