Get Inspired: Hooked on lures

Les Barlow, from Stanthorpe, QLD, has been crafting lures for decades, and is an inspiring figure for fishermen and friends alike. Earlier in his career, Barlow ran a construction business with his brother in Stanthorpe where he has been living in Stanthorpe most of his life.

Barlow has been producing lures for over two decades, an enterprise that began as a hobby when he was a child. 

Barlow stresses that he makes lures so people, especially children, can have fun fishing.  He often gives away his lures for free because he enjoys fishing and wants people to get the same enjoyment out of it as we does without paying lots of money for gear.

My family and I would visit him often and he would always take us into his workshop which was decorated with photos of his customers holding fish caught on his lures and mounted cod heads.  There are shelves of fishing stuff which reflect his love of the sport. 

Known for his stories, there is one that is particularly frightening. Retelling his experiences, Barlow said he had gone fishing Severn River where it runs through Sundown National Park.

He often left very early in the morning and stayed out most of the day.  One such fishing trip, he said he was returning home along the river feeling very hungry and tired when he passed out from lack of food. Barlow said he prayed and saw angels who gave him strength to get back to his car where he had some food. 

When we first got to know him he was suffering from bone cancer and on one visit he told us he had won the lottery.  We were all very excited and asked how much he had won, but Barlow explained that he had had scans and his doctor had cleared him of his cancer.

All his lures were hand made with a jig saw, hand planer, rasp, and sand paper. 

Barlow first traces one of his many designs of lures onto a piece of wood, either cedar or some of his native timber which he also uses.  He then cuts it out with a jig saw, which is one of the only power tools he uses in his work shop. 

Barlow then clamps the rough piece of wood into a padded bench top vice.  A hand planer is used to take off any sharp corners and then a rasp finishes off the job. 

The lure is then smoothed to perfection with sand paper.  The next step is to cut a slot in the front of the lure for the bib, a flat piece of metal or plastic used to pull the lure down through the water. The angle of the cut dictates the angle at which the lure will dive down into the water. 

A power drill is used to drill holes for the attachments to which the hooks are connected.  Wire is twisted with a loop at one end and because of the structure it screws into the wood and then it is glued in, using waterproof glue. 

Barlow separately tests every lure he makes.  He takes them down to the creek and checks whether they float straight and contain the special wide wobble and roll action essential for every cod lure.  He often catches fish while testing his lures. 

Once he was testing his lures and he caught a fresh water catfish.  Just then, an old man walked up and asked if he could have the fish.  Barlow gave him the fish gladly and the man walked away with the fish hanging by the gills on his fingers. 

Once tested, the lures are taken to his paint shop, a small booth, and he uses spray paint to paint the lure, he then coats the lure with water proofing to preserve the paint and wood.

Les Barlow is a good example of someone who uses his skills to do something useful for other people.  He is a role model and good friend to fishermen and his friends, of whom he has many because he is an open guy with a generous and kindly attitude to everyone he meets and knows.