Making silicone baits with your own hands is a simple and interesting process. Making silicone for filling molds Materials for making silicone baits

In each individual body of water, fish have their own taste preferences and diet. If the diet can be determined experimentally, then in order to find fish delicacies, even a large fishing store may not have enough assortment.

Size, color, shape, smell, game, everything affects the attractiveness of the bait in a given body of water.

Introduction to silicone baits

Soft silicone baits– twisters, vibrotails, worms, slugs, frogs, creatures are in every angler’s box. Gained particular popularity edible bait– baits with smell and taste. The smell attracts fish from a long distance, the taste causes the fish to hold the bait in their mouth longer, giving the angler extra time to hook.

Silicone baits can be used to catch not only predatory fish. Using nano- and micro-sized silicone food you can successfully catch peaceful fish that feed on small animals - crucian carp, carp, tench, bleak. Lures of dark colors with the taste of salt, garlic, bloodworms, and worms are more suitable for them.

Silicone baits in the form of small fish are suitable for predators.

For pike, baits in the form of small fish from 3 to 5 inches with a bright game are more suitable:

  • Mann's Predator– soft silicone, lively active play;
  • Relax Shark– stable game with any wiring;
  • Relax Copyto– silicone with transverse notches for pikes of any size.

Salty silicone will additionally attract even passive pike.

Twisters, vibrotails, small fish with a swallow tail are suitable for pike perch:

  • Bugsy Shad 72 with mackerel aroma;
  • Tioga 100– 10 cm bait for catching large specimens;
  • LONG JOHN 07.90/PA03 with the smell of mackerel.

For perch:

  • Lucky John Ballist– a mixture of twister and worm with shrimp flavor;
  • Crazy Fish Angry Spin– a twister for microjig, capable of attracting even peaceful fish;
  • Reins Fat G-Tail Grub– a vibrating tail from 2 to 3 inches will not leave even a passive minke whale indifferent.

Self-production

There are silicone baits of various shapes, colors, sizes on sale with any taste, but sometimes it seems, and not unreasonably, that this or that silicone bait lacks an additional smell, a twister or vibrotail is more suitable in a different size, the coloring for a given body of water does not match optimal...

What to do?

Buy up the entire assortment of the store, given that silicone is short-lived, and sometimes even a dozen silicone baits are not enough for good fishing? Even if you have enough money, there will not be enough space not only in the boat, but also in the trunk of the SUV.

There is an exit. Making homemade silicone baits yourself at home with your own hands, especially since this process is not too complicated. Silicone (construction) melts easily and takes any shape, you can add any attractants to it, and it can be painted in any color.

Method 1. Method of sintering various parts of silicone baits.

From torn silicone baits you can make one whole one by gluing or sintering. It is better to use the sintering method, since the silicone hardens at the sizing site, which can disrupt the performance of the bait. This method is suitable if there is no other way out - all the catchy silicones while fishing are torn, and there is nowhere to get others.

  1. Trim the whole front part of the silicone spoon evenly.
  2. Smoothly trim the entire back part of the silicone spoon.
  3. Using a match or lighter, carefully heat both parts of the spoon at the junction.
  4. Connect both parts of the spoon and hold for 3-4 minutes.
  5. In the back of the bait, inside it, you can make a narrow cut with a thin blade, widen it with tweezers and add a finely dispersed attractant. As the hook tip exits the back of the bait, the attractant will be gradually released.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Important! It is important to be careful when heating silicone parts. Silicone can easily catch fire and darken.

Method 2. Method of pouring silicone into matrix molds.

In order to make silicone spoons using this method you will need:

  • mold for production;
  • silicone;
  • container for melting silicone;
  • syringes for pouring silicone into molds;
  • paints and glosses;
  • attractants.

In this case, attractants are added to the silicone melt before pouring into the mold.

Mold for making

Ready-made forms can be purchased at fishing stores. Molds with a sprue hole and channels for air to escape during pouring are designed for the manufacture of from one to several dozen baits. Forms can be purchased at prices ranging from 300 to 5,000 rubles.

Exist centrifugal shapes for making from several dozen to hundreds of baits at a time, costing from 8,000 to 15,000 rubles.

You can make a mold from plaster yourself.

One-sided forms

Used for making lures with a smooth back.

  1. The container for the plaster mold is cut from a juice or milk bag. For large-sized spinners, the package can be cut lengthwise.
  2. The gypsum mixture is prepared by gradually pouring gypsum powder into water with constant stirring. The gypsum mixture should have a creamy consistency
    consistency. In order for air bubbles to come out of the plaster, the mixing container must be struck sharply, but not forcefully, on the table several times.
  3. The gypsum mixture is poured into a container for a plaster mold.
  4. A bait sample is coated with silicone grease or Vaseline.
  5. After the mixture has slightly thickened, a bait sample is pressed into the plaster with its flat back up to the very back.
  6. After the gypsum has hardened (on average one day at room temperature), the sample is removed.

