Making wobblers is an interesting and quite accessible activity for every angler. With a little carpentry and plumbing skills, you can make a fairly effective bait that can lure fish with its action and attractive appearance, similar to a real food object. Translating the idea into reality will not require much time, and the material part, taking into account the equipment and tools suitable for the work, is not anything special. Materials and tools for making wobblers can be found in almost every household, especially since most avid fishermen, as a rule, do not neglect the possibilities of making homemade products that can increase the efficiency of any type of fishing and save the family budget.
The article presented to the reader will cover in detail the issues of making wobblers at home. It will offer the fisherman directions in choosing the most suitable materials for these purposes and determine the set of tools necessary to complete the work. After familiarizing yourself with this information, the spinning angler will be able to replenish his arsenal of baits with a unique exclusive wobbler endowed with individual playing qualities.
Advantages and disadvantages of homemade products
Handmade wobblers are, first of all, cheap. In the second, you can make baits in different colors and unlimited quantities. In addition, some homemade products can even be superior to factory-made products.
Still, you need some skill and possibly experience. The first time you try, you may not get the intended product, but over time you can get the hang of it. Disadvantages include the time spent on production and, in some cases, wasted nerves. Handwork requires effort and labor.
Shaping
The main preparations are done. Next, let's get creative. We plan out the shape of the wobbler you like from the blank - this process must be done very carefully - using a sharp knife we gradually give it the shape.
Next comes the final finishing with abrasive. I use porous stone and skins of different grains.
Recommended materials at hand
There are a lot of materials from which you can make homemade wobblers. The most commonly used are wood, toothbrush handle, foam, plastic, etc.
Tree
It is recommended to use pine. It is lightweight, accessible and easy to process. Pay attention to the wood grain. They should be located lengthwise. Alder and linden can also be processed.
Toothbrush
Almost every person has an unnecessary toothbrush. You don't even need to spend money to do this. True, in this case there is a drawback. This is a limited length. It will not be possible to make a large bait from a brush.
Styrofoam
Polystyrene foam is also a fairly common material that can be found without problems. Well, if you couldn’t find it for free, you can buy it at a hardware store for mere pennies. Its main advantage is its ease of shaping. It can be easily cut with a knife.
Plastic bottle
Yes, you can make a wobbler at home from this material. It is easy to cut out the desired shape and elements from it. It is even possible to install a noise chamber. The frame is created using easily bendable wire, and the eyes are made of aluminum rivets.
You don’t even have to paint the plastic, because bottles come in different colors. It is enough to choose the desired color.
Foam rubber
The bait turns out to be quite effective, but each fishing session violates the integrity of the product. In this case, you need to have several ready-made baits in stock. Also disadvantages are excessive absorption of moisture, which leads the product to the bottom and the lack of realistic play. But it is quite possible to catch pike or perch.
Epoxy resin
Epoxy wobblers are quite durable. The predator will not be able to cause serious damage to them. True, manufacturing will require a decent amount of time and a certain skill.
Balm
This wood is distinguished by its softness, which means it is easy to process. To make the accessory more durable, it should be treated with varnish. This is especially important at the cutting stage for painting.
Polyurethane foam fish with a tee and a twister tail
This polyurethane foam fish (photo 5) catches perch well in shallow rivers when it goes there after a school of fry in March-April. The polyurethane foam fish itself is very short, so the perch will swallow it without any problems. And the twister tail gives the bait additional attractiveness and lively play.
To make such a fish from polyurethane foam, first cut off the tail from the used twister (photo 5.1). Cut out the body of the fish, three centimeters long (photo 5.2). Then we glue the shirt so that one of its hooks points down (photo 5.3). This makes sense, because very often it is the bottom hook that bites the fish into the tongue and there is practically no chance that it will fall.
Homemade wobblers for different fish species
Before starting work, you need to decide what kind of fish you plan to bait. Each predator has its own habits and characteristics that must be taken into account.
For pike
Homemade wobblers for pike with your own hands can be made from any material. Pike prefers light colors. It is advisable to apply additional contrasting spots and stripes. The size can range from 5 to 15 cm. Depends on the size of the predator itself.
Daniila Rukin
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This predator is known for loving realistic play. This can be achieved by making a composite (of several parts). The elements must be connected by hinges.
On Sudak
Pike perch is a rather cautious fish and therefore you need to pay special attention to homemade fish. He likes noticeable and sharp fluctuations. So the game should correspond to this. The length can be up to 9 cm. You can use the Japanese Jackall Squard wobbler as a template.
For chub
The chub is a lover of fry, crayfish, all kinds of insects and small crabs. Accordingly, the product must be suitable for the above-mentioned animals. Recommended size no more than 5 cm. Natural color. Almost all materials will do except a toothbrush.
