Make a Wooden Fishing From Scratch
Step 1 -- Gather all needed materials.
Materials List:
3/4" square clear white pine about 7 inches long.
4" x 1" x 1/8" clear white pine
1" x 1.5" x 1/8" clear white pine
2 treble hooks size 1/0
3 split rings size 4
2 open screweyes 1 1/4" long
1 open screweye 3/4" long
1 propeler blade size 5
2 cup washers
2 hook hangers size 3
4 small wood screws
2 plastic eyes.
Clear glossy polyurethane
Blue spray paint
White acrylic enamel
Various acrylic paints for details
Super glue
Wood putty
Lead or lead shotgun shot
Assorted tools:
  - needlenose pliers     - lathe             - pocket knife
  - drill                         - sandpaper
 
Step 2  -- Form the lure body

Notes:

  - Mark the centers of the square stock.

  - Shape the lure bdoy on a lathe.

  - Sanding the lure body while it is still on the lathe is a great time saver.

  - Notice the pencil guide lines for mouth and eyes.  These where made by  lightly touching a pencil to the body while it was still spinning on the lathe.
Step 3 -- Form the dorsal fin and tail

Notes:

 - Use a coping or scroll saw to cut the dorsal and tail fins.

 - Trace the fins onto a plastic coated playing card, then cut the fins out with scissors and save them to use as patterns.
Step 4 -- Necessary cuts

Notes:

 - A goove was cut along the back to mount the dorsal fin with a Dremel tool and cut-off wheel. 

 - A groove was cut in the tail to mount the tail fin.

 - The mouth was formed by making two cuts with a coping saw.

 - Notice the large hole in the belly, just behind the mouth. This will be filled with melted lead.  It could also be filled with small lead shotgun shot and glue.

 - Gills were carved using a pocket knife.

 - Although not shown here, the holes for the eyes should be drilled.

 - Notice that the fins have been filled with wood putty and sanded.
Step 5 -- Further assembly.

Notes:

 - Notice the change in design: a screweye was used for the belly hook instead of the planned surface-mount hook holders.

 - The hole for the lead was puttied and sanded.

 - The hooks and slipt rings have been assembled.  Hold the split ring with  needlenose pliers and push the hook's eye into the split ring.

 - A slit ring has been placed on the long screweye and the eye has been squeezed closed with pliers.

 - The cup washer and propeller have been placed on the screweye. Notice that the cups face away from the propeller in this fashion:   )|(

 - The lure has been undercoated with a couple coats of white paint. Lightly sand between coats.

 - The blue was applied from a spray can.
Step 6 - More painting.

Notes:

 - Some details have been added using a toothpick instead of a brush.

 - Acrylic paints were used.  Acrylics are easy to use, odor-free and clean up with water.  The colors are bright and a wide range of colors are available.
Step 7 -- The finished lure.

Notes:

 - The black details were made with an ultra-fine permanent marker.

 - The plastic eyes have been glued in with a super glue.

 - The entire lure was dipped in clear glossy polyurathane at least twice.  Dry for several hours between coats or crazing may occur.

 - After drying for 24 hours, the hooks and propeller have been attached.

 - A custom two-piece cardboard box was design and printed using Microsoft's  Paint program.  The box was printed on 110 pound cardstock.