BIG M

My first painted baits were not even close that job. Very nice looking crank there.

Vman has a post or two over at TU but everybody that builds baits is a member at TU. This forum also has some very good info and the search funtion works very well. I like taxidermy paints (waterbased) but still use some colors from c-tex. The best thing you can do is buy some paint, get a cardboard box and start shooting. No matter how many tips you read, hands on practice makes perfect. I also use flex coat ultra v for my final clear coat. Get a piece of 1/2 water pipe (pvc) and paint bait patterns on it. Wipe it down and paint more patterns, it's a great tool for practice.

Dave does make some really nice plastics and the fish like them also. There are a few world class painters on here and they like to share info.

Looking good, like the looks of both baits. That big one is pretty slick with all the joints.

John, that is a slick rat. You are the king of handmade swim baits.

It's about time you start painting some more shad patterns. I was getting tired of sunfish, mainly because I'm jealous. Those should be killer, very nice looking baits.

Dave pours a quality bait.

I think all of the baits look great. You are getting good with the brush.

If it's just slightly off center the bait will run just fine. You may have to tune it just a little. There will be a sweet spot in the cranking speed, if you go past that point the bait will blow out. Slow to med speeds and the baits should remain stable. Sometimes a little mistake like that can give you the magic action. Finish the bait and fish with it, that's how you learn.

There are 50 of those little scales on each bait and the stuff is transparent. It's not easy getting a knife point between the backing and the film. I'm not sold on the pattern I used, less would have been more I think. I need to get the baits wet and see how they look in the water. I got the idea from LC's American Shad. Foil is 10x easier and less time consuming.

I use lead tape for swing weighting golf clubs and also over sized hooks can help add some weight. You want just enough weight to get the head of bait sitting at a slightly upward angle.

It would take all day to do the entire bait with those scales. Those two baits took about 45 min apiece.

The baits are not are not new just extra bling on the first two pics. Give me some opinions because it's a pain in the butt to do.

I cut the lips off and put a weight on the tail to make a cool jumpin minnow. No way to really drill into that bait unless you go above the thru wire. That would change the action because you would change the center of gravity. I may have to give that one a try.

Pic number 4 is by far the best looking of the bunch and if I'm not mistaken that's a MCH1 by Big M.

A few more

Here are the last few baits from my weekend of work.

A fishing lure

The bottom 3 baits are very special. 2 1/8 inches long, 3/8oz, and semi round. The lip is 2.5 inches long and these run approx 18 feet deep. Might bump 20ft on braided line with long cast. I worked on this bait for a year, trying different woods, weights, and bills designs. I settled on balsa wood weighted to the max.

Just a few more and thanks for taking the time to look.

Here are a few more from this weekend and still more to come.

Great looking baits Jon. You might have to paint a couple for me now

Thanks for the nice words fellas. String, look at the little flat sided baits I sent to you. Same body style only bigger. I figured that the deep belly worked so well for a flat side I should try in a Magnum size.

The 1st bait will run 20-24ft depending on line and distance of the cast.

Opps, forgot these two.