The one-sided plaster mold is ready.

Double-sided mold for making one bait

Suitable for all types and sizes of silicone baits.

  1. We repeat steps 1-3 to make a one-sided mold.
  2. We insert cone-shaped pins into the corners, having previously coated them with Vaseline or silicone grease.
  3. We insert a cone-shaped pin halfway into the head part, having previously coated it with lubricant, to form a filler neck.
  4. We insert small diameter wires in the head part to form channels for air to escape when filling. Two channels of small diameter should form at an acute angle to the axis of the bait.
  5. We insert the sample into the gypsum solution up to half a glass.
  6. After the plaster of the lower platform has dried, remove the cone-shaped pins from the corners.
  7. We coat all open surfaces of the lower platform with Vaseline or silicone grease.
  8. Pour a gypsum solution with the consistency of liquid sour cream on top.
  9. After the gypsum has hardened, remove the plaster mold from the container, separate both halves, and remove the sample for copying and the wire from the plaster mold to form channels for air outlet.

The double-sided mold for one bait is ready.

Double-sided mold for making multiple baits

  1. We repeat points 1-2 from the previous section.
  2. The baits will be located parallel. Along the location of the spinners from above, we insert a cylindrical pin with a sufficiently large diameter and a length equal to the distance from the first bait to the last, to form a filler channel.
  3. In the middle of the pin, we insert a cone-shaped pin on top to form a filler neck and pins for pouring silicone from the main channel to the heads of the baits. We pre-coat all pins with lubricant.
  4. We insert the wires.
  5. Insert samples of spinners halfway through.
  6. Repeat points 6-9.

The double-sided mold for several baits is ready.

Silicone

Liquid silicones with hardness strong, standard and soft can be purchased at a fishing store along with heat stabilizers to increase the melting point of silicone. Thermal stabilizers help increase the fluidity of silicone, are used for filling molds with several samples.

In fishing stores you can purchase both imported liquid silicones: “SILICON FISH “ABSOLUT” at a price of 600 rubles per 1 kg, or Jig 650 rubles per liter, as well as domestic silicone “Eleplast (TV 25)” and Elastolux-M (two-component silicone) at a price of 800 rubles kg. You can add a silicone hardener to any silicone, for example from Harter (380 rubles 100 ml) to increase hardness.

An economical option - melting torn silicone spoons

  1. The remains of silicone spoons are cut into small cubes.
  2. The cubes are placed in a container. You can use a tin can to melt the silicone.
  3. Heat over a fire until a liquid transparent melt is obtained.
  4. Add paint, glitter, and attractants.
  5. The melt is poured into the neck of the mold for casting silicone spinners.

After the silicone has cooled and hardened (from 12 to 48 hours), the bait is removed from the mold, and excess silicone is cut off with scissors.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Interesting. As a model for making your own, not yet tested baits, for the sake of experiment, you can buy a children's set of plastic insects, which includes various insects from worms and centipedes to bats.

Paints and glitter

Colors and glitter are added to the silicone melt before it is poured into the molds.

You won’t be able to make your own paint or pigment for coloring silicone.

It is better to use purchased ones, especially since they are inexpensive. You just have to choose the best price-quality ratio.

Among imported ones, we can recommend paints from “Plastikfarbe” (approximately 350-400 rubles for 35 ml), which give silicone baits bright and rich colors, fluorescent pigments from FisherGel (set of 5 pieces, 7g each. Can be purchased for 450 rubles).

Paints are also sold in dry form for dilution in water. The fat-soluble fluorescent dye BRB at a price of 3,500 rubles per kg is enough for years of fishing.

Glitter is a cheap material. You can use any glitter purchased at children's stores.

Attractants

Attractants can be applied by placing the bait in a closed bag of liquid for several hours. Silicone absorbs odor well and will retain it for a long time.

Silicone bait must be placed in a closed plastic bag– a container generously moistened with attractant for at least 2 hours. After 4 hours of active fishing, it will not lose its properties in water of any temperature. After each fishing, silicone baits should be placed back into closed bags, generously moistened with attractant.

A more reliable option that does not require constant wetting of the spinner, adding an attractant to the silicone melt.

Syringes for filling

Single and double special syringes for pouring molten silicone into molds are manufactured made of heat-resistant fluoroplastic, are very convenient for direct introduction of the melt through the neck. High-quality syringes can be purchased from 800 to 2500 rubles.

Installation methods

There are two main ways:

  1. Mounting on a jig head. The bait is put on a hook and fixed with a special protrusion on a lead sinker.
  2. Hinged mounting. The bait is attached to a lead weight using double rings or a collapsible structure.

