DIY Network

Fish Tackle Jewelry Reel in a great jewelry look. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-115

Catch a cool new look!

Fishing tackle has all the elements of a fun jewelry material: It comes in plenty of colors and styles, it’s easy to work with and it’s cheap. Bust open the tackle box or head to the sporting goods aisle for the materials to create your own fishing tackle jewelry with B. Original host Michele Beschen.

Keep your traditional jewelry materials nearby when you start creating with fishing tackle: Some of the best pieces combine fancy spinners and feathered lures with regular beads threaded on eye pins. Of course, your jump rings, clasps and other jewelry findings help pull it all together.

Note: Not all fishing tackle is a good choice for jewelry. Avoid lures that are scented or chemically treated to attract fish: No matter how pretty they are, the smell isn’t worth it.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Fishing Tackle Jewelry

It doesn’t take a full tackle box to make fun jewelry. Pick up a few pieces you like and combine them with traditional beads and jewelry findings to get started on your own tackle treasures. Here are a few pieces of tackle to get you started:

• Leaders of various lengths. Michele Beschen especially likes leaders that have a swivel at one end and a snap clasp at the other: They have a built-in clasp and are easy to turn into necklaces and bracelets with the addition of a few beads—or other pieces of tackle.

• Swivels in various sizes and metals (figure A). A three-way swivel is especially useful because it can hold a necklace chain on two sides with a perfect holder for a pendant. Swivels connected with jump rings are a great base for bracelets or necklaces.

• Spinners and lures. These are the beads of the fishing tackle world (figure B). Don’t worry about any hooks: You can either remove them or just clip the barb off and use the remaining wire to hold beads strung on eye-pins (figure C).

  Safety Alert: When clipping the barb from a hook, always wear eye protection—there’s no way of knowing which way the clipped barb will fly. Cover the barb with cardboard when you snip to keep the barb nearby and easy to find for disposal.