BIG M

I cut the lip slot first while wood is style in block forum, helps me keep the slot straight. I buy pre-made bills if I can find the style I want. I hate to spend the time cutting bills. I install the bills prior to painting but that's just my way of doing things.

Great paint work all around.

Sharpe looking jerk bait, very clean work.

Great paint there Ben.

Good work on all those baits.

natalex, all the bodies are hand carved from balsa wood.

very nice

You should call the game and fish to have the gator removed. He's too aggressive toward people to be such a small one. Nice fish by the way and a great story.

Here is a batch of square billed cranks in all different shapes and sizes.

Devcon 30 min does yellow and it can be as fast as a few of days. Depends on heat and sunlight. Devcon contains nothing that protects from uv rays and is one of the easiest epoxies on the market to break down with heat. Rod finish will also yellow if it does not contain the uv protection. Flex Coat ultra v is the best clear coat I've used on my crank baits. I like the high build formula. Devcon was my go to clear coat for many yrs but I got tired of white baits changing color. The fish did not mind the change but I did for some reason.

Very nice fish and nothing better than catching them on baits you made by hand.

I think these baits are a couple of handmade cranks. You can see the tool marks on the bill in the first pic. Big bait companies use pressed bills or plastic, not cut from lexan. I have a couple of baits that are B2 style that have the same look but I do not know the builder.

A small batch I just finished. The colors are pretty simple but the fish seem to like these patterns.

Ben, I was thinking super fine tip sharpie. I've done that in the past myself but the baits never looked like those do.

Ben those baits look great. I'm not even going to ask how you painted the small thin lines. I thought that was photo finish at first look.

All of the baits look great, good to see you back in the paint shop.

20 or 30lb braid for all my cranking.

I have to vote for a handmade balsa crank because I build my own. I only buy cranks from other home builders because I know the time and care that goes into the making of each bait. The only commercial baits I've fished with are Bagley and WEC, both good baits but not on the same level with a quality handmand. Big bait companies cannot afford to take the extra time/effort as the guy building baits in his small shop. Take the time and do some research on custom builders and try a couple of baits. It's well worth the extra money.

That's a good looking handmade

Finished up a small batch of flat sided cranks this weekend.

Good looking batch of baits.

I've had that same boat for several yrs and it is not for 2 people fishing. Get a 10ft if two people are going to fish.

Great work Ben, really like those little med divers

Search Making Crankbaits under the fishing articles, that will help you get started.

Looking good there Mike.