Hinged mounting

Types of equipment:

  1. The offset hook is attached to a bullet-shaped sinker, the point of the hook is pressed against the bait. Used for wiring without hooking.
  2. A swivel is attached to a sinker in the form of a bullet or an olive through a short bend with a bead. The bead creates additional sound vibrations during wiring and protects the node connection. A leash with an offset hook is tied to the swivel.
  3. The offset hook is tied to the main fishing line with a knot perpendicular to the axis of the fishing line at a distance of ½ - 1 meter from the sinker.
  4. A long leash of 0.8-1.2 meters extends from the main line, fixed at a distance of 0.5 - 1 meter from the sinker.
  5. Wacky. The offset hook, when open, clings to a rubber ring placed on the body of the bait in the form of a worm. The worm's head is shipped with the nail inserted.

Silicone bait is used using:

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. Graduated from Leningrad State University named after Zhdanov, Faculty of Biology and Soil Sciences. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

A real spinning angler tries to make any fishing tackle with his own hands. Therefore, molds for silicone baits are a familiar material to such enthusiasts.

For some, silicone baits made in such forms are even better and more catchy than store-bought products.

True, many are pushed to make their own and relatively high cost of high-quality industrially produced baits, not every fisherman can afford expensive gear. Therefore, the question arises: how and with what forms you can make a good bait at home.

Advantages and disadvantages of making bait yourself

So, you decide to start making silicone baits yourself. It doesn’t matter whether the lack of funds pushes you to do this, the desire to experiment, or someone enthusiastically told you that such gear is more catchy. They are, indeed, more catchy only if they are made correctly. Then such a process will have certain advantages:

  • you can produce exactly those products that you consider the most effective;
  • There are situations when stores do not have products of the required size; homemade baits have no size restrictions;
  • often store-bought products do not have a variety of colors, home production gives free rein to imagination;
  • the same goes for fragrances;
  • Not only that, as already noted, independent production significantly saves your money, many craftsmen put it into production after a while and make good money from it.

True, there may be certain disadvantages:

  • the first prototypes, as a rule, are not of very high quality and do not turn out the way you intended them to be;
  • a product can be rendered unusable by just one, even a small, component, for example, an incorrectly selected flavor;
  • low costs are good, but it’s still much easier to buy a ready-made bait, and the purchase will not require as much time from you as manufacturing.

Safety precautions when casting silicone baits

The process of casting baits, like any work at high temperatures, requires compliance with certain safety conditions:

  • mandatory use of gloves;
  • before use, a syringe for making silicone baits must be checked for cracks and chips, and must also pass a heat resistance test;
  • if you make baits by melting old ones, do not forget about a respirator - it is not known what chemical composition of dyes they were processed with;
  • For ultimate safety, it is recommended to wrap the syringe with electrical tape and not fill it with the maximum amount of composition.

Make your own mold or buy it in a store

Molds for casting baits at home are made from the following materials:

  • gypsum; home craftsmen, as a rule, use this particular material - it is accessible and cheap;
  • alabaster; approximately the same;
  • metal;
  • fake diamond;
  • plexiglass;
  • sealant;
  • rubber.

If you have already decided to go down the path of completely independent production, do not betray yourself and, forgetting about the store, start, say, processing gypsum. True, such forms will have their disadvantages:

  • they are fragile;
  • it is difficult to preserve small details in them;
  • takes a long time to dry; an insufficiently dried product will contribute to the formation of bubbles on the bait.

Store-bought forms do not have such shortcomings, but, we repeat, you will pour bait into them not according to your own plans.

Cost of ready-made forms

Industry today produces a huge number of similar products. They are divided into 2 types:

  • single;
  • sets.

From plaster

Single ones are designed for making one type of artificial fish or worm, and in the central cities of Russia they can be bought even from 100 rubles to several thousand rubles, depending on the quality of the material and the required bait. The sets cost from about 300 rubles, and several forms are selected in one design.

From other materials

Products made from plexiglass are stronger, but they also cost 2-3 times more than gypsum. Artificial stone will be even more expensive.

Step-by-step production

Plaster mold

One-sided

The simplest manufacturing process looks like this:

  1. Gypsum is diluted with water to the desired consistency, which is similar to sour cream.
  2. The mass is poured into a container, either plastic or cardboard.
  3. A sample simulator of an artificial fish is carefully placed into the mass.
  4. Hardening time is about 1.5 hours.
  5. After hardening, the bait is carefully removed.
  6. The mold is ready to be filled with hot silicone.
  7. The finished form should be left for about a day for final hardening in an open place and only then used.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Important! The simulator sample is most often made of clay. It is easy to mold down to the details and hardens relatively quickly.

