Wouldn’t you rather be fishing right now? Since you aren’t, it’s a good time to do the next best thing and get ready for fishing season.
A fishing lure is an essential piece of equipment to avoid going home empty-handed. There’s no better preparation than finding the perfect lure, but that’s no easy task with so many options. Choosing the right type, size, shape, and color of fishing lure can make all the difference when you’re waiting for the fish to take the bait.
Why waste your time roaming the aisles of a hardware store looking for a lure when you can make one yourself at home? 3D printed fishing lures are fully customizable, giving you an opportunity to have the perfect bait on your rod to catch that big bass.
Fishing preparation can make for the best day of work, and the top fishing lures prevent you from having your worst day of fishing. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best fishing lures you can 3D print.
If you’re looking for lures but would rather skip the printing part, try Craftcloud. You can upload your lure of choice, and the printed parts will be shipped to your door. So, all you have to do is toss them in your tackle box!
Material & Post-Processing Considerations
3D printing allows anglers to explore new possibilities in making their own custom lures. However, there are some challenges to keep in mind when choosing your printing material and post-processing the lure to ensure its effectiveness in the water.
Materials & Technology
PLA is popular for its printability and color selection, but it’s not very resistant to heat and water. PETG offers a good balance between flexibility and durability, making it a versatile and non-toxic option. If the lure you have in mind is medium to large, fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing is recommended. However, if you need small and delicate pieces, resin-based 3D printing is more suitable for achieving more detailed results.
Surface Preparation
To ensure your 3D printed lures have a flawless and durable finish, it’s essential to properly prepare the surface before painting. As mentioned, PLA and PETG are two of the most common materials used for 3D printing lures, and each requires specific treatment.
For PLA, the first step is sanding. Start with fine-grit sandpaper, between 300 and 400, to remove any imperfections from the printing process. After smoothing the surface, use an even finer grit, between 600 and 800, to ensure the surface is completely smooth and ready for painting.
After sanding, it’s crucial to wash the lure with warm water and soap to remove any dust residue. Allow the lure to dry completely before proceeding. Applying a plastic primer, such as an acrylic primer, is the next step. The primer helps the paint adhere better to the PLA, ensuring a durable and even finish.
PETG also requires careful sanding. Use fine-grit sandpaper (300 to 400) to start, followed by finer grit (600 to 800) to finish. After sanding, wash the lure with warm water and soap to remove any dust residue. As with PLA, it’s essential that the lure is completely dry before applying a primer. For PETG, an epoxy primer is highly recommended, as it offers excellent adhesion and prepares the surface for painting.
Painting
To ensure your lures not only perform well but also attract more fish, choosing the right paint is essential. Enamel paints are durable and resistant, while acrylics are easy to use and come in a variety of colors. Fluorescent paints increase visibility, especially in murky waters, and glossy paints can attract many fish species. Automotive paints also provide great adhesion when applied with airbrushing. No matter what, you’ll want to try out the final result in a water-filled container at home before you take it out to open waters to ensure that it won’t wear off or present issues.
Using tools like stencils can help you add precise patterns, or you can use airbrushes for smooth gradients and brushes for fine details. The key is to achieve the maximum possible realism.
Density & Buoyancy
The density and buoyancy of your lures can be adjusted to improve performance. To increase density and make the lure sink faster, add lead beads during the printing process. To increase buoyancy, a hollow internal structure or the use of lightweight materials can be effective. These modifications help control the depth and sinking rate, allowing you to customize the lure for different fishing conditions.
Finishing & Protection
To ensure your lures have a long lifespan and withstand continuous use, applying a protective finish is essential. Clear varnish is a popular option, providing protection against scratches and wear. Applying several layers is recommended for robust protection. Epoxy is another excellent option, providing a durable and impact-resistant layer that can protect the paint and the integrity of the lure. Make sure to add realistic eyes to your lure, as they significantly enhance the realism.
Ultimately, the post-processing and finishing of fishing lures made with 3D printing requires a balance between creative experimentation and technical knowledge.
Crankbait
Crankbait is one of the most versatile and popular types of fishing lures. The hardbody style lends itself well to 3D printing, leaving us with quite a few options to choose from. Read on before you head out to catch some fish.
Standard
This popular lure has proven successful, with many caught fish posted online. The designer recommends using an airbrush for the best look and results. He links to a couple of videos on painting fishing lures beneath the design.
This lure prints in two halves, and you’ll need some wire and superglue needed to the design.
- Who designed it? sthone
- How printable/popular is it? 37 makes have been shared across all of the sites, and the STLs have been downloaded over 62,000 times from Thingiverse alone!
- Where to find it? Thingverse, MyMiniFactory, Cults
Collection
Anglers know it’s always good to be prepared for any situation. If you’re undecided about which lure to choose, this one is a complete option! The collection includes Crankbait, Popper, and Target, plus stencil templates and a DWG file for the threads.
If you’re not familiar with lures just yet, crankbaits are underwater lures that mimic injured fish, poppers are surface lures that create noise and splashes, and target lures are designed for specific species and situations.
