Luremaking: The Art and Science of Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, Jigs, and Other Leadheads (Paperback)

by A. D. Livingston (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Far from your typical how-to, the author offers colorful anecdotes and some history of the lures. What I liked best was Livingston's attention to detail... This book is a good read whether or not you ever own a lead pot and molds." -- Bassin

Product Description
This is a complete course in the art and science of making America's most popular fishing lures, written by a master of the art. The ultimate tackle tinker's guide, Luremaking shows how to make lures for enticing bass and all other types of fresh and saltwater fish for 5% the cost of store-bought lures--and for catching more fish!

Product Details

• Paperback: 161 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (October 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070381526
• ISBN-13: 978-0070381520
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,697,513 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making your own lures: the master explains!, August 19, 2000

By	Peter Vanmier (St. Louis, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My first spinnerbait I got as a kid for my birthday. I knew that from that moment on I was going to catch a lot more fish ... I loved that spinnerbait. Of course, I lost it soon thereafter. Back in the store where it came from (after I had finally persuaded my father to buy me another), I asked for an identical lure, but they were all sold out, and never again did I see this particular kind of spinnerbait.... bummer! So when I discovered, years later, as a teenager that one could make one's own lures, I was exillerated and got to it right away. I located the right parts, got them and made myself a new spinnerbait just like the one I once lost. However, it didn't catch as much as it did before, so I started to work on it. Replaced the blade with others, added beads of different color, and pretty soon I had a whole range of spinnerbaits. As I was then (and still am), I wanted to read all there was on the topic, but there was little. A few chapters in books, an article or so in a fishing magazine, but that was it .... no comprehensive books about making spinnerbaits.

But things have changed. This book by 'luremaker par excellence', A.D. Livingston, is written for just those who want to make their own spinnerbaits. That is, lure making not just by assembling them from store-available parts, but by understanding their working and applications. The book deals with the making of jigs, leadheads, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and how to dress them and turn them into catching lures. A well written text (14 chapters, 161 pages) laced with numerous clarifying drawings that explain what a million words cannot, make this book to a reference work for anyone who makes lures, amateur or professional alike.

The first four chapters offer an introduction to the making of spinnerbaits, the components they're made of, and what makes them work. Chapter five is about how to rig spinnerbaits, a topic that seems simple enough, but one that's critical to the proper funcitioning of these lures. The following chapters (7-9) are about buzzbaits, in-line spinnerbaits, jigs and how to design one's own. Chapter nine deals with the making of lead heads, working with lead and molds, some trouble shooting and most importantly with safety precautions to be taken while working with lead. Lure dressing is discussed at length in chapters 10 and 11. 'Working with wire' is the title of chapter 12, which not only tells about the various ways to work the wire, but also about tools that are available to do it with. The final two chapters (13-14) deal with other leadheads and rigs that were not covered elsewhere in the book. The book ends with a single appendix: 'Sources of Materials, Components, and Tools', a most welcome source of information for the beginner and the more advance luremaker. It is a listing of some 46 manufacturers, shops and supply houses that offer wide ranges of materials for luremaking.

The strength of this book is that it explains in depth how spinnerbaits work, and why they are designed the way they are. This is done with such clarity that few questions remain. Those that remain are the interesting ones, they are the questions that 'when answered' make the difference between catching fish and catching more. So, this book is highly recommended for those who like to make lures, and those that aim to increase their fishing gains. Get this book while you can, you're in a much better position now than I was as a teenager looking for any old book on luremaking.

Recommended other reading on luremaking:

** Angler's Guide To Jigs And Jigging, by Kenn Oberrecht. Stoeger Publishing Co., 1982, New York (ISBN: 0-88317-161-9).

** The Complete Book Of Tackle Making, by C. Boyd Pfeiffer. Lyons Press, 1999, New York (ISBN: 1-55821-721-5)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want new, better designs, increased confidence & success?, December 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Luremaking: The Art and Science of Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, Jigs, and Other Leadheads (Paperback)

Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and jigs all belong to the same family. The bass jig itself is a basic tool that works "on the drop" and then on the bottom. The spinnerbait is a specialized form of the bass jig that works well in mid-water applications from slow-rolling just above bottom to bulging or waking just below the surface - and every depth in between. The buzzbait is a specialized form of bass jig that works best as a topwater surface commotion lure. With just these three lures, an angler - you - can face and be successful in any bass angling situation. Long term, it is in the best interest of your bass fishing success to study this book. Even if you do not intend to make them yourself, you will benefit from studying all the many factors and variations in the basic anatomy of these fish-catching creations.

And if you do intend to make them yourself, as I do, then you've got everything you need to know in this book.