Yake Bait Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Any good tips on how to speckle a crappie? This is a tough one because I need dark speckles on light background and light speckles on dark near the top of the back. Here is my profile / pattern that I am trying to match http://www.wiscfish.org/fishid/images/large_images/703.jpg Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spare tire Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 A toothbrush speckle might work but since your baits are much larger, you might try a fingernail template for leopard pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 That would be perfect for a photo finish! JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 http://www.bettencourtbaits.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=406 They do photo-finish well.These were the first models I tried..Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjbass Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Have you tried a sponge? I have seen crappie patterns done with a sponge and they come out nice. You could also make a stencil with mylar by tracing this pattern and cutting it out. Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yake Bait Posted May 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Thanks guys. I ran with Spare Tire's idea but instead of a toothbrush, I used my daughter's small watercolor brush. Came out pretty decent and I didn't have to resort to using my wife's toothbrsh . http://www.tackleunderground.com/photos/index.php?n=674 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lure--Prof Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Yeah Pete, I know how she hates that! lol The link to the Wisconsin fish thingie doesn't work, I was going to check out the pattern you used. Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Pete, That came out really nice..well done:worship: ..Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yake Bait Posted May 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Here is the photo... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smirkplug Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 NICE PAINT JOB, I MAKE HUNDREDS OF 5-8in. TROUT PATTERN PLUGS WITH LOTS OF SPOTS AND HAVE FOUND THAT A MAGIC MARKER WITH A SQUARED TIP MAKES A SPOT PATTERN SIMILAR TO A CRAPPIE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobberbill Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 I did a crappie intarsia pattern last year and I used a flat tip on a woodburning tool. You might try that one. it burned some nice marks. Also for a lure you may try just a small rounded tip. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishPork Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 I wished I had a better way to explain. Remember the folded paper snow flakes you made in grammer school.The patern possibilities are endless!!!!!!!!Use a exacto knife for fin cuts. Stagger them any way to get uniform or ununiform results.Simple and easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigger Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 Pete here are some steps that I use with foil. - paint the foil lightly and let it dry good. Take some 320 type sandpaper and lightly sand the high spots. - apply first epoxy coat. - I come back and lightly paint spots over and seperate for the previous. - clear coat again. It gives me a nice effect. Good luck John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doomdart Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 You could also try spraying with a plugged up can of black spray paint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishPork Posted May 6, 2007 Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 I second that. My plugged airbrush has made many a unwanted crappie speckles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yake Bait Posted May 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2007 Thanks for the tips guys, I'll have to try those out. This is the first deep bellied panfish type bait that I have built and it had a tight swing side to side and also wobbled almost like a crank bait on the straight retrieve. I really liked the way that it moved. Not sure if this is typical of this style bait or if it had something to do with the weight placement, tow eye placement, or shape. I plan on making a second one soon with just a little less lead since I had quite a bit of epoxy on the last coat which increased the sink rate slightly beyond what I was shooting for. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yake Bait Posted May 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2007 Next bait will have a different template and color scheme to match crappies in a local body of water. Caught a few of these this weekend. I think that I can get close to these colors with the silver foil, some Createx irridescent green, and opaque black. Will probably mix a combination of irridescent green and black for the back and spots. I'm thinking about trying Tigger's sanded technique if I can muster the courage to sand on top of my foil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