Printing tips include using a layer height of 0.15 mm and 10% infill.
- Who designed it? drwatson6
- How printable/popular is it? With eight makes, one remix, and some beautiful photos, this is definitely worth making at home.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Squarebill
This squarebill crankbait lure is a simple fishing lure to print and assemble. The design includes an air pocket to assist with floating and leaves space for the addition of BBs to create a rattling noise.
While the designer printed it without supports, some of the makes have been printed with supports activated, according to the information available.
- Who designed it? reidrobinson
- How printable/popular is it? 10 people have printed and shared their makes of this lure, and a remix has also been posted.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Jointed & Topwater Popper
This design’s a two-for-one special, with downloadable files available to print this lure as a jointed crankbait or a topwater popper.
Whether you print it in two halves with the joint or opt for the solid topwater popper, this lure requires some assembly with hardware from your local bait shop. Supports and a raft are a must for these designs, as they need to be printed simultaneously, then assembled.
- Who designed it? sirmakesalot
- How printable/popular is it? 22 Thingiverse users have posted makes of these models in various materials and with different paint jobs. One remix has also been posted.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Ultralight
This ultralight crankbait lure is notably tiny, but its creator mentions significant success catching yellow perch and bluegills with it.
Unlike most crankbait lures, this one only has one hook because it’s too small to include hooks at both the rear and bottom. It has one of the easiest assembly processes of any of the items on this list, printing in two halves that only need to be glued together – no screws or wire required.
Note that both the original design, as well as a few of the makes, used 90% infill.
- Who designed it? sthone
- How printable/popular is it? There are nine posted makes combined from the sites, plus a remix of this ultralight fishing lure on Thingiverse.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults, MyMiniFactory
Swimbait
These lures are better at imitating natural fish movements without you needing to jerk your rod around. Relax, let your fishing pole do the work, and save your strength for when you feel a nibble.
Snake
This next model has provided makers with some nice results, with one commenting that they caught a pike within the first five minutes!
Two different sizes are available: 300 mm and 170 mm. There’s also a video detailing the assembly process and a successful fishing trip.
To print, 20% infill and 0.1-mm layer height are recommended. No supports are necessary.
- Who designed it? StrangeBait (remixed from bdbush)
- How popular/printable is it? This fun lure has five makes so far. One maker painted their snake with an airbrush.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Minnow Shad
Each bait uses its charm to attract prey, and this one is no exception. It uses the highlighted look of the eye to attract attention. Although the colors suggest that it’s made in parts, the file is actually made up of a single piece and is available in STL and 3MF formats.
The author recommends using a connection ring with a diameter of 5.5 mm or greater. 12% infill and 2 walls are recommended for printing. To assemble this lure, simply print a connection ring and two sides, one mirrored, and then glue each one to a side of the connection ring.
- Who designed it? KT
- How printable/popular is it? Around 30 fishermen indicated that they were able to complete their bait per MakerWorld, which takes between 1.4 and 1.9 hours to print.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Worm
Worms are the main dish for many different fish, but collecting and preparing natural bait isn’t always easy or pleasant. To avoid disappointing your fish, this lure is a simple and easy option.
There are four distinct parts, including the head, tail, body, and joints. For the body, you can use as many parts as you want. The designer printed the example in the photo above with 3 walls and 50% infill, but they have not yet tested it with weights. This indicates that some weight may be necessary.
- Who designed it? MarlyWong
- How printable/popular is it? Over 150 fishermen have already downloaded this model and 2 of them successfully made it in several different colors.
- Where to find it? Printables
Headbanger Style
Sometimes, all you need is a lure that isn’t too chaotic but at the same time is capable of grabbing attention beneath the water’s surface. Enter this headbanger lure.
For best results, print this model with 100% infill for strength. It’s designed for M2 screws and 1.2-mm stainless wire. There’s also a video showing the smooth behavior of this lure in action.
- Who designed it? Domi1988
- How popular/printable is it? This lure has three makes and counting. The realistic design and great performance has been praised by multiple makers in the comments.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Print-in-Place
This design easily prints in one piece from one file and does an excellent job of mimicking a real fish to catch bigger prey.
This lure prints with support for the joints, and minor assembly is required for the hooks. For the most realistic movements, be sure to bend it back and forth a few times before boarding the boat to loosen the joints up.
- Who designed it? jakejake
- How printable/popular is it? 39 makes and 9 remixes have been posted with a variety of filaments, and over 74,000 downloads of the file show its popularity.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults
Customizable
This design is customizable depending on which fish you’re trying to lure in, with files for four different heads and two midsections available to print.
Rather than using BBs to cause a rattling sound like most lures, the creator recommends one drop of silica gel during the print. Note that the original design and most of the makes have been printed with 100% infill.
- Who designed it? Domi1988
- How printable/popular is it? 21 successful makes have been shared on all sites.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults, MyMiniFactory
Craw Fish Mold
This is not a lure in and of itself, but a mold for creating flexible bait. Simply melt some plastic, pour it into the mold, let it cool, and voilà! You’ll have crayfish bait at the ready.
