For a fraction of the tackle-shop prices, and with a little eBay shopping and time, you can manufacture and customize your own mudflap teasers.
Go on eBay and search for neoprene sheet rubber with a thickness of 1⁄8 inch and a durometer of 50, the most flexible grade for optimal action. The material comes in rolls and sheets with a variety of widths (3 to 36 inches).
I use the 36-inch sheet most of the time, and you can make the teaser as long or as wide as you wish depending on the material you can find.
For the shape of the fish, either come up with your own pattern or, if you have a store-bought mudflap, trace the pattern out on the neoprene material.
On my pattern, I do not add the pectoral fins on the sides of the flaps because I can fit more flaps on the material. Plus, you never see tuna swimming with their fins out when they’re being chased; instead, they fold them back to swim faster.
Once you have the outlines, cut them out with a good pair of scissors or a razor knife. With a razor knife, remember to use a disposable piece of wood for a cutting board because you will definitely damage the surface you are cutting on.
Once you have all your custom mudflaps cut out, take the grommet kit and use the tools provided, along with a hammer, to punch a hole in the front of the new flap.
Then add the grommet.
I use the custom mudflaps on dredges, rigged in tandem to replace a squid-chain teaser or behind a Hawaiian Eye on the back of a chain teaser.The best part is that they are one-fifth the price of buying them at the tackle store.
