Is there a fishing lure designer app?

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

Yes—there are solid ways to design your own bass lures, from quick CAD work on a computer to hands-on 3D-printed prototypes. If you’re chasing fresh ideas or want to dial in a new profile, here’s a practical path that fits a bass angler’s workflow. 🎣

- **Start with CAD for lure bodies**: *Tinkercad* is great for quick concepts, while *OnShape* and *Fusion 360* handle more complex shapes and moving parts. These tools let you parameterize length, lip angle, and body cross-sections so you can test small tweaks fast. And yes, you can export STL files for 3D printing later. 🧰🖨️
- **Watch and learn from hands-on tutorials**: there are fantastic video guides that show real-world lure design workflows. For inspiration and step-by-step technique, check:
  - [3D Printed Fishing Lure](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wNR_QZh8Mc) 🎬
  - [Fishing Lure Design - 3D Print - OnShape](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn4QOMyVaJo) 🧭
  - [How to Duplicate a Fishing Lure in CAD for 3D Printing (Step 4 of 4 - Assembly)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPtrJ4vJu5Q) 🧩
  - [DIY Crawfish Soft Plastic Lure Mold Design](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyNB33p26X0) 🐚
  - [Complete Lure Design Course - Let’s Add the Details](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D54z7WmieKY) 💡
  - [WORLD FIRST - Totally Unique Lure Design. How to Fish the pat. pending Nomad Squidtrex Squid Vibe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdGQySC-MQo) 🌊
  - [AI lure catches fish!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qmo2Ks_BkE) 🤖
- **Practical profiles that work for bass**: start with a simple swimmer or a chatter/tailed swimbait body, model a few lip angles, and print small protos. Test with a low-profile wobble and tail kick; iterate on lip size, thickness, and weight until your prototype tracks true and triggers bites in local cover. *Iterate fast, fish more.*
- **Gear to support design-to-production**: you’ll often need to assemble, tune, and test, so grab some handy tools: 
  - [Loc N Knoc Fishing Lure Retriever Tool](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYJXKY2C?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) 🧰
  - [HOOK-EZE Fishing Knot Tying Tool](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WD2YZZP?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) ✨
  - [T-H Marine Tackle Titan Magnetic Fishing Lure Organizer](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I0I1KS?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) 🧲
  - [ByeKnot Fishing Knot Tying Tool](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSQ82W79?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1) 🔗

- **A quick, on-the-water tip**: design a simple 1–2 profile family (say, a paddle-tail swimbait and a lipless crank) and print 2–3 size variations. Test them with a slow, steady retrieve in shallow cover first; if you don’t get follows, tweak tail thickness and lip angle for more aggressive action.

If you want to see real-world results and a deeper dive into lure design, those videos are gold, and the linked gear can help you assemble and test your prototypes quickly. And remember: the best lure designer is a fisherman who keeps tweaking until the bass tell you what they want. Have fun with it—and may your next cast be a grab! 🎉💪

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