Homemade Lure

Even though I don't have high-tech lure-making capabilities, I still enjoy making my own custom lures with readily available and inexpensive components. Here are the materials needed to make my favorite "dolphin slayer:"

1 6- to 8-inch translucent rubber octopus skirt
1 1/2- to 1-ounce egg sinker
1 SeaWitch
1 split ring (sized to the hook)
1 spinner blade with swivel
A double-hook rig of your choice
Spacing beads

To make this lure, feed 50- to 80-pound mono through the skirt head and thread the sinker onto the line. Add the spacer beads and SeaWitch and then more spacer beads so that the trailing hook on the double-hook rig will just reach the end of the skirt. Crimp the double-hook rig into place, then add the split ring and spinner to the trailing hook.
This lure design lets you mix and match your skirt and SeaWitch colors and works well for wahoo, kings and tuna as well as slammer dolphin. The spinner blade gives game fish a good target so you rarely get missed strikes.

James E. Gertz
Fort Lauderdale, Florida