Is there an app that lets me design and make custom fishing lures?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

You bet, and you don’t have to be a pro sculptor to start molding your own bass-lure ideas. Here’s a practical path to get from sketch to splashdown. 🎣💡

**Digital design path (CAD & design apps)**
- *Tinkercad* — perfect for quick shapes and simple profiles. Start here if you’re new to 3D modeling. [Tinkercad](https://www.tinkercad.com)
- *Shapr3D* — great on an iPad for portable, intuitive 3D work; a solid bridge between sketches and printable parts. [Shapr3D](https://www.shapr3d.com)
- *Fusion 360* — more advanced, ideal if you want precise tolerances for lip/bill features or wobble curves. [Fusion 360](https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview)
- *Onshape* — cloud-based CAD that’s easy to share with fellow anglers or mold-makers. [Onshape](https://www.onshape.com)

Tip: pick one starter app (Tinkercad or Shapr3D) and stick with it for a couple of lures before you level up. Consistency beats chaos when you’re learning the tools. 🧭

**From screen to water: turning designs into lures**
- Most anglers start by printing a resin or PLA lure body to test action. If you want a softer action, you’ll move into silicone molds or soft-plastic recipes. The video tutorials below walk you through the design-to-print flow:
  - [Design and Build your own 3D printed Custom Fishing Lures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqTCImAdkhM)
  - [Design & 3D Print your own Custom Lure - Ep#1 - Make your 2D Sketches 3D](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T2TL-s2YKk)
  - [Design your custom 3D printed Fishing Lure #fishing #3dprinted #fishinglures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPuXdjRdtm8)

If you’re not into printing yet, you can still prototype with *soft plastic lure kits* and molds to test color and action before investing in a printer.

**Gear-up: hands-on lure-making kits (Amazon) for quick starts**
- [Man Crates, Lure Making Kit – Soft Plastic Lure Kit with Molds, Plastisol, Color, Glitter & Scent](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXJ6T2MC?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — a comprehensive starting point for soft plastics. 🧰
- [357pcs DIY Fishing Lure Making Kit with blanks, eyes, hooks & accessories](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZWPW191?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — great for experimenting with rack-full of bodies. 🎨
- [Unpainted Fishing Lures Making Kit 378pcs — blanks, eyes, stickers, hooks](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R1LWGPZ?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) — inexpensive way to test color and finish. 🧪

For visual inspiration, these resources will get you dialing in your own style and action:
- [3D printed lure design course and tutorials](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JGIUfx0y8I) — deep-dive on body shapes and profiles. 🚀

**Practical tip for quick wins**: start with a simple minnow or shad profile, print a couple of bodies, and test action with a light submerged test. If the tail wag is sluggish, thicken the tail or tweak the lip angle by a few degrees and reprint. Small tweaks make big bites. 🐟

Bottom line: there are plenty of apps and kits to help you design and prototype custom bass lures, whether you’re into 3D printing or soft-plastic molding. Dive in, iterate, and you’ll be casting your own creations in no time. Stay patient, stay curious, and keep those casts clean and confident. 🎯 Here’s to sinking your first custom lure with pride! 🥂

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