Double sided

Often, in a bait that you are planning to make, both sides are not planned to be the same, or the product is made with a bend. In this case, prepare a double-sided matrix:

  1. First, the container for filling is prepared; it should be, best of all, rectangular.
  2. To make the lower part of the matrix, the gypsum mass is poured halfway into the container.
  3. A clay imitation fish is placed there so that it is half immersed.
  4. The form is allowed to harden for 10-12 hours.
  5. Lubricate its edges with Vaseline so that both halves can easily separate.
  6. Fill the top part.

How to cast bait

Which silicone to choose

The most reliable, durable and flexible after manufacturing is considered the starting material from thermoplastic. It has improved quality, but there is one drawback to this raw material - the cost of thermoplastic is still high, and it can hardly be considered budget.

Less costly mass "Elastolux (TV 25)", its low viscosity makes it possible to fill any small elements of the form without problems. The most inexpensive materials for casting can be considered "Pentalast 718" And "Pentalast 710", but they tend to shrink after cooling. This must be taken into account when determining the size of future gear.

But the cheapest production, of course, is making from old melted baits. Experienced fishermen always have a lot of such material; over time, such artificial fish acquire defects, cracks, chips, it is better not to throw them away, but to send them for re-melting; such material itself does not lose its properties over time.

Silicone cost

In the central cities of Russia, Moscow and St. Petersburg, a relatively high-quality silicone bait costs from 300 rubles. You will spend about the same amount if you buy average quality silicone to make this 500 ml gear.

For example, if the average bait weighs 5 g, you can cast approximately 100 products from this volume of silicone. Consider the benefits yourself.

Choosing color and flavors

As for these components, their use is entirely at the discretion of the manufacturer. You can add any dyes, mix the remains of old artificial fish, add glitter and glass balls to the silicone; their reflections in the water are very attractive to fish.

Flavorings can include fish oil, garlic, anise, honey and much more.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Important! After several fishing trips, the taste and smell of such flavorings weakens or even disappears completely. To restore it, put the bait in a plastic bag, to which add a few drops of flavoring. Keep the baits in this bag for several hours, and their attractiveness to fish will be restored.

True, the main thing in this matter is not to overdo it. Fish do not like strong odors.

Manufacturing

First, the silicone should be melted. You can do this over an open fire, even at home on a gas stove in a tin can, but keep in mind that during the procedure the silicone may suddenly smoke and darken. It is best to heat it in a sealed glass syringe in a microwave oven, or in a thermal mug, stirring constantly.

Then use a syringe and fill the mold with liquid silicone. When using a one-sided mold, simply fill it to the brim with silicone.

The double-sided form is used like this. Place the two halves together and carefully fill them through a special groove. Just keep the mold at an angle, otherwise the silicone will leak out.

Silicone hardens quickly, 5 minutes is enough.

Expert opinion

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Important! After cooling, the bait should be placed in cold water, otherwise they will be too soft.

Artificial worms

They have different lengths and thicknesses and do not imitate any active movements. They can be produced in separate forms. Or you can use the tail of a twister, cutting it into small ribbons.

Large vibrotails

This is the name for lures whose tail design allows it to vibrate, hence the name.

Double-sided twisters

These baits are thin in the tail area and do not move out of shape well; the plaster is too rough for them. In this case, it is recommended to coat the gypsum mold with epoxy resin.

Crayfish with tentacles

They are successfully produced in both single-sided and double-sided forms. Just don’t make the tentacles too thin, as they may sag in the water.

Common mistakes made by newbies

It's easy to avoid them, but they still happen sometimes:

  • You can’t take a plastic syringe, you only need glass or fluoroplastic, it won’t melt;
  • if old baits are not crushed, the melting process will take a long time;
  • if the container for plaster is filled to the brim, the sample clay bait will sink completely, and you will not be able to get it out without destroying the mold, fill the container to half the height of the bait;
  • on an open fire, be careful: overheated blackened silicone will make the bait almost useless;
  • The gypsum solution must be mixed strictly following the proportions, they are indicated on the product packaging.

Gear installation

The most common method used during installation is to attach a jig head. The weight and length of the hook depend on the parameters of the bait and the depth of the reservoir. For reliability, many fishermen also secure the connection with glue.

Sometimes silicone baits are equipped with a double hook. In this case, one of the hooks is completely located in the body of the bait.

Knipovich Nikolai Mikhailovich

Zoologist, hydrobiologist. Graduated from Leningrad State University named after Zhdanov, Faculty of Biology and Soil Sciences. I am interested in fishing at a professional level.

Fans of spinning fishing, especially fans of pike perch or pike, often, or even every fishing trip, are faced with the problem of bitten off tails of silicone baits, be they vibrating tails of various sizes, gobies, worms, etc.