For trout
It is recommended to take Salmo Hornet as a sample. The shape should be voluminous, but at the same time small in size. Trout react extremely weakly to large bait. Size no more than 5 cm. As for colors, the predator is unpredictable. Therefore, it is better to do it in different colors (light, dark, acidic) and then contact will be ensured.
For asp
Any material is also suitable. Recommended size up to 3 cm. Particular attention is paid to colors. In spring, asp attack well golden and silver baits. In summer it prefers brown and green tones.
Tools
In order for an angler to make a wobbler, he will need to prepare a number of tools and equipment that will help facilitate and speed up production. To perform the work you will need: a sharpened penknife, a hacksaw for metal or a jigsaw with a fine file, a screwdriver with a set of wood drill bits of various small diameters from 0.5 to 3 mm, pliers, a small hammer, a file with fine notches, needle files, sandpaper 0,1 and 2 numbers of abrasive coating and tweezers. The equipment you will definitely need is a vice that allows you to reliably fix and subsequently comfortably process the workpiece.
Material selection
One wobbler can be made from different materials. For example, the body is from one, and the remaining elements are from another.
Frame
The body is best made of wood. Such an accessory will last much longer than one made from foam rubber or polystyrene.
Blade blade
The blade is needed to attract the attention of the fish. This is an important part of the bait. It is recommended to use plastic or polycarbonate. Transparency does not matter, but the thickness should not be more than 1.5 mm.
Frame
Aluminum wire is best suited for the frame. It bends easily and can be easily given any shape.
Loading
Tungsten balls are used for this. You can adapt it using glue. This is an excellent solution for small baits.
Loading plays a key role in the game and therefore it is important to choose the right weight.
paints and varnishes
Applying colors is important, especially for wooden products. This is additional moisture protection. For these purposes, nitrocellulose varnish is used. It will provide protection for several years, and is also low cost.
Putting it all together
After the workpiece is sanded, we make a loop. To do this you need pliers, round nose pliers and a skein of thread. Well, and, accordingly, the wire.
The loop is made as in the photo according to the size of the bait. After this, the ends are wrapped with thread - this is necessary so that the loop fits tightly into the longitudinal cut.
And insert the loop inside, making sure that the loops protrude evenly.
Next, we take the blade blank and use a thin file to make a small cut in the middle, otherwise the loop will not allow it to go in.
And insert the spatula.
Then secure the blade and loop with a few drops of superglue. After the glue has set, we give the spatula the desired shape. This is best done on sandpaper.
Next, the longitudinal slot is filled with any filler. I use acrylic liquid nails, pressing into the gap with a gun. Once cured, it becomes plastic and can be processed with a file.
How to make a wobbler with your own hands
After selecting the necessary materials and tools, you can begin the main work.
Case manufacturing
The first detail with which all work begins.
Wobbler drawing
A sketch of the wobbler is drawn on paper from different angles. You can view the templates online and print them. A printout will be required to make the outline. It is then applied to the workpiece.
Making a rough model
The product is cut out with a hacksaw or knife. Using a knife, the desired shape is given and the excess parts are cut off. Next comes the sandpaper. The necessary notches are made using a tool (knife) and a file. Then we proceed to finishing using sandpaper.
Victoria Leshchenko
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A wobbler made of soft material is made in two parts. One is thicker and the other is thinner. In Tolstoy, cavities are made for the frame. Both parts are sanded and the frame is installed. We connect the two halves and make a temporary fastening (wire). After a successful test, you can glue the surfaces.
Making a blade
The cut plastic blade should be sanded. It is then attached to the body. Plastic is easier to process, but it is less durable.
Frame
To make it you will need wire. Some use chain-link mesh. Where the tees will be attached, you need to make loops
Assembling a wobbler from solid material
- We install the frame.
- Fill with epoxy.
- The blade is installed.
- We are waiting for the liquid materials to harden.
- We do the finishing touches.
Wobbler tests
You can check it in the bathroom. The assembled tackle is tested for wiring, buoyancy, play, etc.
Assembling bait from soft material
After the test, we remove the frame and begin gluing the parts. Once the product has dried, install the spatula, also using glue. Afterwards we do the finishing treatment to remove any remaining glue.
Adjusting buoyancy and wobbler play
Using improvised means, we temporarily attach weights to the bait and lower them into the water. We observe how the product behaves and by adding or decreasing the load we adjust the buoyancy.
The blade influences the game to a greater extent. We start chasing the bait in the water and watch the game. If you are not satisfied, then change the angle of the blade.
Painting and varnishing of the wobbler
First, the product is coated with a primer, and after drying, paint is applied. Oil or acrylic are suitable. Light colors are applied initially and only then dark ones. Then we draw the eyes. After complete drying, varnish the product.
Finishing
By this we mean giving the bait a “marketable appearance”, i.e. grinding and polishing. This is done using sandpaper.
Made from foam or plastic
Foam or plastic are suitable for quickly making a disposable, but effective bait. The resemblance of an insect, for example, a May beetle, is cut out of the material using a knife or hacksaw blade.
