BIG M

Flex Coat Ultra V (high build)

No baits are off limits to the painters. Your Bagley baits will last a lot longer if you get them refinished. Most custom painters use a better clear coat than Bagley.

I'm not qualified to talk about your paint work, except to say very nice indeed.

Very nice looking work.

The paint is outstanding but I'm a fan of your original gill color patterns.

Sweet looking swimmer.

Don't bother with the yellow bills, the fish do not care. I've never heard of a process to clear that up.

That is a good lookin craw.

I will answer no. Wider bills normally cause a bait to have more back roll, what I call a wobble. Narrow bills tend to allow the bait to shimmy from head to tail or what I call wiggle. There is alot more to it than just width of the bill. Bill angle, line tie position, body shape and size all have rolls in creating the bait's action.

Use transparent paints and when you clear coat the foil will show under the paint.

I have always clear coated the foil before painting. I have not tried painting on the foil. I like to clear coat first so I can wipe off my screw ups.

Tried my bluegill pattern over foil. The foil job was not my best work but I like both baits. Threw in a couple of extras just for fun.

I've been using the same system over 8yrs and it's never failed me. 2 coats of super glue followed by 1 coat of epoxy, clear coat with 2 coats of flex coat ultra v. You have to find a system that works for you and the style of baits that you build.

This guy makes the finest handmade swimbaits money can buy and he paints pretty good also. John, that is a great looking shad.

Run the screws into the bait all the way and then back them out. Put epoxy on the screws and run them back in the holes and your set. Now coat the entire bait with super glue and let dry. This will raise the grain a little so light sanding with 320 grit works well. two coats of super glue will give you a nice surface to paint on. For a perfect sealer give the bait a coat of epoxy then paint and clear coat. That's how I do every bait I build.

What the hell are nylon Y fronts? Never mind don't answer that please

Both baits look top of the line to me, good work.

Might I suggest that you just ask for free lures. All the bs about toury testing and comments just doesn't fill the bill. What do you have to offer a builder that would be of benefit? Every fisherman on the forum throws cranks and can type comments or give some kind of feedback. You need to show why your feedback will be of more importance. Now if you are Rick Clunn then I might just take you up on the offer

Jim, you did yourself proud with that batch of baits. I hate that crackle medium but you sir have it down.

Here is another attempt at the blue gill color pattern. Still have lots of trouble trying to match fish patterns.

Ben, that bait looks great. One of my fav color patterns.

Bass Dude, all the bodies are hand carved/sanded by me. I build everything you see on the baits.

He shots a clear coat over the paint for protection. As long as the clear coat holds up the paint is fine.

balsa wood

Here are few flat sided shallow runners fresh off the drying wheel.