Maybe my brain storm was just a light breeze. Seems like a lot of folks had the same idea. If you watch any fishing shows on TV, you see products that catch tons of fish. The current one is the "Banjo Minnow," a soft minnow-like lure that you twitch and jerk and make it entice bass.
It is much like a trick worm or even more like a Zoom Fluke, both of which have been around for a long time. The big difference in what I saw on TV was the rippling action and more movement. At first I thought it was because the bait was softer. Then they showed the whole "kit" and the screw eyes and weedless hooks it uses.
I think getting the hook out of the body of the bait lets it move and flex more. The eye also allows the bait to swing on the hook, unlike a hook tied directly to the line. Walter agreed with me. They had thought of the same thing.
There is no doubt the "Banjo Minnow" will catch lots of fish. A banjo pick tied to a hook and fished in the right place would catch fish. The Fluke is a popular bait and it works well. Why order something for three prices when you can put your own together? It should work just as well.
The weedless hooks shown on TV are made with small rubber bands. You can do the same with the little rubber bands for teeth braces. Fold it, stick the doubled end through the eye of the hook, loop it back through itself and pull the free end down over the barb of the hook. I have used this trick for years. You can also buy the weedless hooks with a wire weedguard.
Just remember, this is from a fisherman with a 19 foot bass boat so full of worms, spinnerbaits and crankbaits you can't walk from the front to the back. I have cardboard boxes full of unopened worms and other baits in my garage. Many times I have bought packs of worms because they looked good and then never used them.
I have also fallen victim to the ads on TV. Yes, I have some Flying Lures in my boat. They would probably work as good as my slider rigs if I would just use them. I have the "Tornado," a spinnerbait with a different kind of blade advertised on TV a few years ago. I used it some. It looks good. I never caught a fish on it.
I don't have a Pocket Fisherman though. Although I get picked at for the number of rods I carry on a fishing trip, I never fell for the Pocket Fisherman. Maybe that is what I need!
Ever make or adapt your own lures? Tell me about it. Share what you think about changing lures or making your own. Do you have any comments to offer? You can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post but can read the board as a guest. Also, if you have thoughts you want to share about this topic, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale"
