Lure making | The square bill crankbait

[@labtrainer09]

I vividly remember watching my first Solar Baits lure-making video three years ago. My jaw literally dropped at your skill and artistry. Nikko, you were and are the best. I'm very grateful that you're willing to share your work with the rest of us.

[@SolarfallBaits]

My name is Mikko, Nikko is a quaint city in japan. But close enough

[@labtrainer09]

@@SolarfallBaits I knew that! Sorry; it was a typo.

[@SolarfallBaits]

@@labtrainer09 no worries just thought i'd correct you

[@craigwatt3461]

you know your skills are dialed in when you don"t need to tune your lure after the swim test. Masterclass 👌

[@ramingoshtasbi7254]

I make many lures. I don’t even fish any longer. I just like making them. Never have one of mine looked like one of yours. Yours are pieces of art. Thanks for the videos.

[@stevenherms9448]

I had an accident when I Was working with gloves with a Drill 3 years ago and dislocated my little finger (dislocated but luckily not ripped of) better cold hands than no Fingers. Greetings from Berlin stay save

[@lingzi0821]

I have been following you for a while, I am a beginner in bait fishing, and I get a lot of inspiration from your videos, very excellent videos, benefited a lot, greetings from Shandong, China.

[@karolkeller5851]

I would love a tackle box tour from you! See what you all keep in your boxes and fish with!

[@robkoons1891]

Wow. Just started really getting into lure making and you are by far the best. Your lures are true pieces of fine art that actually work in real life!

[@SolarfallBaits]

@@robkoons1891 thank you. I appreciate the kind words, there are plenty more youtubers that make pretty nice stuff too.

[@peterchessell28]

Your airbrushing skils are tops a masterclass indeed.

[@Bene_Factum]

That thing belongs in a museum!

[@jamessilly6837]

1:53 This is the most common mistake that leads to injuries on the band saw. Do not use your fingers to swipe away waste material! Just leave it until you're done cutting and the saw stops moving or use a waste piece to push it out of the way. I suggest finding a spot on the machine to keep a little dowel or rod to push waste material away if you can't keep yourself from wanting to keep the waste away.

[@wickedbassn]

I guess I've somehow never seen any of your videos. These lures are beautiful 😍. I'm a bait maker myself, and would be extremely proud of these. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@greatwhitesfishingadventur2273]

Really Really liking your Lures !! Very nice Paint Job on all of them, digging the plain wood detail left as well !!

[@jd8745]

your utility knife carving skills is impressive- your baits are always a true piece of art!

[@josequervo9786]

I don’t know who would dislike this video. Maybe the three baking soda and super glue bait builders on KZbin. Great baits. Much better baits than those from Helsinki. 😜

[@SolarfallBaits]

you could be right lol

[@denigong9708]

Wow you do things so much different than marlin baits. Its crazy.

[@SolarfallBaits]

There are many ways to reach the same goal.

[@BillyKrefft]

You are a craftsman of the highest caliber. Wow!

[@denigong9708]

Super glue and baking soda is my favorite for lead hole and through wire cover. It sands out nice and it's easy to sand.

[@MyRivera23]

Beautiful work

[@marnasfishing]

You are the best!! Omg, tx fore you doing it and show as how you do it!

[@bodierugerbaits692]

i just wanna say thank you your and marlin baits inspired me to start making my own baits instead of buying one for like $5+ and you deserve so much more subscribers then 40 k you lures are gorgeous and perfect

[@Darcaster]

Same with me, Marlin baits was my gateway and then Solar, Jekyll and Ugly dog.

[@YouTubeisduke]

​@@Darcaster looks like I need to search two more makers.

[@clintjenkins13]

Man just stumbled on your channel. A little late to the party but wow! Really love that stencil!

[@lannyseals2084]

Your line of square bill's are awesome! Beautiful paint jobs

[@John94709]

The wood strip wire slot method is what I use also. Aside from being easier to sand, it also helps to reduce or prevent cracks and splits over time as the wood expands and contracts. As always, I really appreciate the inspiration I get from your incredible work. Miss seeing your posts on OGF in the tackle making section, along with a couple other sites that I've followed you on over the years. Keep on keeping on Mikko!

