3D Printed Fishing Gear: Lures, Rod Holders, and More

I started 3D printing fishing gear almost by accident — a friend asked me to print a replacement rod holder bracket for his boat, and once I saw how perfectly a custom-fit solution worked, I went down the rabbit hole. Since then, I have printed everything from custom crankbaits to tackle box organizers to kayak accessories, and the fishing-printing crossover has become one of my favorite niches.

The fishing community has been slower to adopt 3D printing than, say, the RC car or board gaming communities, which means there is a huge opportunity to solve real problems that anglers face with custom printed solutions.

3D Printed Fishing Lures

This is the headline application, and it legitimately works. Custom lures give you control over shape, size, action, weight distribution, and color that no store-bought lure can match.

Crankbaits

Crankbaits are the most commonly 3D printed lure type because the hollow body design is perfect for FDM printing.

Design considerations:

• Print in two halves that glue together around a through-wire for hook attachment
• Internal weight chambers allow you to add split shot or tungsten putty to control buoyancy and balance
• Lip angle and size determine diving depth and wobble action
• Wall thickness of 1.5-2mm provides durability while keeping the lure light enough to float or suspend

Material: PETG is ideal for lure bodies. It is more water-resistant than PLA, handles impacts with rocks and structure better, and has a slight translucency that mimics natural baitfish in some colors.

Waterproofing: Even with PETG, seal the finished lure with Solarez UV resin or epoxy to fill layer lines and create a waterproof, glossy finish. This also adds durability and allows you to add custom paint patterns before the clear coat.

Soft Plastic Molds

Instead of printing the lure directly, print a mold and pour soft plastic. This gives you true soft-bait action that printed rigid lures cannot match.

1. Design or find a lure shape you want to replicate
2. Print a two-part silicone mold master in PLA (fine layer heights for smooth surface)
3. Make a silicone mold from the master
4. Pour soft plastic bait material into the mold
5. Add custom colors, glitter, and scent during pouring

This is a whole hobby within a hobby, and custom soft plastics are extremely effective because you can design baits for your specific local conditions and target species.

According to Wired2Fish, custom-poured soft plastics have gained popularity among tournament anglers because they can be designed to match exact local forage profiles that no commercial bait replicates.

Topwater Lures

Poppers, walkers, and prop baits translate well to 3D printing:

• Poppers: The concave face that creates the popping action is easy to model and print accurately
• Walking baits: Weight placement determines the side-to-side walking action — experiment by moving internal weight chambers
• Prop baits: Print the body, attach small metal propellers at the tail

Jig Heads

Print jig head molds and pour with lead or non-toxic bismuth alloy. Custom jig head shapes let you create weedless designs, current-cutting profiles, and unique hook positions optimized for your fishing style.

Rod Holders and Mounts

Boat Rod Holders

Custom rod holders for specific boat rail diameters and mounting locations. Commercial rod holders are generic — a 3D printed holder can be designed for the exact angle, rail diameter, and spacing you need.

Print in ASA for UV resistance (critical for boat-mounted parts in direct sunlight) or PETG as a more printable alternative.

Kayak Rod Holders

Kayak anglers need flush-mount and track-mount rod holders in specific positions. 3D printed holders that integrate with common kayak track systems (Scotty and YakAttack rails) let you customize your kayak setup exactly.

Bank and Shore Rod Holders

Spike-style rod holders that push into sand or dirt. Print the body in PETG with a metal or wood spike insert. Some designs include a bell holder for bite indication and a phone/accessory clip.

Garage and Storage Rod Racks

Wall-mounted rod racks that hold multiple rods horizontally or vertically. Customizable for the exact number of rods in your collection and the wall space available.

Tackle Organization

Custom Tackle Tray Inserts

Standard tackle boxes have generic divided trays. Print custom inserts with compartments sized exactly for your terminal tackle — specific slots for hooks by size, split shot by weight, swivels, snaps, beads, and floats.

Spinnerbait and Buzzbait Hangers

Snap-on hangers that organize spinnerbaits vertically in your tackle bag without tangling. Each hanger holds one bait by its wire frame. These are one of the most practical small prints for any bass angler.

Bait Binder Pages

3D printed binder-compatible pages with individual slots for soft plastic baits. Organize by color and type, and flip through like a book to find what you need. Based on the Bass Resource forum discussions, organized tackle access is one of the biggest efficiency gains on the water.

Leader and Rig Storage

Spools and winders for pre-tied leaders and rigs. Wind your leaders around printed spools with integrated hook keepers, and store them in a labeled case. This saves enormous time on the water.

