| No one knows for sure how old the art of
catching fish on artificial lures actually is. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics
dating before 3500 B.C. show fishermen taking fish on fishing lures made
from shells and bronze. These hieroglyphics show the use of ancient fishing
rods as well as handlines. In North America, numerous examples can be found
where Native Americans regularly used bare hook fishing lures constructed
of bone and shell. Since fishermen have been building their own lures for
centuries, you may ask, why have we made this publication? The answer is
simple, really. In recent years more and more anglers have turned to their
local tackle shops and the factory made lures that they supply. Lure building
is becoming a lost art and anglers are missing out on the enjoyment of
catching fish on a lure that they have built with their own hands.
Todays lure maker can create his or her own spinner designs,
joining different body and blade combinations for specific water and fishing
conditions. We know that, to be successful, a lure doesn’t have to imitate
a living form of aquatic life. Somehow, in a way mysterious to us, a bit
of shiny metal spinning through the water triggers the strike reflex in
a fish. Does it appear as a substance that’s 1) edible to the fish, or
2) as an intruder that generates anger on the part of the fish? We don’t
know why, it just does.
For some time now hardware fishermen (those who use spinners,
spoons, etc...) have been content to simply go to the local tackle store
and purchase their lures. Most fly fishermen on the other hand, regularly
tie their own flies. Why is that? The answer seems to lie in a couple of
areas. 1) For the hardware fisherman the supply of quality components required
for assembling spinners is not generally available at the tackle store
while fly tying materials abound. 2) Many people are unfamiliar with just
how quick and easy it is to produce a quality spinner. One that looks just
as good and fishes just as good (we think better) as a factory made spinner.
The other factor that many fishermen don’t understand is the cost savings
associated with producing their own spinners. As in the case with
the fly tyer, in most cases a spinner (with higher quality components than
a factory lure) can be produced for about 50 - 75% less than a factory
made lure. It can be made in about 3 miniutes or less and it can be done
right on the water with a pair of needle nose pliers as the only tool required.
The economics of building your own spinners becomes evident if you’ve ever
been on a backcountry fishing expidition in Alaska or Canada. What do you
do when the fishing is really hot, you lose your last lure and there is
no local tackle shop where you can re-stock your depleted supply? Having
a good supply of quality components from Aslyn Enterprises in your vest
or box is the perfect solution to this dilema |
