Fillable Fishing Lure

This was an idea based on two problems. 1: This catfish bait that I use really works, but doesn't have the shape to attract fish (plus I have to re-hook some more if it was stolen), and 2: These lures eventually draw fish, but it takes longer than live bait. This was my solution.

You will need:

thick foam board

aluminum foil

pocket knife

some sort of drill (or a slender screw)

a weight

stink bait

This first step is know your enemy. You need to plan on what kind of fish you're trying to catch. I was hoping for a catfish or a bass, but you might want something bigger, smaller, or saltwater. Get out a fish guide if needed and study what your fish is going to chase.

Now that you know what the fish eats, you need to make it. I stuck with a minnow for the sake of simplicity, but Crawfish, frogs, or bugs are also available to make. This requires just easy whittling skills and a pocket knife.

Drill a hole into your lure with whatever you're using. Make sure it's deep enough that your weight stays completely in. You're also going to drill into the top of the lure to get the bait in. If your two holes come together, don't worry. Just make sure that you put the weight in before the bait so you don't push the bait out the other side.

Nothing attracts a fish the way shiny things do. Wrap the foil around and pinch the end so it doesn't come loose. I twisted the tail of my minnow and I'm pretty sure it made the whole thing wiggle when it swam. I wasn't expecting it, but it actually made it look like it was swimming.

Now this is actually important. Hook your lure through the head so that the end of the hook points away from the rest of the body. When the fish bites and pulls, the hook should get stuck in the roof of its mouth.

Happy fishing!