whitaker201 Posted September 25, 2017 Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 Over the weekend I finished up my first 5 baits. I even caught a few smallmouth on them when I went to water test them. I have a long way to go on my painting skills but for my first batch I am happy with the way they look. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigblue2 Posted September 25, 2017 Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 1 hour ago, whitaker201 said: Over the weekend I finished up my first 5 baits. I even caught a few smallmouth on them when I went to water test them. I have a long way to go on my painting skills but for my first batch I am happy with the way they look. how about some pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitaker201 Posted September 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 I uploaded them to the gallery. I didn't think I was supposed to put them here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitaker201 Posted September 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 I kept the paint jobs very simple as this was the first time I used an airbrush. I also didn't sand the top center bait smooth like I should have. I am going to have to add a little more weight to a few of the baits to get the action the way I want it, but all in all I am happy with the first batch. Oh yeah........ The smallmouth liked them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 I'll tell you what a lot like that bottom bait color and white for smallmouth. I feel that real fancy paint work doesn't always catch fish. Nice work and fish! Your right about posting pic's. You can post to ask a question. This is to stop advertising, which this forum is not for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROD W Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 Great job!!! Plus they are proven fish catchers. Tell me how you made them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitaker201 Posted September 27, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 Thank you. I am not looking to advertise. I'm just starting the process on learning how to make baits and how to make them better. I will get better with my painting skills but for now I need to learn the basics. Rod: I started with a piece of stock and sketched an outline of what I wanted the shape to be. Cut that shape with my hacksaw. Then used a wood rasp to get close to the final shape. Sanded smooth, primed and painted it. I used rattle can clear since I had it laying around AND I will not use that again. I put 4 coats on them and it is not a durable top coat. I used screws for the hook hangers and line tie and used superglue to help anchor them in place. The colors are: chartreuse and white on the baits on the left; Copper/brown mix and chartreuse on the right; chartreuse and white then a little of the copper/brown mix on the nose and back of the bait in the top center. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROD W Posted September 27, 2017 Report Share Posted September 27, 2017 You did great. These lures look like fish catchers to me. The picture shows what I do. BUT I don't have the steady hand to use a hack saw. I went out and bought a scroll saw makes it a lot easier. Keep up the great work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitaker201 Posted September 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 Thank you Rod. If I had a scroll saw I would use it instead of the hacksaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW Lures Posted September 28, 2017 Report Share Posted September 28, 2017 Whitaker, don't worry about your painting they are just fine, very nice and the fish like them. We as a human race always trys tinkering with something that is already a proven work/product/bait. We over think a lot, the bait and color is already proven. Fish the heck out of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jackson Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 I'd say you did a great job! Now your hooked catching fish on you own handmade lure is a special feeling. Again great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitaker201 Posted October 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2017 (edited) Always tinkering..... I wasn't happy with one of the baits out of the first batch so I rounded the body more, changed the ballast, and changed the line tie location. Now it is a wake bait that runs about 4" deep and I am happy with the action. I painted it then tried it Sunday and the fish liked it. I really need to start a notebook on what changes do to the lure action. Edited October 2, 2017 by whitaker201 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted October 2, 2017 Report Share Posted October 2, 2017 23 minutes ago, whitaker201 said: Always tinkering..... I wasn't happy with one of the baits out of the first batch so I rounded the body more, changed the ballast, and changed the line tie location. Now it is a wake bait that runs about 4" deep and I am happy with the action. I painted it then tried it Sunday and the fish liked it. I really need to start a notebook on what changes do to the lure action. An easy way to remember your steps is to make a tracing of the bait's profile and top view on a notebook page, with all the ballast, hook hardware, and lip info, and then take a cellphone picture of the page with your bait lying on it, too. That way you can email it to yourself, and have it on your computer. The actual notebook page can stay in your work area, for future reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitaker201 Posted October 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 That is a great idea Mark. Thank you. I was also going to start numbering the baits that way I can match the bait to the notebook entry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawjaBoy Posted October 3, 2017 Report Share Posted October 3, 2017 Those look great to me! There's nothing quite like catching that first fish on a lure that you made yourself! And I'm going to have to try Mark's idea as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
