Monday, March 22, 2010

My World Tuesday Season # 2 Episode # 24

This is my posting for the My World Meme. It is hosted by Klaus, Sandy, Wren,  Sylvia and myself. Won't you join in, I want to see where you live and thrive.  

I went to a presentation while at the sportsman show last week. It was put on by Mike Mordas of Muskie Train Enterprises. He invited me to his shop to see how they made the lures which he sold. Here is what they mainly fish for the Muskie, the king of the waters where we fish. It is a very large predator and can eat most any fish in the lake.

This is Mike on the left and Trent Tesmer on the right. The Mordas Minnow hangs in the middle above them. It is nice to have your name on your own plug.
Trent showed me how they started with a piece of Cedar and cut out the shape on the band saw. They were making a MX-4 which is the Small Minnow Express in the 4" size.
They then take the cutout to the router station and rout them to shape.

Here is the progression trough wood to minnow shape.

They keep the parts in pairs and then glue them together, they are then ready for painting. 

This is the finished MX-4 ready to troll and see what can be caught, The price is $15 on this plug and the Musky sizes are more expensive. I wanted a smaller size plug for fishing the Walleye on Lake Hodgson.

I'll have to see how it does this Spring. It is a beauty but catching fish is the true test. Maybe, I'll get to go out with Mike and Trent in search of the elusive Muskie.

On a sad note, one of my best friends growing up, Dave Llewellyn, died this Friday. It was two days before he was to turn 70, way to young to go. He was of Welch decent and is the person that got me into my love of cars and drag racing.  I now have several friends from England because of blogging on our Header Contest.

I will be leaving for Europe on Wednesday so will be off line for a while. This is my first break in a two and a half years of blogging.

50 comments:

Rajesh said...

Wonderful shots. You have captured entire process beautifully.

Dirkjogt said...

Really interesting, fine work!

Ebie said...

I have seen those colorful lures while doing some research for a friend back in the Phils. Now I know how they are made.

Sorry to hear about your friend.

I hope you will have a nice break from blogging. Good luck and have a happy trip. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

that is a good tour for you visiting a place that makes lures.

sorry to hear about your friend.

and enjoy your blog break, the very first one.

Sylvia K said...

What an interesting post, Tom! Great shots as always! Have a great trip, have a great break and enjoy all the very lovely places that you'll be seeing!! Looking forward to seeing your photos when you return!

Sylvia

Dar said...

Nice you got the tour of tours...so nice of the guys to share their expertise. Sorry about your friend but happy you get to take a needed break.
Good luck fishing and go for the big Musky...they are awesome and the fighters of the fresh water boys.
Enjoy Europe my friend and God Bless Your Travels

Tammie Lee said...

that looks like an interesting field trip. Fun to see how they make these. Your blog header is wonderful~

Carver said...

Interesting post and shots. I'm sorry about your friend.

Jenn Jilks said...

Safe travels and my condolences. Great to see the process of the lures.

Dina said...

I'm sorry that you lost friend Dave.

But glad you are going to Europe. Have a great time!

Thanks for this good tour of lure making. Looks like fun.
All my fishing in childhood was done with a hook and a live minnow or worm. Never got into lures and big fish.
Bon voyage, Fishing Guy!

marcia@joyismygoal said...

I have a cousin that has a shop like this in Michigan I have never been but I can imagine it seeing these shots

Cezar and Léia said...

Dear Tom,
This post is so interesting, they are talented!
So sorry about your friend, this is a sad moment, all our prayers for his family.
And Tom, enjoy your vacations!You deserve it and please, don't forget your camera!I will be anxious here waiting for the pictures!
Have a blessed holliday!
Hugs
Léia

Jane Hards Photography said...

Your world is very different to mine, but those guys could definitely me Manx men. We have a lot of fisherman here too, but the wooden fish carving a new one one on me. Skilled hands are a dying art.

Hilary said...

This explains why lures are so expensive. Thanks for the photos of this process.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend.

imac said...

Most interesting Tom, Go catch em boy,lol.

Anonymous said...

that's nice craftmanship, i respect handcrafters. it's great to watch when som1 is skilled with his hands.

rapala's factory is not 30kms away where i live. mayB you've heard of it? if not googling is highly recomended.

sorry about your friend. take care.

Craver Vii said...

I am sorry to hear about your friend. Have a safe trip.

Jim said...

Interesting work.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Tom, I'm sure you were in 7th heaven while at the Sportsman Show..... Hope you can catch alot of fish this spring/summer....

