ANNOUNCEMENT!! LIKE AMERICAN IDOL FOR LURE MAKERS!

[dahlberg]

Larry Dahlberg's Great Lure Build-Off 2012

A person might be the greatest guitarist, or be gifted with a once in a century voice, or have the ability to design the best mouse trap or fishing lure ever made, BUT unless the absolute right set of circumstances come together, only a few people may ever be aware of it.

In the case of fishing lures it seems like the deck is especially stacked against better mouse trap makers.

Even with the use of the internet, consolidations in manufacturing and distribution have made it almost impossible for individuals or small companies to get their "single" products into the market place.

I guess it's understandable when you look at the progression of product performance and progress.

Less than 100 years ago the best fishing rods were hand made out of bamboo by largely self-trained individuals in "basement workshops". That all changed with the advent of synthetic fibers and resins and the sophisticated machinery needed to work with them. It made sense to consolidate everything from fishing rods and golf shafts, to radio antennae. Today, the best of all these things are made in sophisticated factories by sophisticated engineers.

But, for some reason, fishing lures and music are different. The very best still get cooked up in the hearts and minds of passionate, creative, individual people in their own private space and time.

Unfortunately, some great creative concepts never gain the exposure or funding they need to develop. Worse, sometimes life savings are lost pursuing a dream and the ideas are simply stolen outright. I had it happen with a couple of great ideas when I was much younger.

Then I got lucky and bumped into three people. One of them made
silicone and urethane resins for modeling. His company is called Alumilite and his name was Mike. He helped me in my struggle to go from wood to more modern materials in my basement workshop and more or less into the 21st century. The other two guys, brothers Simon and KK Chan of River2Sea, are connected to the largest high quality lure factory in the world, and have in the last year helped me take some of my designs I had hidden away through the manufacturing process and into distribution.

I'd like for the same opportunity to be available to someone who deserves it.

We've created the Great Lure Build Off so each year the person who comes up with the best great original lure will have the opportunity to get it fast-tracked into both manufacturing and distribution, PLUS receive patent help, full credit and a fair royalty!

Here's the barebones of how it works. (In the next few weeks/days we'll reveal more details.)

The "inventor" will submit a design with an explanation of the lures
"purpose", and reason for being developed, plus video of it in the water, and of course hopefully, working samples if chosen as a finalist by our panel judges and peers.

There will be two categories, Hard Lures and Soft Lures.

Originality, functionality, feasibility "do-ability", breadth of application and overall effectiveness, will out weigh cosmetic aspects with regards to judging. The judges will be me, and a couple of others who are highly qualified but must remain anonymous. Visitors to the site will also get to vote.

Don’t worry, you own your designs. You retain any and all ownership rights. (We will provide an online agreement which spells out all the legal stuff that's required for our mutual protection.)

In a nutshell, it's pretty simple. Anyone 18 can enter. The best will be given the opportunity to have their lure manufactured and distributed at no cost to them by River2Sea. The submissions must be made from Alumilite products. Fishing lure patent attorney specialist Richard Ogawa will provide pro bono service on matters of intellectual property.

You might be asking, what does Larry get out of this?

I get the satisfaction of seeing someone who deserves a shot get one.

It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to share what I've discovered over the years with other anglers in hopes of adding to the body of knowledge.
Plus, I'm hoping the fallout from our Build Off will help launch, or inspire small custom batch basement/garage lure builders to follow their dream.

GOOD LUCK!!
L

[Cwalter]

This is very cool Larry as I just discovered these products and have started putting some ideas on how to make the normal you find in bait shops better. I have been fishing Saltwater now for 12 years in Fl and after working at Maverick Boats for a while got to be around some knowledgeable people. And after years of using what seems like the same old soft plastics my self and my good fishing buddie knew it was time to create some new lures that the fish have not seen yet. And one was a new prototype topwater not seen before so this would be a good place to showcase it.

[Caja]

Sweet contest, I have got a combo lure with soft plastic and hard plastic in the works.

[Cwalter]

That sounds like a sweet combo.

[lmoore]

Sounds like fun, time to hit the drawing board. Will people be limited to only 1 entry or can you submit 1 for each category?

[dahlberg]

submit as many as you wish!
L

[lmoore]

Mr. Dahlberg,
When are you thinking of getting this underway? In the midst of cabin fever, and until another bunch of jig skirt supplies come in, I've been working on this. I have 3 designs I'm trying to perfect right now.

[dahlberg]

Hope to have all the i's dotted and t's crossed within a week or two. Keep tinkering!!!!
best
L

[Questor]

I don't think I'll be entering anything, but it is a great idea, and seems like an excellent forum for making the kinds of continual incremental improvements that keep the world progressing.

The one thing I always like to see more of is how to best apply the rigs and lures and baits we already have. For example, when I wanted to know how to use a drop shot rig, I went to youtube and watched some videos. The English videos gave me a superficial idea of how to use it, and that was good. But there was a German guy who reinforced once again the German love for information. I don't even speak the language, but he have such a thorough and detailed set of descriptions, I could clearly understand the ways in which he suggested they be applied. I'd like to see more stuff like that here.

[SLT Fishing Products]

I love this I have been trying to find a way to get my products out there and I think this is the opportunity I have been looking for. Thank you to all who is making this possible especially Larry.

[Caja]

Is it to early to start entering lures, discriptions, videos, pictures?

[Mike - Alumilite]

Yes, please wait a little longer. Loose ends of the build off are being completed in the next week or two. We'll post on the forum and have the entry portal up and running soon.

Mike
Alumilite

[jsanders]

Larry, this is great!! Over the past month I have been tinkering with a couple of ideas and just yesterday found the alumalite products and your vids. I watched everyone of them and decided this is the way to go and now THIS!! Even the non-winners will get a lot more exposure than without this contest. Thanks for all you do.

Your diving frog is inspirational...pure genius.

J

[Watchhiller]

........................

[Cat5Lures]

Larry

Sorry, but I just discovered this post. Has this event already come and gone? If not, can you provide any more details? Can't wait to hear more!!

Steve

[dahlberg]

Go the the Makelure.com website. THe contest has just started!
best
L

[Cat5Lures]

Disregard the last post I found the info. Awesome!

[GtrScotty]

Oh I want in!,, but,, I haven't made any lures with your materials!?!