[@topmario14]

I've had other BPM baits kzbin.infoUgkxCbNOWAGmn6nfbCbJDmasvBq7J38KZNw2 before and they've pretty much always came through for me with the suskie smallies here and even with the walleye and pike, but I realized I didn't have an "in-between" pattern so this junebug one fills that role in no problem. it pairs up magnificently with a junebug Zoom Z-craw Jr that was trimmed a couple millimeters before the hook slots and rigged sideways for that fatter panfish side profile while still being a nice'n'compact presentation, a real power-finesse bait. Hell, it was so pretty I even bothered to fotosketch the pic into a watercolor painting image just to show you it's beauty! Even the blades are really well made, sure, they're not of Hildebrandt-level exquisiteness but look at the bead's reflection on the colorado blade, definitely well-made! The only "problem" spot it had was a bald spot in the skirt but it was nothing that I couldn't easily fix with a but of tuggin'n'shiftin' with the strands for a couple of seconds, besides that it is pretty minty!

[@carlosfloresfrancou4125]

What a blast, one of the best lure building tutorials i ever saw congratulations.Greetings from Santa Fe, Argentina

[@SolarfallBaits]

Thats nice to hear, thanks forchecking out the video

[@SolarfallBaits]

Thanks for checking out the video guys 😍

[@maxheller6770]

Absolutely beautiful Lures! That woodgrain looks splendid!

[@paddlehooked4687]

Your lures have got to be some of the best looking baits out there. I’ve been polishing the edges of my lips on a strop, and these essentially vanish in the water. I’m sure this is something you know/do but didn’t see it I’m the video so thought I’d share. I aspire to reach a level of greatness in bait making like this.

[@Maxetkd]

It's amazing how symmetrical your work is. Just positioning the stencils requires so much patience.

[@Maxetkd]

After discovering Mikko, I found so many other lure makers that are very talented. But, I have to say none of them are as impressive as him. At least, in my opinion. I hope that someday he will make a lure making book. He Taught me so much and saved me so much time learning some skills. I am eternally thankful.

[@SolarfallBaits]

Thats great to hear that my videos have been helpful to you.

[@StrulFishing]

10 / 10. Such an inspiration source. Perfection.

[@marnasfishing]

You are the absolute best in the world of this. I do baits my self and I know how time consuming it is to make them as nice as you do them. Always a blast to watch you clips... Love your work! Martin from Sweden

[@SolarfallBaits]

Tack så mycket for checking out the video Martin

[@JohnJonelis]

What a wonderful little smallmouth bass!

[@mosesmedina7291]

Beautiful work Mikko! Your videos are my favorite to watch. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@davidmattingly1574]

Very fun stuff, always cool to see a baitmaker at the top of his game

[@Wako6]

Very good job ! Beautiful cranks

[@GingerAle383]

Very beautiful lure

[@giulianopagnoncelli1704]

Congratulations, these baits are a work of art! Professional in the subject.

[@timrobb3989]

Man I sure would like to buy one of those square bills!!😊

[@brynniebfishing]

Awesome works of swimming art!

[@jamestoole9406]

great build, like a lot of your methods.

[@shawncharton9416]

I could listen to you say "stencil" all day long.

[@TackOnenone]

They are all beautiful but the one with the Light Blue top is my Favorite!! Good work man!

[@mpfishing6185]

Absolutely stunning paint job!! The wood grain showing makes it unique and the details are amazing. Very talented lure maker!👍👍

[@tydengr]

Wow you are lure making expert

[@japinoybettajapan]

I admire all your works master

[@xander4043]

Beautiful lures and beautiful craftsmanship. Could you tell me what size hooks and hook rings you use? And where do you get the eyes from?

[@SolarfallBaits]

I believe i had nro 4 hooks and 8mm splitrings. The eyes i make my self.

[@jerelleolaybar5656]

Awesome Lure.

[@jojacobs305]

Beautiful art 🥰

[@SolarfallBaits]

Thanks Jo

[@Darcaster]

That is an amazing finish! Like glass. I can't get mine that clear

[@SolarfallBaits]

Some brands just dont come off as good as true coat does.

[@Darcaster]

@@SolarfallBaits Thanks, I will have to see if I can get that here in Canada.

[@SolarfallBaits]

@@Darcaster i live in canada too but had to buy it from the US.

[@Darcaster]

@@SolarfallBaits awesome, I did not realize you lived here. Groovy.

[@SolarfallBaits]

@@Darcaster yeah i moved to calgary year and a half ago.

[@ser1tdc]

thanks for sharing Solar! beautiful fat cranks! I bet those are a summer bass killers.... interesting color schemes btw

[@ambientphotoph]

omg I would bite that lure the way it swims. 🔥

[@spotweld]

awesome looking baits

[@riverboundoutdoors4492]

your airbrush work is absolutely flawless it looks amazing. keep up the good work I sub looking forward to your content.

[@Zultonialayyubi]

Wow..inspiring, profesional skills. The Highest caliber.. Awesome.

[@nolanpeter2748]

Nice lures, as usual enjoyed the video.