Also, experienced spinners often have in their arsenal a lot of unnecessary fishing silicone, which simply accumulates in the bins of a fishing box or bag, or is thrown away due to its unsuitability for its intended purpose.

Such baits appear to the fisherman when the purchased silicone, having caught the season, is not at all interesting to the predator next year, or the fish begins to prefer other colors and shapes, and perhaps, for some unknown reason to the fisherman, does not attract fish immediately after unpacking, which This often happens when purchases are made before the start of the fishing season.

Fans of jig fishing, where silicone baits are used, whether amateurs or athletes, have their very own. But year after year, or even every fishing trip, the color preferences of the predator change. Sometimes the entire arsenal of baits of various colors and shapes cannot attract whimsical fish, but only experienced spinners can successfully fish while standing next to an angler who is already changing his twentieth silicone.

Such masters of spinning fishing usually make their own baits from silicone, choosing well-proven shapes and colors from previous fishing trips, but combining them into one bait, which becomes a favorite of fishing trips, saving the fisherman in moments of absolute lack of bite.

Homemade silicone baits usually catch much more effectively than factory-made silicone. Even a spinning amateur can make his own unique bait, since the manufacturing process is very simple and takes minimal time. In addition, during the winter period, when it is not possible to catch a predator, or during a spawning ban, this method allows you to completely provide yourself with silicone for the entire fishing season.

To make bait, which is made according to the individual preferences of the predator of a certain body of water, you need a minimum of time, effort and tools.

First of all, you need to decide on the shape of the silicone bait that needs to be made, and then form a plaster mold for casting.


For a plaster mold you will need regular building plaster, a drill or screwdriver and a container in which the plaster will harden. The gypsum must be mixed until the consistency of sour cream,


after which, pour the resulting solution into any container, be it a saucepan, plastic or cardboard box,


and insert the selected bait into the still liquid solution.


After the solution has hardened, you must carefully remove the bait placed from it.


Having received a mold for pouring silicone, you need to start melting the prepared baits.


Making silicones yourself will allow the fisherman to save money on buying new gear, since in one successful fishing trip many baits will spoil, which will cost a relatively large sum. To do this, the prepared silicone needs to be cut into small pieces; the smaller they are, the faster the silicone will melt.

When starting heating, you need to decide where it is best to do it. There are three options here:

  • Melt the silicone in the microwave or oven. This option is much simpler, since when melting the silicone will not smoke and you do not need to watch it so that it does not burn. But it is not always possible to use this kitchen equipment due to lack of understanding from relatives.
  • Heat over open fire. This method is a little more complicated, since you need to constantly keep the container with silicone over the fire so that it does not burn. You can use any open fire, be it gas stoves, burners, fire, etc.
  • Melt silicone in an electric oven. This method is a cross between the previous two, but with a good thick metal melting container and the correct oven temperature, it is as simple as melting in a microwave or oven.

Despite the disadvantages of the second method of melting, by using it, you can just as easily make your own bait.

To do this, you need to hold the container with chopped silicone over the fire with pliers, not letting it smoke too much, stirring occasionally.


After the silicone has become liquid, it must be poured into a plaster mold, having previously lubricated it with some kind of fat (machine or sunflower oil, Vaseline, etc.), starting from the tail.


The remaining silicone in the jar must be removed, leaving it for future melting.


Now you need to melt silicone of a different color just like the first time and fill the remaining voids in the mold.


After the poured bait has hardened, you need to remove it from the plaster mold and use scissors to trim off all unnecessary protruding silicone.



For better elasticity of the finished bait, it should be placed in cold water for 10 minutes.

During further production in this way, you can fill the mold, placing several silicones there, and pour out a lot of baits at once. If you wish, you can purchase silicone granules and dye, which are cheap, and make all the bait yourself.

Pustovoy Denis - Especially for, Zaporozhye region, Priazovsky district, Novokonstantinovka village, Ukraine

Today, fishing has become not only a very popular way of spending time, but also quite expensive. And in this vein, it is very relevant to make some baits and lures with your own hands, for example, a simple silicone bait for fishing.

What is the advantage of silicone bait?

Silicone, as a material for making bait, is quite soft and flexible, and that is why it is such a popular bait for independent experiments. Thanks to lures and baits made of silicone, with the correct execution of wiring maneuvers, you can easily catch fish:

  • in shallow water;
  • on the rifts.

One of the important rules for this type of fishing is the proper placement of the bait, which should sway slightly during the retrieve, creating the most natural play of natural baitfish.

As experience shows, making such bait at home is not particularly difficult; you just need to strictly follow all the advice and recommendations of experienced fishermen and specialists.

What kind of silicone can be used for pouring molds?

Of course, any bait can be purchased in fishing stores, specialized centers and just small fisherman's shops, but it is much better: more efficient and cheaper, to make silicone baits with your own hands.

