littleriver

@ tallbald Don All very good advice. Taters step by step is what I do with the exception of step four. I do not do this step. I do use gesso in step 5 as my base and fishnart is right. Very thick stuff. Leaves a very porous surface. I am applying five or six thin coats to get the surface I want. If you want a smoother surface same thing can be achieved with several coats of white acrylic paint. Basically I am putting enough paint on to cover wood grain and ballast holes so they may not be seen . This takes several coats with sanding in between. This process of covering can be shortened by doing step four but I choose not to due to cost and the way I do my build; it is not convenient. Brands of water based acrylic do differ in pigment, available colors and thickness. They range from a very watery to a paste. It will depend on you which is easier to work with to achieve the desired outcome. Practical experience will be required because everyone's needs are different. Start cheap and work on some cardboard. I suggest you stick with an epoxy if your going to use gesso as a base. To achieve a smooth surface in the end product a thick epoxy is required. I like the gesso because of the added depth it gives the lures appearance. But if your not going to be using epoxy then I suggest you do not use it. Stick with straight acrylic. Spray paints may be used but with your lung issue it may not be the best fit. I brush everything myself. Lastly joliepa is spot on in that epoxy is not exactly easy. So many ways to mess it up. A learning curve there will be. I almost gave up several times but the reward at the end of the tunnel is worth it. So, expect lots of cursing along the way if you choose this path. I would start with some scrap wood first before messing up baits like I did. Here is the epoxy I have been using and continue to use. It is but one of many . The topcoat you choose should compliment the build and paint. It is but one part of a whole. So how it fits into your bait best will have to be something you yourself discover. Good luck ! http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/index.php?/topic/26819-another-epoxy-topcoat/?hl=%2Banother+%2Bepoxy+%2Btopcoat

@ Mark Glad you enjoyed it and happy to share it. Sorry it took so long.........I thought I was going to lose you a time or two. @Nate Yes, Gene is not only very good lure maker but a very good person to boot. He is not alone, however. Through this site, I have met and continue to meet some of the most nice generous people anywhere on the planet. Namaste

@griffond Here it is shad that run along the dam walls. I have seen folks catch them using a square wire basket. Basically they were the shape of a square milk carton , The used ropes tied to where the handles would be on a carton. Then they were lowered into the water with one edge resting against the concrete wall. As the shad would make their way along the wall they would pull the basket up very quickly trapping the bait. A weighted plastic milk carton lined with screen matt may produce the same result; provided it is legal.

@ Tallbald These bear a strong resemblance to fish decoys. Might want to consider doing a few of these too. http://www.ravenswayantiques.com/Fish%20Decoys/Display%20pages/Fish2.htm I am seeing coat racks and hat hangers too. Perhaps even a kitchen utensil hanger. Nice looking collection of exotic fish wall decorations. Good luck at the show!

@joliepa Here is some footage I took a couple years ago. I was comparing the action of a Modern KVD 1.5 to a Vintage Bagley B3. I was looking for hunting action in the two baits. The old Bagley came closest with it's deadstick action. Not sure this is the type of footage your interested in but a fun view anyway.

Your not kidding. Playdough is slicker than baby's bottom with the mess to boot when wet. Not sure I 'll be using in the future but for now I will until I find something better.

7 It happened at one of the lure conventions in Gatlinburg. Jack said Boots arrived at the show with a black eye. Boots was known to take a drink on occasion and liked a game of poker too. To Jack this was slight on the man's character but to me it only added to it. Though we would like to think our heros are perfect, it is nice to know they are human too just like everyone else. Jack was a great help and really gave me a look at Boots the person and not just the lure maker. Jack also sent me a box of his own baits. Jack had been selling his creations at the lure shows for years but had recently given it up due to health issues. The lures were great surprise for the whole family. I spent the next few days thinking about Jack's baits and began to have thoughts of making my own. No talent, no skills, no experience, no tools, no money and no time (wife and three small children). What was I thinking? Despite the obstacles, one slow night at work, I cut the end of an old broom handle off and began carving. I sent Jack the picture the next morning. A week later another packaged arrived. This time Jack sent me some homemade carving knives and box of basswood to get me started. He said, if I was going to do it, to do it right. I could never repay Jack for his gift. Jack's generosity still astounds me to this day. I probably carved fifty or more baits with the knife Jack gave me before I met Gene aka (Lincoya) here at TU. Gene was kind of enough to host me at his house and show me the ropes. Though, I could carve a bit ,there was alot i did not know. I like to say Jack gave me a knife but Gene taught me how to sharpen it . That is how it all started. Where it ends is anyones guess. I just try and take it a day at a time or one lure at a time. One thing is certain, without these old lures and great folks they led me to meet; my life would not be as full. Thank you ! to be continued ;-) ps. Here is a couple more links that may be of interest . One is a list of honorary members to the NFLCC. Perhaps you'll find some information on your favorite lure maker. The second is an article with a bit more information on George "Boots" Anderson. http://www.nflcc.org/services/honorary-membership http://www.nflcc.org/images/honorary/george-boots-anderson.pdf