[@williammallender8391]

lovely results

[@toph2o676]

Been following you for those 11 years as always great video ,been making wooden lures myself for very long time. I have too commend you on the part in this video where you use stainless spring steel wire I would never use anything else. But there are so many youtubers that use that cheap annealed wire you buy at hardware stores and twist wire in drill etc. which is crap. Never trusted the epoxy clear coat for sealing the bait always used nitrocellulose lacquer 50/50 with lacquer thinner to seal wood, epoxy on final coats.

[@philiplaroche8218]

I love the video I myself make my own hooks for fly fishing Northern pike pickrolled bass and trout as well rainbow trout I'm still learning to craft but I definitely get more success as I get further along and learning I'm trying to mimic my hooks to look like more bait fish now so we'll see what happens in the spring

[@glennsloggett1876]

I don't know if you are aware or not but decoy carvers when cutting out the side view save the pieces they have removed usually in two pieces, top and bottom. They then tack ( either hot glue or double sided tape ) these two pieces back in place draw the top view on and cut that view out. When done you just pop off the the waste. Far less chance of getting cut that way. And you have a flat surface to place on your drill press to drill eye holes. Lovely work on these baits. 👍🇨🇦

[@SolarfallBaits]

Thats pretty smart i might have to try that out

[@glennsloggett1876]

This is what I meant , www.dmdecoy.com/carvingdemo/step-1-cutting-out-a-decoy-blank.html

[@RiverWolfoutfitters]

Love your videos! I’m working on a struggling smallmouth for musky fishing, almost done but I would Love to see you do a lure for a reaction strikes of that caliber!

[@barrettbryan8905]

Gorgeous as per usual!! Great job! Love it!

[@hankypanky9380]

This guy all his videos and skills are inspiring! are these collection baits available for sale ??? any links for shopping ??

[@nicholastanzola488]

I’m a big fan of the bath tub swim tests myself

[@ryanschmidt4915]

Amazing baits. I love a good crankbait.

[@jaydar1968]

How do you like working with bondo? I just started making fish decoys a couple of years ago. I initially used bondo to fill over my lead cavity, but was persuaded by the old-timers to ditch the stuff…”too messy and over time there will be a definite crack where the bondo meets the wood”. Man, were they right! I use KwikWood by JB Weld now…so much easier to work with, however it may not set up as quickly as bondo. But, I am not going to argue with your results…and, to each their own, right? Always a pleasure watching your videos. They’re so inspiring.

[@SolarfallBaits]

i've used car body fillers such as bondo for probably 15 years now and i've never had the issues you described. knock on wood :)

[@jaydar1968]

@@SolarfallBaits :)...Thanks! I suppose the drastic temperature change from freezing cold water to a warm spear house is more of a shock to the wood on a decoy? Plus, your lures are probably sealed better than most decoys. Cheers.

[@SolarfallBaits]

@@jaydar1968 i think it might be a wood issue, the types of woods i use dont really expand that much even if they get wet and i've heard that alot of the decoy carvers use softer woods like basswood and poplar which expand can expand pretty drastically if they are not sealed really well.

[@jaydar1968]

@@SolarfallBaits Yup, most decoy carvers stay away from basswood...unless they are decorative decoys and used for show. Northern white cedar, white pine seem to be the most common choice for working decoys. I know of some guys that use jelutong too. I have made a few out of western red cedar. What kinds of woods do you typically use?

[@SolarfallBaits]

@@jaydar1968 i think the most common ones for me would be oak, maple and probably birch. Since i moved to canada i've been using alot of red cedar too

[@tork62077]

Those are beautiful

[@dominiqueleblanc2193]

Another great video fellow Canadian. Have you ever thought of using tungsten paste to weigh you lures? Friendlier for the environment and you could sell your lures were lead is'nt prohibited.

[@SolarfallBaits]

actually i was thinking the same exact thing this morning

[@wldrnsys99]

Amazing work! I know it would be pretty tough in the winter in Canada but I would love to see true swim videos of your lures, further out on a cast. Lures never seem to act quite the same when they're on such a short line. Especially for the big glide baits, it's hard to see how they act when confined to the bathtub. I think it would add even more value (and demand) from largemouth bass anglers if we could get a better idea of their action.

[@SolarfallBaits]

i some what agree with you, but this is what i'm forced to use right now

[@jayanurulpapua2005]

Beautiful Minnow 👍👍👍

[@markrigg6623]

Insdead of carving ,try using the disc sander at an angle. It works well and with practice it's quicker.

[@SolarfallBaits]

I already do that on bigger lures. With small ones like these i prefer a knife for more accurate shaping.

