Dean Cappello, who lives in the rural NSW town of Griffith in the Riverina, is the owner and operator of the boutique wooden lure manufacturer, Legohead lures. Dean’s Legohead lures started as a pet project roughly two-years-ago because he could not find the exact cod strong hardbody that met his skinny river requirements.
So he did what any Aussie bloke would do in his situation and created his own lure, and thus Legohead was born. While Dean is a modest man and would never admit it he is a genuine artist, churning out some of the best hand painted wooden lures on the Australian market.
So much so that a high percentage fail to ever see water, as they are snapped up by lure collectors with an eye for detail and pennant for quality Australian crafted timber lures.
Dean is also big on coaxing novice designers into the game and shares with us his top five tips for any budding lure maker looking to tame some timber and make their own hardbody creations. For more info on Dean visit his Legohead Lures page on Facebook.
1. Application – Before you think about your lures body size jot down the specie(s) you want to chase and how you want to use it. i.e on the cast or troll. These important factors will provide significant direction in your design.
2. Strength – Don’t skimp on materials. While you have to buy for your budget you should always invest in quality components. You are only planting the seed for disaster by using cheap components and hooks. Also, if you are designing for Murray cod always run a wire through the bib from the toe point to the body of the lure.
3. Design – Your lure design should reflect your individuality and personality. Be bold and creative and experiment with different ideas, colours and designs.
4. Prototype – You have to break a few eggs to make an omelette. Don’t be deterred by slow progress at the start, as testing the swimming action of your prototype is the most important step in any new lures life cycle.
5. Paint job – You now have the desired shape and swimming action so its time to put the finishing touches on your masterpiece. I found it best to practice on my timber off cuts before advancing to the real deal. Again, if you are targeting our Aussie natives always add two to three clear waterproof clear topcoats, as a Murray cod’s bite is as bad as their boof!
Check out Norb’s full article School of Hardbody Knocks – Part 1 in the latest copy of Freshwater Fishing Australia #132