I’ve read numerous posters talk about things they do to modify lures.  Many have talked about shortening arms, changing the angle of upper arm, or changing blades on spinnerbaits; changing size of trebles on hardbaits;  drilling holes into cranks to fill with glue to silence rattles; adding rattles to baits; adding weights to diving baits, etc.  

Years ago I repaired a favorite crankbait’s chipped lip by lightly trimming and buffing it. Caught a nice fish with it on its first cast.  Coincidence I know, but it granted me permission to play with lips if I think they need tweaking.  Since then, I’ve frequently trimmed and/or reshaped lips usually to create a shallower presentation, but sometimes to decrease wobble, less often (because it’s a little more difficult) to increase wobble, and in a few cases to reduce hang ups.  I showed a couple of my crankbaits with modified lips to a couple fishing buddies, and they acted as if I had committed some sort of sin.  Did I?  

   I've done the same. How are you going to learn if you don't try, or don't experiment? Most of the ones that I modified were ruined, but at least I now know what NOT to do, eh?

 

   And don't worry about your fishing buddies. Their attitude doesn't catch your fish ..... you do. ?      jj

Were you messing with their stuff?  If so, then maybe stop doing that.  If not?  Screw em!  They're yours to do whatever you want with them.

Your baits, you can do what you want with them. 

 

Back before wake baits were readily available, it was common practice to use a lighter to heat up bills of standard floating minnows to point them almost straight down to create a homemade waking bait (similar to a Redfin but it was usually a Thunderstick that was used). Sometimes it completely ruined a brand new bait, but when it was right it was a killer bait in the Ozark lakes. 

46 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Your baits, you can do what you want with them. 

 

Back before wake baits were readily available, it was common practice to use a lighter to heat up bills of standard floating minnows to point them almost straight down to create a homemade waking bait (similar to a Redfin but it was usually a Thunderstick that was used). Sometimes it completely ruined a brand new bait, but when it was right it was a killer bait in the Ozark lakes. 

Ha!  My dad would do that back in the 60’s.  I don’t remember the lures, but I do remember their scorched chins.  They did catch fish, though.

Guilty...I committed crankbait heresy. You may as well call the crankbait police on me. They may have to wait until the mattress police are done interrogating me, though.

 

Creating a different actions by tinkering like that is just part of the sport. 

 

Have fun and tinker away buddy.

Sadly, I don’t think Jesus ever talked about crankbaits in the good book, so I’d say you’re good ??

Check your states regulations to make sure it is legal, if it is then have at it.  I see far worse done on a regular basis, like putting Shimano reels on Diawa rods.  I'm not ordained , and far from an expert on  religion, but I think such actions does not put your soul in any danger.

I use to make crankbaits and didnt know what I was doing . They never ran straight  , so I would take a dremel tool and shave the lip on one side or the other until they did .  

2 hours ago, king fisher said:

I see far worse done on a regular basis, like putting Shimano reels on Diawa rods. 

who could do such a thing and still sleep at night?

21 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

who could do such a thing and still sleep at night?

I Admit, I have done it, but only in Mexico.  What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico.

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Sometimes it completely ruined a brand new bait...

 

My thoughts exactly. Modifying a crankbait bill can and will alter the action of the bait, for better or worse (more often than not, likely worse). So proceed with caution if you do keep doing this, especially if it's with a bait that isn't easily replaceable. 

 

I know I've seen some Wiggle Warts and DT's get mighty sharp and thin at the front after a few days of cranking them over the rocks. The action slowly changes slightly just from doing that. 

15 hours ago, OldManLure said:

I’ve read numerous posters talk about things they do to modify lures.  Many have talked about shortening arms, changing the angle of upper arm, or changing blades on spinnerbaits; changing size of trebles on hardbaits;  drilling holes into cranks to fill with glue to silence rattles; adding rattles to baits; adding weights to diving baits, etc.  

Years ago I repaired a favorite crankbait’s chipped lip by lightly trimming and buffing it. Caught a nice fish with it on its first cast.  Coincidence I know, but it granted me permission to play with lips if I think they need tweaking.  Since then, I’ve frequently trimmed and/or reshaped lips usually to create a shallower presentation, but sometimes to decrease wobble, less often (because it’s a little more difficult) to increase wobble, and in a few cases to reduce hang ups.  I showed a couple of my crankbaits with modified lips to a couple fishing buddies, and they acted as if I had committed some sort of sin.  Did I?  

Tinkering with bass lures is normal, this is sport not a religion.

Tom

36 minutes ago, WRB said:

.... this is sport not a religion.

Tom

Not in the south.

17 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

How are you going to learn if you don't try, or don't experiment?

 

Words of wisdom there.

 

I've never done it, but it's the type of rabbit hole I'm likely to go down. I understand the design basics of bills, but I'd like to understand a little bit better.

 

You've got angle, length and shape. From what I've seen, shape is the least important of the three. I've seen very different shaped bills produce the same type of action.

I have caught more bass on 3 crankbaits with rounded bills then all other combined over 50 years....thousands.

Norman DD-14 & 22 and Bomber 7A. The only square bill that stands out over time is Bagley Balsa B’s.

Tinkering is part of bass fishing. Worshiping a fish (sin) isn’t, the cult of C & R is 1 example, eating a bass is another.

Tom

 

Heck, you bought the crank baits. Do with them what you want. One time I bought a bunch of cranks in odd ball colors just to learn about painting them. I've never worked on the bills, but that sounds like something I'd like to mess with.

2 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

Heck, you bought the crank baits. Do with them what you want. One time I bought a bunch of cranks in odd ball colors just to learn about painting them. I've never worked on the bills, but that sounds like something I'd like to mess with.

I fish rivers almost exclusively, and spend a lot of time on Upper Potomac and the Shenandoah.  There are frequent periods throughout year I’m faced with water levels that can get pretty low.   I’ve caught a lot of smallies in deeper water on a couple different crankbait patterns that run 6-8’ (and one that runs to 11’).  So I’ll buy duplicates, trim, file and buff lips and turn them into baits that run 2’-3’.  It has always resulted in catching fish.  Some have been incredibly effective.

On 11/30/2021 at 8:09 AM, LrgmouthShad said:

Sadly, I don’t think Jesus ever talked about crankbaits in the good book, so I’d say you’re good ??

 

I think there's a fair few mentions of lips, though. Probably close enough to justify for most. ?

 

I don't personally modify any of the lips of my crank/jerk baits. If I'm looking for a different action/depth, I'd rather find a bait that fits that instead. For me, this choice is only because I don't trust myself not to ruin the lure. I tend to tinker in other areas, myself.

Crankbaits mods that work you may not have tried.

Adding lead fan adhesive strips to the bill for deeper diving.

Drilling 1/8”diameter hole in the diving bill lip to created sound.

Painting the bill a bright color or glidder or black works.

White rear treble hooks.

 

I am a authorized Rebel & Rapala Plastic Surgeon !!  I have modified them until they do what I want them to do. 

 

I am a Meany !!