[@markrigg6623]

@@SolarfallBaits with practice smaller lures can be done just as accurately. The ones I sell are 30 mm. I still do a bit of carving with a chisel before the sanding stage. Thanks for the reply.

[@keithholt5955]

Amazing stuff. Beautiful.

[@jamesfreda1903]

Love watching you work. How are things going for you?

[@SolarfallBaits]

Thanks, Things are good at my end.

[@Builtin79]

Your videos and skills are inspiring! Love your work. ❤️🇨🇦

[@daniell9324]

beautiful work! Now throw it at a rock a dozen times LOL

[@SolarfallBaits]

Pros know how to cast between rocks

[@daniell9324]

@@SolarfallBaits til they run into them hahahahah again though, very nice and clean work my guy!!

[@josecarlosdepauladepaula703]

Meus parabéns pelo seu trabalho esta isca artificial artesanal ficou show de bola 🐠

[@mattietiger2959]

You make works of art. Is true coat epoxy UV activated?

[@SolarfallBaits]

No it's not. It does harden faster in higher temperatures

[@bluedogsurvive6501]

Can youtell is where to get the supplies to do this? Looks like a great winter project

[@christiancrandall6811]

You and marling baits should do a colab, I’m taking an educated guess that you don’t live in the same area lol but doing cuts and stuff with him would be cool.

[@jackbalifishing]

Make the perfect artificial fish bait, good job👍

[@marioamor5982]

What materials do I need and what lure for a beginner?

[@onefishonedream6448]

Great job ! congratulations. I'll continue to watch your realisation ! one more subscriber 😉

[@hooligan1578]

I hold my lures in my hand while drilling my eye sockets to your not the only one 😂

[@MarcosMVlures]

Gorgeous lures!!!! My usual paintbrush paint sucks, its just doesnt cover other colors good. Impossible that white covers a black or dark paint, for example. I got air vallejo paints. The are a little bit thick. Do you reduce them? If you do, in what proportions and with which product?

[@SolarfallBaits]

I usually dont reduce the vallejo paints and shoot them as they are.

[@e.n.d.k388]

Super robota 👏

[@hanzelman1963]

Minus 10 is the best reason to wear gloves, 2 pair.... 👍👍👍

[@goovaerg]

Great vid like usual. Too bad it's hard to get some cedar around here in Belgium or I would def give it a try.

[@timsheridan8068]

Amazing work!

[@andyprest]

Nice lures buddy 👍 do you scuff the epoxy base coat before painting? Interested to know!

[@SolarfallBaits]

The paints i use stick pretty well so never had to scuff the base coat

[@andyprest]

@@SolarfallBaits thanks for the info buddy, think your vids are brilliant, helped me out a lot 👍

[@Lassekongo24]

You are very talented! When i saw this video i was sure that you where from sweden on your english. Do you make a living on this? I 3d print my designes and will test them this summer. Im planing on selling some of my designs if i can produce them consequently. I use rattlecans for the painting. I dont even have 0.5% of your talant painting. Good work once again! Have a nice day!

[@SolarfallBaits]

Well your kinda close I'm originally from Finland and live in Canada now a days. i make lures as a side hustle, as my normal day job keeps me plenty busy. anyways thanks for the nice words, i appreciate it.

[@Sciarrano]

Bella la linea cicciosa che gli hai dato! Secondo me bucano 🎣

[@superpayer_accuraci7649]

My dad and i build hard baits for like 7 years and we do everything by hand no machenery included even painted buy hand... i bouth airbrush and commpresor soo im asking for what brand of colors you use? Gretings from Croatia.

[@SolarfallBaits]

i use vallejo paints my self, best of luck on our lure painting career, be careful it can be very addictive :0

[@superpayer_accuraci7649]

@@SolarfallBaits painting, right 😜😁😁 thx on help

[@redknights2007]

Another great video ☺️.

[@GagalBoncos_shorts]

Great work amazing, this is art 👍👍👍

[@denissarvari7629]

Can you make a jointed deep diving bait? Loving your work 😁

[@SolarfallBaits]

Sure i dont see why not

[@airbrushways6710]

Great work and great product..... do you have a site to sell your baits ?

[@SolarfallBaits]

I usually just sell my lures on ebay.

[@denigong9708]

Does he sell any of his baits? I would love to own one of these

[@olivierschad8180]

Travail magnifique

[@TRICOTSTRICOTS]

Very nice job !!!

[@kanny5175]

Awesome work, they look fantastic, I really need to up my game and invest in a better airbrush, the cheap Chinese ones are OK up to a point but lack the ability for the finer detailing and thats what makes all the difference 👍