Bill The one thing that made making these baits so hard was getting the ballast right so the bait sank at the rate I wanted. Even though everything looked ok with a piece of tape, when I filled those holes with putty or glue everything was out of wack again. On a bigger bait I think the subtle difference is not so noticeable but on a small it it is magnified. My solution was to fill the holes with playdough during float testing. The playdough was not the best choice (messy when wet) but it was all that I had at the time. Any puddy would do that could be removed easily after testing. The puddy simulates the finished product best and give a more accurate float than the tape or hang method.

6 First person to respond to my post was Gibby Gibson. I was a little surprised and embarrassed. Gibby simply posted what a nice collection of TN shad baits I had and how nice it was to see them. What I did not know Gibby was publicly and personally authenticating the baits for the group. Next, I received an email from Wayne Mullins. A long time collector of TN Shad baits and once head of the local chapter of NFLCC in my area. Though Wayne presented more back story to my growing knowledge of TN Shad baits, what he really did for me was define the role of collectors and the NFLCC. NFLCC collectors role is to preserve and pass down the many baits and their history for future generations. As far as I know, they are the only ones doing it. Chugger was the name of the bait that caught the eye of collector/ lure maker Jack Compton. Jack was really interested to know if I had any interest in selling this little top water chugger. I told Jack my plan to keep the collection complete and pass down what I could learn about them to the next generation. Jack was eager to help as much as he could. He told me he had collected the baits for years and had met Boots and Jim personally. Jack shared a story about Boots the man that was less than flattering. (to be continued)

5 Gibby invited me to come and visit him at the NFLCC winter regional convention in Gatlinburg, TN. He said at the convention he could look at the baits and give me estimate of lures value and help me identify them. The convention was only a month away and 45 minutes from the house . The wait was brutal but I thought at last I would get some answers. http://www.nflcc.org/events I was venturing into unknown territory but couldn't wait. I arrived early with baits in hand. At the door, they collect a five dollar entry fee. I wasn't expecting any fees but luckily I had the cash on me. For my entry fee, I would receive my lure visit with Gibby and could look the over the many members display tables as long as i liked. It was here at the door where I met Gibby. After introductions, he led me to small roped off area near the front of the room. This space was reserved for walkins like me. Here Gibby would set with visitors and their treasures for a one on one evaluation. Gibby started with the handmades. He pointed to some foil baits and said here you have some Real McCoys. And i see you have Top Secret and a couple of Creek Minners. There is a Hammerhead and Chugger. I was struggling to remember it all by this time. And as far as values. The best stuff I had; most of it had issues. Many of the baits had cracks around the belly where what I now know the ballast is located. Gibby explained that these baits were most likely stored in a basement( little did he know how right he was) where the climate was not controlled. With temperature and humidity changes this was what happens. He said the best thing I could do was store these baits inside and if they were his, he would put them under glass to prevent handling. Some of the metal flake was falling off during the evaluation. Even with that said, some of the baits were worth a hundred dollar bill but most were in the thirty dollar range. Gibby also pointed out a factory repaint and some baits that were obvious hybrids. Hybrid in that they were were handmades equipped with some factory equipment. Then there was a a whole group of handmades that Gibby could not say. He said I would probably never know the name of these baits. It was this moment I asked about Big O, to me some of these unkowns looked like a Big O to me . He said I did not have any Big O's but I did have a really nice collection of early TN Shad. Though a bit disappointed, I was more than happy with the information Gibby shared about the baits and the Moser baits. Gibby also looked over the factory baits. Most of those were of little value with one exception. Doc had a little wooden Heddon pumpkinseed in his box. This little bait was worth a hundred dollar bill too. Gibby recommend I put it in my pocket. Seems, these are popular among the collectors. I followed Gibby's instruction, thanked him and spent the rest of the morning looking through the rest of the room. I was impressed by the quality of the baits in the room and the nice folks sitting behind them. Armed with a better idea of what I had and did not have; I focused my search on discovering the identity the mystery baits. After hours of online searching, I landed on Joe's Old Lures. Here I found a message board where I could post pictures of the baits to fish for answers. After listing a couple of pictures, it wasn't long before I started getting bites. (to be continued) :-)

