How to Build an Electronic Fish Bait

Electronic fishing lures are made of either hard or soft plastic containing a strobing LED light inside the lure's body. The flashing light attracts the attention of fish and draws strikes. Several models are commercially available, but you can build your own electronic fish bait at home with just a few simple materials.

Things You'll Need

  • Large, shad-style soft plastic fishing lure
  • Small knife
  • Miniature, waterproof LED strobe light
  • Lead jighead, or hook of appropriate size, to match the soft plastic lure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a small slice in the bottom of the plastic shad-style fishing bait using the knife. The slice should not be deep or very long -- about 1/8 of an inch will do. Make the slice on the part of the lure where the base of the tail angles downward to form the bait's belly.

    • 2

      Turn on the waterproof LED strobe light so that it is flashing. Make sure to check that the LED light's casing is properly closed and that the rubber 'O' ring is aligned around the closure forming a seal. This will protect the batteries and electronic components of the light from water damage.

    • 3

      Push the tip of the flashing strobe in the slit in the tail of the plastic bait. Push the light through the plastic of the bait's body until it is fully inserted and held firmly in place by the tension in the plastic of the body. The strobe's light should now be flashing inside the body of the bait and diffracting through the plastic.

    • 4

      Insert the tip of the lead jighead's hook into the nose of the bait a centimeter or two below the line of the bait's back. Push the hook into the body of the bait until the bend in the hook is even with the nose of the bait. Be careful to avoid disturbing the placement of the LED strobe with the tip of the hook.

    • 5

      Twist the jighead so that the point of the hook is angled upward toward the spine of the bait. Push the hook forward so that the point of the hook emerges from the bait's spine and points toward the nose of the bait. Push the jighead further into the bait until the weighted lead section of the jighead is snug against the plastic nose of the bait.