What are you trying to make?

 

I started out on the Mister Twister and Beatle Spins. Now I use more worms, split tails and paddle tails. I have a hard time finding the colors and specific shapes I want.

 

This belongs in the bass & panfish section.

 

Does it?
--Plastics for the ocean would belong in Salty Dogs
--Plastics for warm water species would belong in bass & panfish...as you have pointed out.
--Plastics for steelhead (specifically), like pink worms and soft beads would belong in this forum.
--Could go to "Life in General"

Seems like an OK spot to ask the question...and glad---I haven't checked yet---it isn't posted numerous times in multiple forums.
(I do get your point)

 

I'm thinking about making my own custom lures. Can a bloke make enough to pay for the molds, plastic, and colorants?
Is it worth it?

Jim

If the goal is to eventually pay for the materials, I think a guy could try. If the goal is to try and make money as a side hustle I don't think so. The volume would have to be pretty huge and I'd think it would be tough to compete with the commercial outfits.

 

I’d say it has never been more possible than today with the ability to market and sell across the globe with marketplaces like Etsy, Facebook marketplace, etc.

 

my son has a 3d printer and designs his own molds and pours his owns grubs and worms and imitations they look good. but its on a small scale. If you are selling any sort of quantity for the retail world and have to keep up with demand you will need injection molds made and these can carry a heavy price tag depending cavity design and paying for an injection machine to run the parts

 

I had bought some senko and tube style soft plastics from a guy in Texas (Alluring Baits). His stuff was really good and held up much longer than Yamamoto and other soft plastics. I believe he had to close up shop because of patent infringement lawsuit so that is something to consider if you are going to make soft plastics to sell.

 

don't forget to calculate the 10% federal tax applied to fishing gear sold in the US, you'd have to make a poop load of really good worms to make it worth it and be social media savy. my 2C

 

Creating a market for fishing gear is more about catching fishermen than fish. Unique designs and colors is a start but JD is correct.

Make 'em for yourself and maybe some friends as a hobby, forget about the money.

 

Tons of competition in that enterprise. Most of it is just reinventing the wheel. Go win a couple tournaments with a unique bait you've created. That will sell for awhile until the next hot thing comes along. Some good points being brought up, patent law, Dingell-Johnson tax, lot's to consider.

 

you might as well burn $100 bills to light cigarettes with....

 

I'm thinking about making my own custom lures.

Big custom swimbaits are where the opportunity is.

Make a good bait. Develop social media identity with guys catching donkeys on it. Profit.

Or you could pour 100,000 worms.

 

Hey everyone, jumping in here as a fellow newbie! This whole "soft plastics" thing is new to me, but it sounds intriguing. There's something about crafting your own lures that feels way more rewarding than grabbing them off the shelf. Even if they don't catch fish (hey, gotta hone those skills!), at least you know you poured your heart (and maybe some glitter) into them.

Don't know about making "real money" with them though. Seems like a fun hobby, but fishing with your own creations is probably the real treasure. There are probably "real money making apps" out there if that's your goal, but they might not be as fulfilling as catching a lunker with a lure you made yourself.