"ghost" Crankbait Airbrushed Custom Crankbait

[Mr.Nsmith]

Okay, Lucky Craft noticeably has the "ghost" color scheme/pattern such as ghost sunfish, ghost brown craw, etc and I airbrush my own crankbaits and I was wandering how do you get this special effect of a "ghost" scheme on a crankbait that I customize.So how can you do this?

[Mr.Nsmith]

A detail way of doing this (w/ materials' name) would be greatly appreciated...

[JayBee]

If you start with a clear KO type bait you can achieve the same effect with transparent createx paints.  Light coats are the key to keep the bait transparent and allow the light to shine through it.

[bassguy]

What Jay Bee said.

 

Jerry

Edited February 22, 2013 by bassguy

[Anglinarcher]

They use clear two piece baits that they glue together.  I suspect they do a light paint on the inside before they adhear the parts together, thus creating the "ghost" appearance.

 

For us, using pre-assembled baits, what Jay Bee and bassguy said.

[djd3mon]

What I would do is skip the white base coat and use transparent colors. Make sure to use as little paint as possible. I will have to try this and share the recipe.

[Mr.Nsmith]

Thank you for the info...the bait is looks awesome....I will have photos of this bait coming soon: it's a ghost sexy shad color on a Norman Deep Little N.... I haven't yet found or searched when/ where to fish the "ghost" appearance baits such as the water quality that will best suite for these types of crankbaits or does it even matter?, which depth level will the bass can see this bait in the best?

[BobP]

I've given up trying to predict which paint schemes will work best in what kind of water.  Bass, bass fishermen, and many bass baits are just too unpredictable.  But the classic theory is that translucent baits work better in clear to lightly stained water because you don't want the bass to have TOO good a look at your bait.  Some go to the extreme of fishing clear plastic baits that are entirely unpainted.

 

Bass can hear and they can feel pressure waves so they have more senses than just color vision.  You will not run a crankbait near a hungry bass undetected.  Your hope is that it gives off enough correct sensory clues that the bass will evaluate it as food.  Color is just one of several.  As far as depth goes, I think color schemes become less critical as the depth increases and colors begin to get filtered out.  Is there a depth at which color doesn't matter at all?  I don't know.  But 95% of crankbaits are used in water less than 12 ft deep and I'm pretty sure color can still be a factor at that depth.

[DawnBreaker]

And in addition to BobP's post here is a good article from In Fisherman a few years ago. It at least explains the basics of colors and what bass see etc. http://archives.in-fisherman.com/content/inside-look-red-tackle-revolution

[Brent R]

I read something not to long ago that said ....Clear baits work best in clear water and sunlight hitting the bait....Can't remember where i read this..but it makes since. 

[atlasstone]

Over reducing some of Createx's Wicked detail line can yeild some cool ghosting effects as well as using their Auto Air candy pigments.  For depth, I stay away from using black to shade and go with a reduced raw umber or reduced raw umber mixed with the prominent color of the bait.

[TrophyFishR]

Over reducing some of Createx's Wicked detail line can yeild some cool ghosting effects as well as using their Auto Air candy pigments.  For depth, I stay away from using black to shade and go with a reduced raw umber or reduced raw umber mixed with the prominent color of the bait.

 

Actually, transparent black mixed with reducer and sprayed fast and light, looks good on craw shell stencils.

I agree about the Auto Air candy paint, its awesome but doesn't like Etex at all.... loves D2T though