This is especially true for those fishermen who, over many years of “fish hunting,” have left various silicone baits with some defects and wear, since they can be melted down at home to make new ones. Such events will allow you to significantly save on fishing accessories.

Making your own silicone bait makes it possible to make it in any color, shape or size, rather than being content with what the store assortment offers.


However, there is one drawback, namely the large time expenditure, which actually stops many from such a long and painstaking task as making silicone bait with their own hands.

To make silicone baits at home, you can use one of the materials offered in stores, for example, thermoplastic. The advantage of injection molding machines is undoubtedly the high quality of the source material, and the disadvantage is the high pricing policy.

But along with expensive ones, there are also materials that can please you with a more reasonable cost, for example, “Elastolux (TV 25)”, which is characterized by a low viscosity of the mass, which allows you to fill any elements, even the smallest ones, at the time of use and actually paint them afterwards in the desired color.

In addition, the technology for manufacturing silicone bait from this material does not shrink, as a result, in contrast to materials such as Pentalast 718 or Pentalast 710, which are also still widely used for casting silicone baits. But such important characteristics should be taken into account when making fishing tackle yourself.

Cost of silicone for filling molds of baits

When choosing a material for filling molds, you should pay attention to the cost of silicone, which is why many turn to the method of melting old damaged silicone baits. Since, at the moment, most common materials cost more than 800 rubles, which not everyone can afford:

  • "Eleplast (TV 25)";
  • "Pentallast 710";
  • "Pentalast 718".

How to make a mold for pouring silicone yourself?

The first thing to think about when making silicone baits at home is the pour mold, which can also be made at home. Such molds can mainly be made from the following materials:

  • Gypsum;
  • Plexiglas.

In order to start making a mold with your own hands at home, you will need to stock up on some equipment:

  • Construction or dental plaster;
  • Bowl for mixing plaster;
  • Large spoon or spatula for stirring;
  • Kitchen scales;
  • Water;
  • Soap, it is better to choose liquid;
  • An example of the final product on which an impression will be made.


The dishes that will be used for mixing must be extremely clean and dry, without any plaster residues.
It is necessary to choose the right ratio of gypsum and water; it is recommended to stop at 25 ml of water and 100 gypsum. But it is necessary to pay special attention to the fact that the temperature of all components must be at least 20 degrees.

In order for the gypsum to dissolve as much as possible in the water without lumps, it is necessary to slowly and carefully mix it into the water for 60 seconds. If bubbles suddenly appear, you urgently need to knock them out and get rid of them.

Main types of matrices for filling molds of baits

Today there are only two main types of matrices:

  • One-sided.
  • Double-sided.

One-way matrices are a structure made of gypsum, which can also be made independently, following the tips and recommendations. To do this, you will definitely need a sample nozzle.

Such a sample is most often made from wood or clay; the finished model must be lubricated with Vaseline to better lag the source material. The technology for making a mold using a matrix is ​​quite simple - you need to fill the matrix with the finished mixture, which is 2 times thicker than the sample.

First of all, you need to carefully immerse the model, and the plaster to a depth that will be slightly more than half of it, and wait a while until it dries completely and slowly remove the sample, leaving a cast. After the matrix is ​​covered with sealant used in construction work, the one-sided matrix will be completely ready.

For the manufacture of double-sided matrix You will need a container with your own hands to start with, it is best to choose a rectangular or square shape. The selected form must be filled with plaster approximately halfway and only then lower the bait model halfway inside.

For maximum hardening, you need to leave the model in the container for about 10-12 hours and only after that you can begin to fill the second half of the matrix. In this case, it is necessary to pay special attention to the fact that half of the double-sided matrix must be lubricated with grease or petroleum jelly so that they can subsequently be easily separated.

It is recommended to make the solution thin enough so that any bubbles that form can be removed. After the second part of the double-sided matrix has already been placed in the container, it is worth, just like the first time, allowing time for complete drying.

After this, separate the matrices and be sure to pay attention to the presence of burrs, which (if any) should be removed without fail by cleaning the matrices.

After removing the sample, you need to give it a few days for all the elements to dry and set well. When applying construction sealant, it is necessary to take into account the fact that it will only need to cover one part of the matrix.

After all that has been done, you can take on the construction of air vents and sprues with complete confidence. To do this, you need to use a knife or any sharp object that is available to make a small groove from the edge of the mold to the sample itself.

Subsequently, such a groove will need to be processed with a drill. In total, there should be about 8 air outlets in the double-sided matrix, which makes it possible, when used, to make volumetric baits at home. Such baits will closely resemble live fish, which, unfortunately, cannot be achieved using a one-sided matrix.

Instructions for making silicone baits with your own hands

To get started, the first thing you need to do is melt the original silicone to make the bait. To do this, you will need to take all the old and worn baits, place them in a bowl or selected container and place them on an open fire to melt (or in a microwave oven).