Important! The credibility of the bait is not the most important factor; good presentation and realistic wiring bring good luck.
The cut piece is primed and a rigid wire is threaded through it, forming a fastening loop and an eyelet for mounting a tee. This option is excellent for making a surface bait known to spinning anglers as a non-hooking wobbler.
Manufacturing of wobbler elements
The main part is the body. It is to this that the remaining elements are attached. We will analyze the remaining elements in detail.
Uncoupling
To make a release for wobblers with your own hands, you need to start with a drawing. The simplest details are “Cat”, “Loop”. Suitable for shore fishing. The “breaker” is best used for trolling.
Loading wobblers
You can make the product heavier by replacing the hooks with heavier ones, attaching other metal weights (lead), and enlarging the winding rings.
Wobbler blade
The spatula should be the strongest part. It is better to use metal 12 mm thicker than the body itself. It is easiest to give a metal spatula the desired concavity.
Composite polyurethane foam fish with lurex tail
This polyurethane foam fish (photo 6) has a very valuable property: when it touches the bottom, it still takes a vertical position due to a small cylindrical rod in the tail. Meanwhile, the Lurex's tail swings very seductively in the current, which often leads to a greedy bite from the semi-passive predator.
To make this fish from polyurethane foam, you need to cut out two small pieces about three centimeters long (photo 6.1, 6.2). Then we give one of them the shape of a drop, and the other - a cylindrical one (photo 6.3). Wind a piece of guitar string No. 2 on the tee and leave a small tip for finishing (photo 6.4).
We make two cuts in the drop-shaped element: longitudinal and transverse, for better placement of the T-shaped hooks inside it. Then glue it (photo 6.5).
While the glue dries, make a tail. To do this, cut a piece of lurex 5-6 cm long (photo 6.6). We thread a piece of lurex into the eye of the double hook n. 2-3 (photo 6.7). Using a thread or a piece of old braided fishing line, we secure the lurex to the hook shaft (photo 6.8).
Then blend the lurex with a sewing needle to create a fluffy tail (photo 6.9). We fix the tail on a small rope (photo 6.10). Then we install the barrel (photo 6.11).
Finally, we connect both parts of the polyurethane foam composite fish (photos 6.12 and 6.13). As a result, the bait turns out to be very mobile (photo 6.14).
Hinged composite polyurethane foam fish with two tees
Another type of fish with a polyurethane foam joint, equipped with two treble hooks (photo 7). Its use is very effective when a predator attacks in a strictly defined place of the bait, for example, in the tail or head. And it is in these places that the polyurethane foam fish have T-shirts, so the chances of the fish getting away with impunity are much less.
So first we need to cut out an empty space in the shape of a small fish, like the one we cut out to make the fish with a double. Then cut the fish approximately in half (photo 7.1).
We connect two tees with a guitar string, based on the size of the future fish (photo 7.2). We cut off a piece (photo 7.3), having first tested where the hook will be in order to create a cross-section in this place.
We insert hooks with wire reinforcement and glue them (photo 7.4). After the glue has dried, the fish is painted with felt-tip pens (photo 7.5).
As you can see, the process of making a fish from polyurethane foam with your own hands is very simple, and anyone can do it. The main thing is that this makes sense, because foam rubber and vibrating tails, which are not always familiar to everyone, can provoke fishing for pike perch or passive pike. And polyurethane foam fish, thanks to the specific properties of the material, can awaken even the most stubborn predator.
Classification
Wobblers have a classification that is quite difficult to remember, which divides them into several varieties with English names depending on certain parameters.
Based on buoyancy, baits are divided into three types.
- Floating (floating). When retrieving, it submerges slightly into the water column. As soon as the movement stops, it floats up.
- Sinking (sinking). After casting, it immediately dives into the depths. This occurs due to additional loading, which is located inside the housing.
- Suspending (literal translation - suspended). After casting, it sinks into the middle layers of water and hangs there.
Important! The words "fast" or "slow" may be added to the names above. They mean that the bait behaves more intensely in the water than the standard one.
For example, a wobbler marked fast floating floats up very quickly.
According to the degree of depth during retrieval, baits are divided into:
- superficial;
- medium immersion;
- deep-sea.
Depending on their shape, wobblers are also divided into several types. The most common are the following:
- poppers - have an oblique cut in the front part, which allows you to simulate the movements of the food object;
- minnow - a long thin bait with a blade, reminiscent of juvenile bleak;
- shad - a more rounded bait, similar to a fry of carp fish (roach, rudd, bream);
- crank - an almost spherical version, which is similar in shape and movements to a young perch;
- jerk – oblong, but at the same time round, with thinning in the tail area.
Wobblers have a difficult-to-remember classification in English.
The products also differ in size. It is selected depending on the size of the fishing object.
