Here's a topic that we've talked about at various times over the years....but never really went in DEPTH on it.

 

I call it lure "tweaking"...and it is essentially taking a commercially - made lure and making some type of change to it....in an effort to give the fish something a little different.

 

I will be posting pics of some of my creations in the coming weeks.....please feel free to do the same.

 

Here's one I recently found on Ebay for sale. It's a Bayou Boogie / Pico Perch - type lure. Someone swapped the belly hook with the "normal" line tie....resulting in what you see. Never tried it...but it's interesting.

 

 

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

I see you put that topic up like you said in the Rapala topic.

Looks like the lure could work. Its definitely different. I'm ready to see everyones tweaking they have done.

 

The only tweaking I occasionally do is add feathered treble hooks, and I will add red paint to lures if there is none by where the gills should be.

Your variation reminds me of a story of a lure which was designed to be a floater-diver and ended up, with slight modification, a surface lure---the Jitterbug. At least that is what Fred claimed.

I've read the same thing AZ

 

Here's a tweak that a Member did to a Jitterbug....

 

 

 

I'll have MORE tweaks to show you guys in the days ahead

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

I like that one, might work better than the double hook idea I had, it was OK but I still left a Jitterbug in the weeds in a place I could not get to.

one of my favorites you take a jointed crank  and remove the back half
take the treble of the front half  add a split ring to the eye hook that  joined the two half's together 
now add a worm hook to the split ring  and Texas rig a worm  or grub trailer

 another is to simply bend the line tie eye to the right or left  not to much though
you now can run the bait closer to an object or under docks  
usually you want them to run straight but  some times it pays to have them  run to the left or right .


Take a kid fishing "http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/overview"

Here's an Arbogast Mud Bug I found in a tacklebox. Someone took off the original hook and screw eye, then replaced it with parts from an old Arbogast Hula Dancer so that they could put a rubber skirt on the back.

 

 

 

 

For those of you who want to fish r-bend spinnerbaits for pike...and use a leader, take a piece of "twisty-tie" and wrap as shown here. Then trim and wrap excess around the bottom arm.

 

 

 

 

 

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

These are some Rapalas that I have tweeked...

 

 

One reason that I removed the treble hooks is to reduce net damage.  The other reason is that some of the smaller trebles don't hook-up so good; many lost hits.  I have doen this same thing to Rebel baits that I troll with.

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

My tweak to an "r" bend spinner is to slip an appropriatly sized split ring over the bend before attatching my line. Keeps the line where it needs to be. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

I've FINALLY gotten around to digging out a few things for this topic....pics in the next few days  
Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

Actually it is just that. The fish clamps down on the treble and it gets pinned against the lure. You get no chance for a hook up. Fish spits lure out when you least expect it. Hard to believe but happens more often when you troll or simple put a steady retrieve on it. Sometimes the oversized hooks works better, sometimes that single hook works better. You develop a feel for it, once you see how the fish are hooked.

What about the "Sure Set" hooks? The feedback I have falls into the swear by or swear at them category. I have no experience with them but would like to hear something one way or another. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

I have had good luck with just the longer hook doing the hook up. The shorter hooks aren't always the best, the fish can unbuckle them. The metal isn't the best, but it's still better than your standard bronze hooks.

I have a couple of Rapalas with the sureset hooks and have had no problems with them, but I do have a friend that has had his break.

 

I don't know if it was defective or what, but I would be careful.

Here's a few tweaks I've done using fingernail polish.

The Waterdog had paint damage...but I had found a bottle of yellow polish and one of black that fixed it.

 

The "gold" colored Wart was chrome like the other one in the beginning.

 

The spoons are actually 2 thin flutter spoons glued together with Eileen's Tacky Glue....water-proof. I've soaked one of these in the beginning in a glass of water for 3 days without any problems.

 

Dang camera flash doesn't show this stuff well

 

 

 

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

Those look good Dave!  This is what I like about the BB.  Someone is always coming up with new or different ideas on altering tackle so that it may be used again.  The more we tweek the more likely we are to find that "magic" that turns an unused lure into a hot item!
LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Dave, does this mean you found your missing box of nail polish?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Definitely not Cheri...these were done prior to the disappearing act of that box.

 

But I've since reloaded another batch of colors and glitters though

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

Dave wackin those lures with a hammer doesn't count as twekin the lure,and I'm sure that box of paint is in the Basement 
Retired-psg /Infantry,Purple Heart and a Few others, VietNam Vet, Ex Deputy Sheriff SCCSD, and all around good Guy! Living in Wisconsin