4 Jim explained that some of the baits in the Moser collection were never sold to the pubic. They were what he called proto types. So, he wanted to know how I came by them. Unaware was I at the time what this meant but I knew they were different or special. Now that I have made a few bait myself; I understand the personal relationship between lure maker and prototypes. These baits were passed to a trusted friend as a gift or to give the baits a try. Some may be one of a kind and difficult to name or identify. This reinforced my belief that Boots and Doc must have been friends at one time. Once I exhausted the local leads, I once again turned to the internet and google. This time my search led me to nice folks at the National Fishing Lures Collectors Club. At first I was very skeptical of any genuine help might be gained after my experience with the ebay collector. The first things they ask you to do is lay out all the contents of the box and take a photo. This is done so they can get an idea of what is in the box. Then, you are paired with someone in your area. I was directed to Gibby Gibson. Gibby quickly replied to me and explained that I indeed had a nice collection of TN Shad. He then shared with me some personal photos of his own collection of TN Shad baits along with some really nice Fred Young Big O's. Now this really got me thinking. Do I have any Big O's. Why would he send me photos of these lures? ( to be continued)

Mark Dieter has made a few . His are a much simpler design. Perhaps he will chime in. I know I saw them in a video but can't remember which one he has so many.

@joliepa Static angle lets one have an idea how the bait is weighted. This is most important knowledge if your trying to copy a particular bait and you want the end result to have the same action. The rapala is tail heavy while the xrap is tail light. This different ballast configurations will produce different wiggles. One wide and slow while the other short and fast.

3 Bill was happy to hear from me. They had only moved a short distance away. He and his wife both retired; they wanted a single story home . So, they had one built on a lot they owned only a few blocks away. After some small talk, I got to the point of my call. I explained what I had learned about the baits in the old tacklebox and asked if he could tell me more about the baits and the box. He said the box belonged to Doc Moser. Doc was his wife's uncle. According to Bill, Doc was a hell of a fisherman. He was known to be the sort who could catch a fish out of a mud puddle. As Doc grew older, Bill would often take Doc fishing with him. And when Doc passed away, the tackle box was given to Bill by the family. I guess it was their way of saying thank you. Bill went on to say that Doc was known by the family to fish with Boots once upon a time. Now I had the connection. I went back to Jim with the new information. He mulled it over for a bit and said there was a Doc that he remembered in their small circle of friends. I then asked why he wanted know where the baits came from? What he said next really surprised me. ( to be continued)

Here is the one I have been using http://www.tackleunderground.com/community/index.php?/topic/26819-another-epoxy-topcoat/?hl=%2Banother+%2Bepoxy+%2Btopcoat

@ Ben Thank you!! I will do. @ Dieter I think you make a most excellent point . I concur "When embedding the ballast chunk later , you'd also drill away buoyant material ! I find slow sinkers and slow risers harder to achieve than fast sinking gliders ."

Don That is exactly what i have been doing and very happy to do so. Happy because, I am sure as you say, that is what our predecessors would have done or did do in their day. If it makes a better bait, why wouldn't you do it?

@ Ben Which scale do you use? Brand and model. I have one but it does not read on a scale that is effective. The scale of the meter your measuring with is critical I think.