Since it’s malleable, it has a more natural look and can therefore attract fish easily. The pattern file comes in the OBJ format.
While there doesn’t appear to be a definitive answer on which filament type will be best for the mold, PETG is recommended (although ABS, PLA, and TPU are also mentioned), and it will also depend on what material you’ll use after you’ve created the mold.
- Who designed it? matthewgiancola
- How popular/printable is it? There’s one posted make and three remixes on Thingiverse. One maker notes that it’s a fun project for a snow day.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Open Mold
To get a good hook, sometimes you need to attract a little attention. Measuring around 15 cm from top to tail with two hook slot inserts, the lures you can create by first 3D printing this mold can do just that. It’s recommended to use a layer height of 0.2 mm, 6 walls, and 15% infill for the mold.
One important thing here is that the orientation in which you place the mold when 3D printing it will change the texture of the bait. When printing vertically, you’ll have a cleaner design on the surface of the mold, while if you print it horizontally, you’ll have a roughness that will resemble “salmon skin”.
- Who designed it? PJR Craftlure
- How printable/popular is it? The model was recently shared but already has around 10 downloads and 3 prints according to MakerWorld.
- Where to find it? MakerWorld
Best of the Rest
There are many different types of fishing lures, but not all are 3D printable. For the ones that are, we’ve condensed our favorites to the designs below.
Frog
Sometimes all you need is the right bait for the right fish. This little frog can float and if you shake or move the line, it can imitate the movements of a real frog. When stretched, this creative lure measures 15 cm from head to toe.
When replicating it at home, it’s recommended to use 40% infill. This way, it will be light enough to float but also heavy enough to stay in the water. For the leg joints, the designer used 16 x 7.5-mm hook screws. They also left some valuable tips for printing, such as regularly washing your build plate to avoid oil and checking that the bed is level before each print.
- Who designed it? Contributing Factor
- How printable/popular is it? Recently shared, this model already has almost 100 downloads and more than 40 prints, as shared by both platforms.
- Where to find it? Printables, MakerWorld
Croatian Egg
When your prize is hidden among plants and marshy spots, a hook can easily snag on branches and plants, making your fishing trip a nightmare. This Croatian egg lure protects the tip of the hook so that it doesn’t get tangled where it shouldn’t when floating upwards.
There are two versions, a popper and one with a rounded nose, both of which are recommended to print with 10% infill, 0.10-mm layer height, and no supports. There are internal cavities to make the lure float and loads are added to make noise.
- Who designed it? sthone
- How printable/popular is it? The print is made in two parts that are easily glued together, and there are six makes with different filament colors.
- Where to find it? Printables, Thingiverse
Wasp
The manufacturer of this bee-autiful wasp lure was originally inspired by a post he saw on Instagram from korol_handmade_lures. He created it for the bluegill, but it’s also possible to use it for other species.
To print, the maker used 10% infill, two shells, and a 0.1-mm layer height. In addition to this lure, you’ll find others on his website and a video demonstrating the testing process.
- Who designed it? sthone
- How popular/printable is it? With more then 1,900 downloads and 9 makes in total across the different sites, this eye-catching model has plenty of fans.
- Where to find it? Printables, Cults, Thingiverse
Whopper Plopper
This imitation of the popular Whopper Plopper fishing lure does an excellent job of replicating the distinctive sound.
The design comes with simple instructions for upscaling, depending on your target fish. The print assembles easily with a wire.
- Who designed It? Domi1988
- How printable/popular is it? 16 makes and 2 remixes are out catching topwater fish.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults, MyMiniFactory
Submarine
There are many reasons to spend a day fishing. You can fish for sport, a delicious meal, or simply for fun! With this submarine-style lure, you can add a unique twist to your next trip.
To print, it’s suggested to use a 10% infill and 0.10-mm layer height. If you want to explore the creator’s other designs, you can check out his website.
- Who designed it? sthone
- How popular/printable is it? This powerful lure has over 8,700 downloads and 2 makes across all websites.
- Where to find it? Printables, Cults, Thingiverse
Texas
This lure prints in one piece and floats on its own. It doesn’t get much easier than that! Even better, the many photos of fish indicate the success of the simple model.
The designer does recommend tying an exceptionally strong knot to prevent losing this lure from your tackle box. While the original model was printed in ABS, some successful makers have shared that they printed their own versions in PLA.
- Who designed it? icathcart
- How printable/popular is it? There have been 15 makes and 4 remixes of this clearly effective design.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse
Topwater
Add a couple of BBs inside, and this lure will provide you with all the excitement of topwater fishing. With easy printing and assembly, there’s no excuse for not hitting the lake with this fishing lure sometime soon.
Similar to the crankbait fishing lures included above, this lure requires some twitch to create realistic movement.
- Who designed it? sthone
- How printable/popular is it? One of this model’s designs has over 51,000 downloads, while 26 makes have been posted.
- Where to find it? Thingiverse, Cults, MyMiniFactory
License: The text of "3D Printed Fishing Lures: 20 Great Lures to 3D Print" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.