What do you do when a massive low is bearing down over the coast of Far North Queensland over the weekend? There are only so many DVD’s you can watch and the localised flooding that keeps you house bound for 48 hours is enough to drive you berkley!
I must admit, I stumbled across this little gem while searching the Internet on how to create soft plastics. I was surprised at the amount of tutorials I found, however one just about leapt out of the screen at me! It is a form of straw art; similar to the ancient Japanese tradition of Origami, however utilising a simple flexi straw and scissors.
Thinking of the run off action in days to come, I immediately thought of turning this straw prawn into a lure so I could test this interesting technique on the tarpon. So down to the shops I walked and bought a pack of 200 hundred straws and away I went!
Firstly, this took me about one hour to perfect while I followed an online guide that broke down the process where I could stop, pause, rewind and play the tutorial. About 15 straws later, I started grasping the intricate art form and began turning a simple straw into a prawn imitation with lifelike features such as legs and feelers. Before you go down to the golden arches and grab a fist full of straws I’d suggest you buy a bulk pack of flexi straws for the small price of a newspaper.
What you need
Small sharp scissors
Strand 20lb or 30lb Mono Leader, approximately 10cm
1 lighter or matches
1 safety pin
1 small split shot sinker
1 worm hook
Optional extras
Nail polish/glitter,
Spray paint
Pen
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Holding the straw, stretch the straw out so it reveals the flexi segments. Flatten the long length of the straw so it creates two creases.
Again, there are many online tutorials out there so have a go and be creative and take up the challenge! I have had success on a few species already including snake headed gudgeon, tarpon and jungle perch. My goal is to catch a barramundi on one before th
With your scissors cut down the middle of the straw until you reach the flexi bend. Take one side and cut down the crease line until you reach the flexi bend. You should have three segments.
With the largest segment at the top, wrap the nearest strip around the top segment on the inside, passing it back through the loop you created, pull down firmly. Repeat on the other side.
Take both sides and crease backwards on itself pointing up, these will be the legs. Whilst pinching the straw legs up, perform the same loop pattern on the original side. Change sides and repeat, make sure you pinch the leg segment up while you loop, pull
Once again bend back the legs and then bend them in to two segments. Take your scissors and divide each side in to four legs. Trim legs to 2.5cm in length. On the front leg create a small nipper.
On the remaining length segment, divide into five strips, cutting all the way down to the head. The middle section will be the head spike, trim to 2cm in length and cut at angle to create small wedges. The two outer strips on each side will be the long fe
Flatten the short end of the straw and trim to 1.5cm; this is the tail. On the underside, cut out a triangle, finish by cutting down both crease lines.
For the eyes take your safety pin and pierce a hole through the head of the prawn. Pass a 2cm length of the mono leader through the hole.
Using the lighter, burn both ends of the leader to create the eyes. This keeps them in place and looks very realistic. You are finished! It is up to you how you rig your creation; it can be used unweighted as a fly imitation or rigged with a small split s
