Making your own soft plastic fishing lures lets you choose the colours, shapes and styles that suit your water. This guide walks through the whole process, from materials to the finished lure, so even a first-timer can pour with confidence.

Two ribbed stick worms in yellow glitter plastisol in a two-cavity mould, beside the open empty half. — **FIG. 01**Two ribbed stick worms poured in glitter plastisol, next to the empty half of the mould.

What you’ll need

Soft plastic (plastisol)	A liquid plastic compound made for fishing lures.
Microwave	To heat and liquefy the plastic. Keep one just for lure making — never the kitchen one.
Measuring cups and stirring sticks	Microwave-safe, for heating and mixing.
Heat-resistant gloves and safety glasses	Protection from burns and splashes.
A well-ventilated workspace	Hot plastisol gives off fumes, so airflow matters.
A mould	Made for soft plastic lures — for example a TZ-Tech injection mould.
Syringe or injector and release agent	To inject the plastic; the release agent helps it flow and come away cleanly.
Colour pigments and glitter	To give your lures their look.
Scent and softeneroptional	To make the bait more attractive to fish or change its feel.

Step by step

STEP 01

Prepare your work area

Clear and organise your workspace before you start. Work somewhere well ventilated or use a fume extractor, and put on heat-resistant gloves and safety glasses.

Tip

Before first use, spray a little release agent into a new syringe.

STEP 02

Heat the soft plastic

Pour the liquid plastic into a microwave-safe measuring cup. Heat it in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one, until it reaches about 150 °C.

Tip

The plastic should turn clear, smooth and thick. Don’t overheat it: burnt plastisol discolours and gives off toxic fumes.

STEP 03

Add colour and effects

Once the plastic is fully heated, add pigment and mix thoroughly. For a glitter finish, stir in heat-resistant glitter so it doesn’t melt. You can add scent at this stage too.

Tip

Start with small amounts of pigment and glitter. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.

STEP 04

Inject into the mould

Fill the syringe and inject the hot plastic into the mould slowly and steadily, so every cavity fills evenly and no air gets trapped.

Tip

If bubbles form, tap the mould gently before the plastic sets.

A segmented paddle-tail bait in olive glitter plastisol lying in one half of a white mould. — **FIG. 02**A full cavity: olive glitter plastisol right to the tip of the paddle tail.

STEP 05

Let it cool and remove the lure

Leave the plastic to cool and set inside the mould — usually 1–2 minutes, depending on the size of the lure. Then open the mould and lift the lure out gently.

Tip

If the lure still feels soft or bends too easily, give it a little longer before handling.

Macro shot of a freshly poured craw bait still sitting in the white mould, showing claw and segment detail. — **FIG. 03**A craw ready to come out: claws and segments fully formed.

STEP 06

Finishing touches

Trim any excess plastic around the edges (the flashing) with scissors or a craft knife. Some lures also benefit from a few seconds in boiling water to improve their flexibility.

Tip

Store finished lures in a plastic bag with a few drops of scent oil to keep them fresh.

Safety

Plastisol is worked at around 150 °C. Keep the room ventilated, wear gloves and glasses, keep children and pets away, and never leave hot plastic unattended.

Final thoughts

Making soft plastic lures is a fun and cost-effective way to personalise your fishing. Experiment with colours, scents and shapes, and you’ll soon have lures that suit your local waters and target species. With a little practice you’ll be producing professional-quality baits in no time.