The open fire option is most often used if we are talking about a large, one might even say industrial scale, when not one, but several people are involved in the melting, and the melting takes place for a large amount of starting material.

The second option with a microwave oven is more acceptable for home use. It is necessary to place the waste in the syringe, close the spout so that nothing leaks out and place it in the working space of the microwave oven.

The color of the bait being worked on may depend on the personal preferences of the author, and this fact can be attributed to the undeniable advantages of making bait yourself. You can perform an original and extravagant experiment and mix all the old baits, and see what color the result will be - perhaps it will be something innovative and original.

If you use purchased silicone to make homemade baits, you should use dye, you can add a little glitter or small balls, which will sparkle in the water, attracting catch.

In order for the “hunt” for the fish to be successful, you can add a little flavor enhancer or any flavoring additive, for example, garlic, fish oil or salt, into the mass when kneading.

But if any attractant is added as a taste enhancer, you need to pay special attention to the fact that after the first fishing the bait will lose this property. In order to make up for the lost quality, you can specially lubricate the bait after each fishing and do this in the correct order.

So, take the bait used for fishing, rinse it with running water and dry it or blot it with a towel (napkin), put all the used bait in one bag and pour in a little flavor, then knead and mix everything in the bag and leave for 2-3 days in a cool and dark place.

In order to correctly fill molds for silicone baits, you need to melt pre-prepared silicone over a fire and pour it into a previously made mold (or purchased one).

If the technology uses a one-sided mold, then after filling it with silicone and within a few minutes you can remove the finished mold from the model.

This is a fairly simple method, unlike pouring a double-sided matrix, which uses two halves that are connected to each other. The previously melted silicone is poured into the groove (the execution of which was described earlier) until the matrix is ​​completely filled to the brim.

When hardening, it is recommended to hold the matrix or place it at a certain angle. After the time during which the silicone hardens in the matrix, you can remove the bait from the mold slowly and carefully so as not to damage small elements.

It is recommended to wait about 3-5 minutes until it hardens, depending on the viscosity of the silicone. After this, the finished bait must be placed in water, and, in order to speed up the cooling process, add some ice cubes to the container.

Then, when the finished bait has completely cooled, you will need to slightly adjust the shape, namely, cut the shape and thereby remove any remaining silicone. Using a sharp, small knife, cut off excess parts of the silicone, trying to make the bait as realistic as possible.

Types of baits that can be made using silicone

Thanks to this simple method, you can make many fishing baits, for example:

  • Worm baits, which look like a centipede, baits with a lot of legs and tails;
  • Can be made from silicone large vibrotails, but which do not have tails, in the form of a snout;
  • Crayfish with tentacles can also be made of silicone at home;
  • Double-sided twisters.

Such additional items and elements are practically irreplaceable if it is necessary to perform wiring, as they create the visual effect of the movement of live fish and leave behind a special hydraulic trace.

Safety precautions when making silicone molds


When making silicone baits at home, you need to be extremely careful and precise. comply with all safety rules and requirements:

  • When melting silicone, stand first, check the syringe for heat resistance and for absence of cracks or breakages.
  • Mandatory use gloves, do not remove them when working with hot silicone.
  • Recommended wrap the syringe with insulated tape.
  • Initially, you should not put a lot of starting material into the syringe so that it does not leak out and cause any damage.
  • When melting old baits, be sure to you need to put on a respirator and open the windows or turn on the air conditioner to keep the room ventilated.

In order for the plan to come true and the whole process to be effective, it is necessary to strictly follow the advice and recommendations of experts, especially for beginners in this matter:

  • Do-it-yourself matrix Necessarily should be larger in volume on both sides.
  • If the technology involves the use of a double-sided matrix, It is necessary to pay special attention to the consistency of the gypsum.
  • To ensure that the bait sample does not completely enter the solution under gravity, it is necessary to fill exactly half of it, as indicated in the technology.
  • The gypsum solution must be mixed strictly in proportions, so that the matrix does not chip during use.
  • Old and spoiled baits must be crushed very carefully, thus, the contents of the syringe will melt faster.
  • In no case safety rules and requirements must not be neglected when making silicone molds and baits at home.

In this article we will analyze in detail the process of making silicone baits at home. You will learn about the materials of molds for casting baits, silicone, dyes, flavors, glitter, tools and other important details of this matter. The article will also contain a video on making a mold for casting from plaster.

What types of silicone molds are there?

Silicone molds are made from the following materials:

  1. Metal
  2. Sealant
  3. Fake diamond
  4. Plexiglas
  5. Alabaster

Molds for casting silicone baits

You can buy molds for casting or make your own. As you can imagine, the mold consists of two parts that fit together to form a sealed area.

