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My guess that this would not be a style of lure I'd use around cover.Neither version offers any deflection before the hooks would snag...Nathan

I agree with Fishnart. It depends on what you want to do and how far you want to go with it. If you want to paint some baits that will catch fish then most anyone can accomplish this. Having practically no artistic ability whatsoever I'm proof of that. A lot of us have devised ways to "cheat" by using stencils and such. Now if you want to paint like some of the more accomplished artists on this site then you'll need to have, at least some, natural talent. Ben

Hummm I think it depends on what you want to accomplish and how much you want to put into it. One can paint basic bait patterns but I think to be really really good you have to have some kind of artist ability and eye. All is not lost though, I think some of this can be learned through practice and maybe some art classes. I can't do alot of things but thankfully God has blessed me with a little bit of artistic ability. I'm able to look at something, for example baitfish, and see all the suttle colors that make up the colors of that baitfish. You kinda have to be able to see through colors to see details and the colors that make up the colors. Some colors are two or three different colors that make up one color. You should also experiment, and learn through this wonderful site all of the available techniques there are out there to use. I use many different mediums, techniques and tools on one bait. This is all helpful...but most of all desire and practice. Hope this makes sense and is helpful.

Anyone can make lures. It isn't rocket science. The biggest key is desire. If you want to do something bad enough, you'll find a way to do it. Attitude plus effort equal success.

All I can add is that I think you're going to have to make several prototypes to see how a lure shaped like that and ballasted like that will work best. I'm guessing a conventional bill, extending approx. half the body length out, and aligned parallel with the centerline of the bait would be a good starting place. You'll need a bill that's at least 1 1/4" long, plus whatever goes into the bait, to get it to dive down to the 10' range. Be sure that the lure hangs down at a 30-45 degree angle at rest, with the tail out of the water slightly. Any lower, and it won't back out of snags when you release pressure on it. You don't want to hang it up and lose it. I think it may be too round for a rattle trap-type hook and line tie arrangement. If you look at the forehead of a rattle trap (I'm thinking of the Yozuri 3D Vibe) the fore head is grooved, with a channel running from the nose back to the line tie. I'm guessing it's there to act as a cupped bill, and to start the wiggle action. But that particular trap is thin, with almost flat sides, and only weighs 3/8oz. If you go the trap route, try copying the hook and line tie layout of a trap that size. Then begin playing with ballast, and maybe flatten the sides a little as another option. I haven't tried to make a trap because it is a very difficult shape to get to swim properly, when you make it out of anything except hollow plastic filled with BBs. Good luck.