Kayak and Boat Accessories

Transducer Mounts

Custom mounts for fish finder transducers, designed for your specific kayak hull shape and transducer model. Getting the transducer angle and position right is critical for accurate sonar readings, and a custom mount ensures perfect placement.

Phone and GPS Mounts

Waterproof-compatible mounts for phones and GPS units. Design with a waterproof phone case in mind for on-water use.

Anchor Trolley Components

Pulleys, cleats, and ring guides for kayak anchor trolley systems. Commercial anchor trolley kits cost $30-50. Print the plastic components for $2-3 and buy only the rope and hardware.

Cup and Accessory Holders

Every angler needs accessible drink holders, tool holders (pliers, knife), and storage for small items. Custom holders that mount to your specific kayak or boat rails in exactly the positions you want.

GoPro Mounts

Custom mounts for GoPro cameras in positions that commercial mounts cannot reach — hull-mounted underwater cameras, forward-facing rod-tip cameras, and overhead fish-catching cameras.

Waterproofing and Durability

Fishing gear lives in a harsh environment — water, sun, salt (for saltwater anglers), and impacts. Here is how to make your prints survive.

Material Selection

| Application | Material | Why | |---|---|---| | Lure bodies | PETG | Water resistant, impact tough, slight translucency | | Mounts (sun-exposed) | ASA | UV resistant, heat tolerant | | Mounts (not sun-exposed) | PETG | Strong, water resistant | | Flexible components | TPU | Waterproof, impact absorbing | | Molds for casting | PLA | Cheap, easy, disposable |

Sealing Methods

• Epoxy coating: Best all-around waterproofing. Apply a thin coat of 2-part marine epoxy for a waterproof, UV-resistant finish.
• UV resin: Solarez or similar UV-cure resin provides a fast, glossy waterproof finish — perfect for lures.
• Clear coat spray: Automotive clear coat provides UV protection and moderate water resistance.
• Silicone sealant: For sealing joints and seams on mounts and holders.

According to 3D Printed Fishing Lures (Instructables), the most durable lure finish is a base coat of paint, followed by 2-3 coats of UV resin with light sanding between coats.

Print Settings for Waterproof Parts

• Walls: 4-5 — more walls reduce water permeation through layer interfaces
• Top/bottom layers: 5-6 — seal the top and bottom surfaces thoroughly
• Infill: 30%+ for structural parts (or specific infill for buoyancy control on lures)
• Layer height: 0.15-0.2mm — finer layers have fewer gaps between lines
• Extrusion width: 110-120% of nozzle diameter — over-extrusion squishes layers together, improving water resistance

Lure Painting and Finishing

A painted and clear-coated 3D printed lure is indistinguishable from a commercial lure at fishing distance. Here is the process:

1. Sand the printed lure with 220-grit, then 400-grit
2. Apply filler primer to eliminate layer lines
3. Base coat with white spray paint
4. Add patterns with an airbrush or spray cans (back scales, lateral lines, belly color)
5. Add eyes — 3D stick-on lure eyes add realism
6. Clear coat with 2-3 layers of UV resin or epoxy

The painting step is where your custom lures become truly unique. Match local baitfish patterns, create colors that do not exist commercially, or design high-visibility patterns for stained water.

Community and Resources

The 3D printed fishing community is growing:

• r/FishingDIY on Reddit — active community sharing printed fishing gear
• Printables fishing tag — hundreds of fishing-related designs
• 3DSearch — search for fishing-specific models across all major repositories

Cost Savings

| Item | Store Price | 3D Printed Cost | |---|---|---| | Crankbait (single) | $5-15 | $0.30-0.80 + paint | | Rod holder (boat mount) | $15-40 | $1-3 | | Tackle tray insert | $5-10 | $0.50-1.50 | | Soft plastic mold | $20-40 (commercial) | $1-3 (plus silicone) | | Transducer mount | $20-50 | $1-4 |

The biggest savings come from lures, where you can produce custom crankbaits for under $1 each versus $5-15 retail. If you lose lures to snags regularly (and we all do), this adds up fast.

Final Thoughts

3D printing gives anglers something they have never had before — the ability to create truly custom gear tailored to their specific fishing conditions, boat setup, and tackle preferences. Whether it is a crankbait that matches the exact profile of local shad, a rod holder at the perfect angle for your boat rail, or a tackle organizer that fits your specific terminal tackle collection, every print solves a problem that off-the-shelf products cannot.

Start with something practical — a rod holder, a tackle insert, or a simple lure body. Once you catch your first fish on a lure you designed and printed yourself, you will understand why this niche is growing so fast.