Have a wonderful trip...
Betsy

Susie of Arabia said...

What an interesting post, Tom! I've always been fascinated by lures - great information you gave us on them.
I'm so sorry about your friend. Have a safe trip and enjoy your break off from blogging.

Anonymous said...

Interesting post on how lures are made. Enjoy your break from blogging. I'm sure you'll have lots to share with us when you return home from Europe. I'm sorry to hear of your friend's passing.

SandyCarlson said...

These are rally great. These guys make it look easy. So we know it isn't.

I am sorry about the passing of your friend.

Anonymous said...

Tom, so sorry to hear about your friend passing. 70 is indeed way too young to leave us.

So tell me about muskies: are they good eating? I've had a lot of walleye since moving to the midwest, but I don't think I've ever eaten muskie.

blog with no name said...

Tom, I am sorry for your loss. It is our loss. He did all he needed I guess, and has been set free to do the things that we can only imagine

Rose said...

Have fun....by the way this is an interesting post.

Randi said...

Great shots and a very interesting post! I love the way you show the whole process. Sorry to hear about your old friend. Enjoy your trip to England!

LadyFi said...

So sorry to hear about your friend.

Enjoy your trip to Europe!

Joe Todd said...

Sorry for your loss. Linda and I have been to 4 funerals since the first of the year.. Way to many.. Enjoyed your post. Will be looking forward to update on the lure

Anonymous said...

This is an interesting post and I was pleased to see it. I liked the photos too. They seem to do really nice work on the lures.

Japa said...

Very informative post and neat photos. Sorry to learn about your friend.

Tipper said...

The plug is really a work of art!

Sorry for your loss-hope you have a good safe trip.

DeniseinVA said...

Really neat to see how those lures are made.

I am so sorry to hear about your friend.

Happy traveling, sounds like you are going to have a great time with your camera :)

Tom said...

Great post...
Enjoy the break from blogging.. ;o)

Warren Baker said...

Enjoy Europe FG.

I hope you find lots of wildlife to photograph!

George said...

Thanks for the sequence of pictures showing how the lures are made. The final product is beautiful. I hope you catch many fish with your new lure.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend.
Have a great trip to Europe.

myonlyphoto said...

Something new to learn every day, thanks for sharing. Anna :)

Anonymous said...

I hope you enjoy a wonderful trip, FG I think you deserve a break! Bring back tons of photos.

Pietro Brosio said...

Tom, this is a really interesting post with nice photos.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for stopping by!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

What an interesting post Tom but it is so sad to hear about your friend. I hope you have a good trip in Europe and look forward to you getting back.

Unknown said...

Oh, I bet you catch some great fish with those awesome Lurers.
Amazing that those are still selfmade in some spots.

Wishing you a safe trip and enjoy Europe!

betty-NZ said...

Something different and fun! Thanks for sharing.

Glennis said...

Interesting way to make lures.
Sorry for your loss of a friend, and I do hope your holiday goes really well, enjoy exploring and come back with some great stories to tell.

http://graceolsson.com/blog said...

more history...more photos...great
graceolsson.com/blog

EcoRover said...

Sorry to hear of the death of your friend--hope you have many good fishing memories.

Wonderful, traditional wooden lures.

I grew up catching the occasional musky in the Allegheny River and with tales of huge fish from nearby Chautauqua. Still have a great collection of old plugs, some jointed, that we used for n pike, bass, walleye, and 'lunge.

Oman said...

loev the shots and the process fg and put that into good use.

deep condolences too on your friend's demise. take care on the trip.

Tammy Lee Bradley said...

Thanks for sharing your part of the world with us. Take some time to enjoy a slice of our life airboating in Florida.

http://bloggingbradleys.blogspot.com/2010/03/sunday-in-marsh.html

happily retired gal said...

Kewl post ... brings back mem'ries from my younger days spent fishing for bass on So Cal lakes ;-)
Love your header photo and hope you're having a marvelous time!
Hugs and blessings,

Coy Hill said...

I hope you have a very good time on your trip and some good stories on your return.

This post looks as if you had a great visit and came away with excellent series of pics, thanks for sharing.

BTW, excellent header; vivid colors and tac sharp. As a fellow fisherman I love it!!

Twisted Fencepost said...

That's a big ole fish up there on the wall! I'll bet that was a job to reel in.
Cool lure. My oldest son would love to visit that place. He's BIG into fishing, especially with lures.
Sorry to hear about your friend. Atleast you have good memories of him.