Hand Crafted
Custom Fishing Lures
by Richard Arnold
I'm Richard Arnold. I learned to fish when I was a mere guppie. An important lesson that I learned is that, no matter what you fish with, you have to have confidence in your lures, and you can't buy confidence. You have to practice practice practice.
I started making lures because I knew that I could get better results with different lure combinations. After years of testing, I've come up with my favorite combinations. These are my confidence lures.
The biggest Bass I ever caught on one of my lures was a 13 lb. Bass at Purtis Creek Lake in Texas.
Which is the best lure for you?
RADDL-SKI-DADDL Lures - Shad-type baits with a very loud rattle. These lipless crank baits are countdown lures. Throw them out and count the drop. These lures sink rather than dive. Bass love 'em.
Fish pick up the rattle of this lure from long distances. Bass are a lot like sharks. They are predatory fish. That's why their strike is so strong; they are trying to knock-out their prey.
I use Mustad triple-grip treble hooks to make these lures.
Spinnerbaits - are contact lures that can be fished at any depth, and they're great in shallow water. These are the most commonly used lures.
You can feel this lure coming through the water. I use Mustad hooks on these lures. Mustad hooks are the finest hooks made.
The flash of the blade mimics the shad that fish usually feed on and triggers a strike.
The best way to use Spinnerbaits is to bounce it off of a tree stump or other cover in the water, which will trigger a strike.
Use in cloudy weather with a slight wind. Use with moderate or slow retrieval speed.
Buzz Baits - are top water lures. They are a great lure to use in the early morning and late afternoon, when fish are in the shallows feeding.
The best way to use this lure, is to keep retrieving the bait to keep it on top of the water. Great for use in stumps, lilly pads, lay-downs, heavily matted grass.
Bass love cover because they don't have eyelids. When the sun is out, they are always under cover to protect their eyes. On cloudy days, Bass still prefer cover, but will venture further out.
Football Jigs - More Big Bass have been caught on Football Jigs than any other lure.
These lures are designed to use in heavy cover. The lure drops to the bottom and you just jig it back. Cast it out, let it sink to the bottom, then retrieve it slowly so it bounces (jigs) across the bottom.
Excellent for cold weather. When you're in heavy cover, drop the jig and vertical drag it (up and down). You can also flip it up under boat docks and retrieve it slowly.