tater

fatfingers, do you have to wait very long before you can use the rubber cement?...ive been looking for a quicker way, but it never crossed my mind to do that. do you have a problem with the paint getting behind the printer paper? the reason i started with the labels was to prevent that from happening, ive hit the stencils on too many lures and made unwanted smears just before completion...the labels eliminated that problem for me. again, ive learned something from a true pro

im goin to hit Michael's up tomarrow to see what they have. i hadnt thought about the chrome automotive stuff for the rice burner cars...im not sure if it will have the same reflective value as the mirror tape but i shall find out.

mirror stickers like the ones used on a kids toy mirror? i tried some i managed to scrape off of a toy mirror that my niece had on a crankbait. added some transparent createx and really liked the results. it gave good flash in the tone and color i wanted...im just not sure where to find any without haveing to by a truck load of toys. thanks ahead of time!

good points...i only have two sponsorships, if i dont beleive in a product or service i dont push it. i wont mention their names because i dont feel it is the right thing to do to put a the name of a corporation out there against the guys on this board. its hard to be a sole proprietor competing against mass production. i understand that because im in the same boat. i do have a business degree which has helped me to understand how to better market myself and what companies are looking for out of me. i dont thnk alot of people out there looking for sponsers understand that they are looking for a face and an image to help promote them in a professional and upstanding way. on the other side of the coin i also sponsor one fisherman with chowan river lure co. he is an upstanding guy, loves his family, is true to his faith and promotes the kind of face i feel as though my business deserves to have standing behind it. he didnt approach me, i approached him after a long standing relationship and friendship. i will say i agree that email is the worst way you could approach anyone about anything. it is complete impersonable, not to mention it doesnt show me in anyway that the person can sell themselves or my product in any way. most people that have approached me wanting to be on my "prostaff" have done so in completely the wrong way. they first make what they want a priority. its not what i can do for them that will convince me to sponsor them, its what they can do for me. i dont think many people understand that. kudo's on a good thought and great post!

what i do is use glossy card stock and a photo printer so i can customize the package for clients who buy lures for birthday gifts, ect... i also send each of my clients a free lure on their birthday with a birthday message. its pretty cheap to do, and it adds a personal touch they cant get from a manufacturing plant.

made my own also from a sheet of 1/4" plywood. took a 1" hole saw and cut out corresponding holes for 12 rods that i could fit into 2 peices of plywood cut to fit the shape of the rod box. lined the holes with felt for protection. attatched the 2 peices with threaded rod (4 total peices) with a nut and washer on each sideof the plywood with locktite to hold them in place. no drilling was required in my boat, not to mention its easy to remove if i ever need to. because of the thight fit its stable on a rough ride.

closest i have come is with taking bright red createx and mixing in the dark red and an touch of orange until i get close in tone. then i take an exacto knife to trim out a crawfish pattern on printer lables (i use the off brand labels, not avery because the glue side is too stong on the avery's). after the paint has had time to dry (at least a day, if not the lables will damage the finish), i will stick on the stincile i created and paint over it with black. after that dries, remove the label from the lure and you have a crafish pattern. hope this helps!

awesome work!!! i am not worthy LOL

all of my cranks this color have a dark purple back, dark brown sides, faded down to a sand color belly. i will usually add a dash of orange on the throat just to give it a little eye catcher. my skirts have a purple/black barbwire strands on the back, a brown almost dark crawdad color section in the middle and smoke colored strands at the bottom. i usually match that with smooth nickel willows epoxied with purple glitter or transparent purple coating to give it a shimmer. play with it a little, im sure you can find a combo you like

thanks guys...i think what i am going to do is take some mirror sticker material like they use on toy mirrors for kids and tint it with a transparent paint to see what i come up with. i know it wont be perfect but maybe i can get something similar anyway.

i figured it was some kind of foil, but i have yet to find anything that reflects quite the same way. all the reflective tape i have seen has been patterned...maybe it's just one of those great mysteries in life i aint smart enuff to figure out i would love to see what that finish would do on a shallow running crank...running it down the edge of all these pads we got, things could get interesting! wouldnt look bad on a DT-4 either Tater Chowan River Lure Co.

ive been making spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, soft plastics, and jigs for years but i've only been painting cranks for about 3 months now...i was wondering how to get the prism type of finish found on the x-raps. i love the "silver" color rapala makes and havent been able to figure out how to come close the the reflective value it has. thanks ahead of time! Tater Chowan River Lure Co.

i havent gotten the letter yet but...i agree with B&D...i didnt want to make them to begin with, just trying to give a hand full of good clients an alternative to an overpriced ugly jig. i gave the original a shot on a few trips and threw it out when i didnt get bit. i guess the bass in our tidal rivers aint too much in tune to the chatter either. i too included a weedguard and also modified the blade a little to give a more "rocking" type action but hey, i dont mind not making them in large quantities...what i make as gifts on a personal level for the few people that want them is none of their business nor juridiction. Tater Chowan River Lure Co.

thanks guys...the wildlife paints look great i think ill hit them up and give them a spray.