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You would not have asked the question if deep down you didnt already know its wrong. Why copy another bait? If you have enough skills to copy a bait then you should also have enough skills to make your own. You can use the basic designs that are out there but change it. Make it yours. Make it so when somebody sees it, they dont think its a copy of somebody elses work. All the swimbait makers I know are small operation and we make our living off of it. we also have bills to pay. Making baits puts food on our table. Its not a hobby for us. Making a copy for proffit is steeling, and its lazy. You are most likley tallented enough to make your own. Making your own does not mean taking a current bait and carving a few details in it and putting a different paint scheme on it. You say its gratifying to you when somebody buys one of your copies? imagine how much better it will feel when somebody buys a bait that you designed. Guys say everythings a copy and there are no new ideas. That is an excuse to be lazy. There are new ideas every day. Some are subtle and others are very inovative. I am in the process of several patents. Its a shame that I have to spen a bunch of money just to keep guys from steeling my ideas and make money off of my hard work. Guys will say "look at all the crankbaits" as justification for steeling. Just because others do wrong doesnt make it ok. Plus I am sure the original guys who made cranks made their money. Its very disturbing when a product gets hot and the owner starts to make some of his money back and all the theives rush in to get their piece. They will come up with a bunch of reasons as to why its ok and justify it to mask their guilt but they all know deep down that what they are doing is wrong. Imagine if you were the guy that came up with something that took off. What you dont see is all the time and money that went in to getting it there. Imagine you designed a good bait and created a market for it. How then would you feel about a bunch of guys saying its ok to copy it. I am sure I will get dogpiled because I am the minority here but that doesnt make it ok.

Absolutely, go for it. We all need supplies and stuff to keep making baits. There is nothing wrong with making your craft pay for itself. Plus a little boat gas. Skeeter

Charles at fishingskirts.com has everything you could possibly want in skirts. Their selection and customer service is excellent.

OK here is my first try at a Bluegill (Sunfish). I was happy with how it turned out but think I can improve on it as I go. It also has some green glitter in it.