If you want to buy a ready-made mold for casting, then it’s easier for you to do this on the Internet, since online stores sell a large variety of all kinds of molds for casting silicone and other devices.

Shapes can be made from various materials and colors.

Several contours for several baits can be cut out in the molds at once, which speeds up casting.

Good casting molds should have air ducts that allow air to escape when the silicone is poured. The walls of the molds should fit tightly against each other.

DIY mold for silicone baits

Most often, craftsmen make their own molds for casting from plaster, as it is inexpensive and quite simple. To make this mold you will need: plaster, water, dishes, lubricant, a sample of silicone bait. For more information about making plaster molds, watch the video.

What you need to make silicone baits

  1. Silicone casting mold
  2. Silicone heating mold
  3. Microwave
  4. Fluoroplastic syringe
  5. Silicone Grease
  6. Clamp
  7. Gloves
  8. Scissors
  9. Silicone
  10. Sequins
  11. Dye
  12. Flavoring

We've sorted out the casting molds, now let's move on to other tools. Ceramic, glass or fluoroplastic cups can be used as a container for heating silicone. Fluoroplastic is preferable, as it holds the temperature longer and is very durable.

Handle containers heated in the microwave using gloves or a cloth.

Glitter, dyes, flavors

Glitter is not necessary in silicone baits, but is desirable as its shine is similar to the shine of fish scales, making it more natural for predatory fish. Sequins come in different colors and sizes (from 1 to 6 mm).

Dyes (pigments) There are a variety of colors: black, white, red, green, blue, orange and others. Pigments are simple, photoluminescent and fluorescent. It is worth noting that to obtain the desired color, it is not necessary to buy all the colors, since to obtain the desired shade you can simply mix several different dyes.

As for flavors, special heat-resistant attractants are used that can withstand the temperature of molten silicone well.

In online stores you can find the following scents: fish oil, caviar, anise, garlic, coffee, caramel, lemon and others.

Casting silicone bait for perch

Syringes for casting silicone baits

Ordinary plastic syringes are not used, as they immediately deteriorate from the temperature of liquid silicone. Glass syringes or special syringes made of fluoroplastic are used. Glass syringes are fragile, you need to be very careful with them. PTFE ones are more reliable.

It is worth noting that silicone can be melted in a separate container, or directly in a syringe. In a separate bowl, mix melted silicone, dyes, glitter and flavors. After stirring, the silicone must be heated before pouring.

If silicone melts in a syringe, then it should be placed in the microwave with the spout facing up. The nose of the syringe can be plugged with a toothpick or match to prevent the silicone from leaking out.

Silicone lure casting process

  1. Grease the mold with silicone grease.
  2. Clamp the mold with a clamp.
  3. You need to heat the silicone in the microwave at a power of 200-300 watts, stirring the silicone every 30 seconds until completely melted.
  4. Draw silicone into the syringe. If you heat the silicone in a separate container, you need to draw the silicone into the syringe. If the silicone melts in the syringe, move on to the next point.
  5. We turn the syringe upside down with the needle, pull the piston back a couple of centimeters, and then smoothly squeeze out all the air until liquid silicone flows out of the syringe.
  6. Take a mold for silicone baits, insert a syringe into the sprue and squeeze out the silicone until the silicone flows out of the air vents of the mold.
  7. After filling, slowly remove the syringe from the mold while continuing to squeeze out the silicone. This must be done so that the bait does not have hollow noses.
  8. Leave the whole thing for a minute until it cools.
  9. Remove the bait from the mold.
  10. After removing the silicone bait, you need to put it in cold water.
  11. Next, use scissors to cut off the excess silicone.

The bait is ready.

You can also melt down old silicone baits. Before heating, they need to be cut into small pieces.

Silicone is placed in the microwave at a power of 200-300 watts. From time to time you need to check the silicone and stir it until it becomes liquid.

If silicone is overheated, it begins to burn and change color, which is very bad. Burnt silicone begins to smell strongly and release substances harmful to the body.

Before each use, the mold must be lubricated with silicone grease.

Fumes from molten silicone are harmful to the body, so ventilate the room or work outside!!!

The secret to silicone baits

Casting silicone baits using Redbug molds

The Redbug company sells products for casting silicone baits. In their store they have molds for casting baits, silicone, glitter, dyes, flavors, fluoroplastic syringes, mixing containers and other auxiliary tools.

Particular attention should be paid to casting molds that are made of artificial stone. The quality of the molds is quite good; before each use they need to be lubricated with silicone grease. The assortment includes molds for casting both one and multiple baits. There are shapes of the most popular lures such as Keitech Swing Impact, Pontoon 21 Awaruna, Dexter Worm, Imakatsu Javastic and many more.

You can get acquainted with all Redbug products by following the link.

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