2 Time was running out on the auction and so were my options. The bait, I learned, had been made just a few miles from my home. The makers were local and had produced baits from the 50's thru the 70's. Now I had a decision to make. I really didn't like being cornered(checked). And after doing some sole searching, I decided; I really didn't want this bait to leave home. I knew my collector friend would be mighty sore. He was really looking forward to adding this bait to his collection. But I felt strongly it's place was with the small collection where I found it. Before listing the bait on ebay, I had made a deep, what if, search into my options as a seller. Who wants to sell a big money bait for thirty bucks, right? I knew from the beginning It may not be in my best interest to sell the bait. Turns out, I could cancel any auction for any reason(or no reason at all) and cancel all bids. The only catch is it had to be done at least 24 hours prior to the auction end time. So, I sent the collector a letter explaining how I felt and did my best to explain why I was keeping the bait. Next, I cancelled the auction and all bids, Checkmate! Tennessee Shad by Jim Lovingood and Boots Anderson was the name of the bait and the makers. Seems some time in the early sixties these two makers worked together making baits for local fishermen. As time passed they parted ways but this bait was an early one from their time together. I believe this bait was made by Jim Lovingood. Boots was known to put two kill spots on his baits so people could tell them apart. They made some of the first balsa cranks in TN, if not the first. They were reported to have taught many a new maker the secrets of balsa crankbait making. It is said they were even visited by Fred Young and it is from this pair he learned the trade. The more I learned about the baits; the more I wanted to know. They were opening doors and taking me places I had not expected. One of the people I visited was Jim Lovingood's son. Jim Jr. He confirmed for me that the baits were indeed some of his father's and Boots Anderson. He also confirmed they were early. Infact, he said he was happy to see some of these early baits had survived. He asked a question of me I had not thought to ask myself. Where did i get the baits? My neighbor had moved away by this time and I had really not thought to ask my neighbor about them but Jim insisted to know where the baits came from. So, I looked my neighbor up and gave him a call. (to be continued) :-)

The hobby and an old tacklebox. Over thirteen years ago a neighbor waved me over to show me an old tacklebox. As he opened the old metal box, a strong chemical odor was the first thing to hit my senses. Once i uncurled my nose and opened my eyes, they were met with some of the oldest most unusual fishing lures i had ever seen. Some factory and some homemade. He was having a yard sale and knew I liked to fish and offered to sell the box and all the lures for twenty bucks. I quickly agreed, ran and got my twenty bucks and promply carried the box of lures from my neighbors basement to mine. And that is where they sat for the next ten years. Funny how life changes. I was a single man then. No children or wife and plenty of time to fish and play to my hearts content. While the old box lay in my basement , life was changing for sure. Married , three kids and ten years later, I was cleaning the basement out to make room for my growing family. And this is where the old box of lures resurfaces. My first thought was to find out what I had and if anything was of value to sell . I asked everyone i knew but no one seemed to have answers to the old box and the lures inside. As i was cleaning out the basement, I had begun to sell a few of the items on ebay and an idea struck me. Why not try and sell one of the old lures. Maybe I could find out more about them in the process. So I picked one of the baits and place an ebay ad. I placed the opening bid at 30 dollars and waited. It wasn't long before I got a nibble. A really nice collector who wanted more photos of the bait. As I sent him more photos, he would send me several teasing bits of information on the old bait. But he never would give up the name of the bait or its maker. As the auction was went on , he finally sent me an email revealing the maker and name of the old bait. But before he sent the email he did one thing. He placed a bid on the old bait. The bid was placed to assure i could not back out on the sale once i knew the maker of the bait. After doing a bit of googling I knew I had something special. (to be continued)

For myself it is the time, smell of the product, and more time . I started out using sanding sealer as it was recommended to me by local balsa crank builders. One thing about it, if your dipping it it must be completely dry before apply a second coat . If not, moisture will be trapped and the bait will bubble later in the heat. Sealer skims over quickly and traps moisture. It takes longer than one might think before it is completely dry. 2 -4 times could take 2-4 days and it still really is not water proof. It is a water based product. It makes a really smooth surface for painting but not a waterproof one. Superglue takes literally 30 minutes and i am test swimming my new bait . Nothing worse than finishing a new bait only to find out it won't swim the way you intended. Time is my most valued resource. We each only have so much and using superglue to waterseal baits is a real time saver.